Missouri Stop Censoring Race & Gender in Schools, Textbooks

I’m writing to express deep concern about recent censorship efforts in Missouri schools, including book bans and restrictions on classroom discussions around race, gender, and identity. These measures threaten the quality of education and undermine the values of democracy and free thought that our country was founded on. Efforts like those passed in the Francis Howell School District and Wentzville School District mirror authoritarian tactics used to control public discourse and erase marginalized voices (St. Louis Public Radio, Aug. 2023; Education Week, Feb. 2022). Since Missouri’s 2022 law banning “sexually explicit” content in school libraries, nearly 300 books have been removed from shelves statewide. Many of these titles are authored by or center around LGBTQ individuals and people of color—populations already facing high levels of discrimination and mental health risk (Education Week, Nov. 2022). These policies do not protect students; they politicize public education and deprive young people of the opportunity to develop critical thinking and empathy. History has shown us that censorship is a gateway to greater repression. Limiting what students can read and learn places Missouri on a dangerous path that aligns more closely with repressive regimes than with democratic ideals. I urge you to reject these policies and defend access to inclusive, fact-based education. Our future depends on leaders who are willing to stand up for the truth.