Censorship and Selection: Issues and Answers for Schools

Censorship! The word itself sparks debate, especially when the context is the public school. Since the publication of the second edition of this landmark book in 1993, wired classrooms, legal challenges, and societal shifts have changed the landscape for the free exchange of ideas. Completely revised and updated, this new edition remains the most comprehensive guide for protecting the freedom to read in schools.

For school librarians and media specialists, teachers, and administrators, Reichman covers the different media (including books, school newspapers, and the Internet), the important court cases (including recent litigations involving Harry Potter, the Internet, and Huck Finn), the issues in dispute (including violence, religion, and profanity), and how the laws on the books can be incorporated into selection policies. An entire chapter is devoted to troubleshooting and answering the question of "What do we do if . . . ?"

Look no further for the best and most specific information on providing access and facing challenges to intellectual freedom. You'll find answers if you are asking questions like these:

• What is the distinction between making selection decisions and censoring?
• What are the legal constraints on schools offering electronic information sources and the Internet?
• What rights and responsibilities does a school administration have when faced with censorship challenges?
• What are the legal precedents that have been set in recent cases relating to popular fiction (e.g., Stephen King, R. L. Stine, J. K. Rowling)?

Written by a longtime expert on the protections of the First Amendment and U.S. Constitution, the new Censorship and Selection will provide you with all of the need-to-knows for crafting a selection policy in the digital age.