1. United States
2. Idaho
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any legislation or policy that would ban books from school libraries and classrooms. These efforts represent a direct threat to First Amendment rights and undermine the educational mission of our public schools. Book bans are accelerating across the country, and Idaho has not been immune to these challenges. When books are removed from libraries based on content objections, we deny students access to diverse perspectives and the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills. Students deserve the right to read materials that reflect different experiences, challenge their assumptions, and prepare them for participation in a pluralistic democracy. The decision about what books are appropriate for individual students should rest with parents and families, not with government mandates that impose one group's values on entire school communities. Librarians and educators are trained professionals who carefully curate collections to serve educational purposes and meet age-appropriate standards. Removing their professional judgment from this process politicizes education and creates a chilling effect on intellectual freedom. Censorship efforts often target books that address race, gender identity, and LGBTQ experiences, effectively erasing the stories of marginalized communities. This sends a harmful message to students from these backgrounds that their lives and experiences are somehow inappropriate or shameful. All students benefit from exposure to literature that broadens their understanding of the world and builds empathy for others. I ask that you actively oppose any book ban legislation and support policies that protect the professional judgment of librarians and educators. Defend the principle that parents can guide their own children's reading choices without restricting access for all students. Our constitutional commitment to free expression depends on protecting these rights in our schools, where the next generation learns to value open inquiry and diverse viewpoints.