Two sides of book bans: PEN America and Moms for Liberty debate

To hear PEN America and Moms For Liberty speak about the dangers of a society curtailing free speech, you may need to squint to see the differences.

Both organizations profess an unwavering commitment to liberty, but stand firmly on either side of a growing debate about book banning in America.

PEN America, a nonprofit aimed at bolstering the freedom to write and read, has emerged as an outspoken critic of removing reading materials from schools and libraries that have been deemed inappropriate, most often by advocacy groups, but also by individual parents. PEN has been tracking book bans since 2021 and filed lawsuits alongside families and publishers that challenge book restrictions in schools.Moms For Liberty, a conservative collective, is among the leaders in the parental rights movement. Local chapters of the organization tackle issues across the educational landscape, guiding parents who want to raise concerns at their schools, and flexing their political might through endorsements, stamping President Donald Trump with their approval in 2024.

"Our mission at Moms for Liberty is to unify, educate and empower parents to defend their parental rights," Tina Descovich, one of the organization's founders, tells USA TODAY. "Parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children, whether it be education or medical care …So they also have the right to monitor what their children are watching and reading."

 

They don't ban books, she says, that would require the government to bar a person from writing or selling the book. "I think many Americans have chosen to use that word to advance a political agenda instead of using the word correctly," she says.

PEN begs to differ. Kasey Meehan, director of the organization's Freedom to Read program, says, "Our guiding light has always been access." If a group of a few has the power to remove a book from a public space open to all, then that amounts to a ban, she argues.

Banned Books Week "is not about acknowledging bygone censorship, it's really about bringing awareness of censorship that’s happening today," she says. "We have seen pretty well coordinated campaigns that are put on school districts or that are driven by state legislatures or state governors to see certain types of books removed."

 

To put both sides of the debate in clear view, USA TODAY sent the same questions to both organizations. Here are their responses, unedited and in full.

What do you view as the importance of reading and books in the lives of American children today?

PEN America: At PEN America, we believe in the power of the word to transform the world. As such, literacy is primary. There's also critical thinking, vocabulary, and knowledge that books offer students. Books give kids the building blocks of language while also teaching about history, the mysteries of science etc. Books offer stories about people who are similar and different, and help kids learn to have empathy and how to get along. And for a lot of kids, books are among the first things that activate their imaginations too, sparking curiosity and creativity, to think beyond what they know, or look at something from multiple perspectives. It's not all serious either. Many children's books are classics because they’re silly, as well as heartwarming. So there's a lot that happens when kids learn to read and then read what interests them. That all fosters independence, with different genres of storytelling appealing to different readers.

Moms For Liberty: Quality literature exposes American children to the good, beautiful and true. Recent NAEP scores reveal that two-thirds of fourth graders in the United States are not reading proficiently. These students face a future of academic struggles, higher dropout rates, and lower earning potential. Reading proficiency is essential not only for a child’s success but for the success of our nation. Reading develops critical thinking, expands vocabulary, enhances conversation, builds background knowledge, reduces stress, strengthens memory and writing skills, improves communication, and fuels imagination. America will be better served when every child learns to not only read but grows to love reading.

How do you define 'book banning'?

PEN America: Book banning means what it sounds like: prohibiting access to a book. Such prohibitions can take many forms and can happen in different contexts. There are times and places where governments have banned books from public circulation or being sold entirely. In the United States right now, many school districts are removing books or limiting access to them, often to appease vocal community members or politicians, or because of fear of punishment under some state laws passed in the last few years. This is also commonly happening without following long-established procedures for review of library materials, books disappearing from shelves with little clear reason. Books can be suspended from shelves for “review” periods that stretch on indefinitely. For that duration, if students or members of the public are barred from accessing them when they previously could, then that, too, is a form of book banning.