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Good afternoon, This week, we worked to submit a joint statement to members of the State House's Education Instruction Subcommittee in regard to HB0800/SB1216 <https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0800>. Below is the letter that was sent to Education Instruction Subcommittee members. The Subcommittee was scheduled to discuss this bill today, however, it has been delayed until next week. Please read the bill (hyperlinked above) and statement below. We could use your support in contacting members of the House Education Instruction Subcommittee to ask them to vote against this bill by calling, sending an email, or tagging them in social media posts. Here is the list of representatives <https://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/committees/educationinstruct.aspx> on the Subcommittee. Thanks, Erika _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Joint Statement on HB0800/SB1216 from Tennessee Association of School Librarians, Tennessee Library Association, and Friends of Tennessee Libraries March 29, 2021 Bruce Griffey, Representative to District 75 introduced HB0800 on February 9th and the bill was introduced as SB1216 <https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/112/Bill/SB1216.pdf> by Senator Niceley of District 8. This bill seeks to prohibit “LEAs and public charter schools from adopting or using textbooks and instructional materials or supplemental instructional materials that promote, normalize, support, or address lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgender issues or lifestyles.” (Tennessee General Assembly <https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0800> ). The Tennessee Library Association (TLA), Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL), and Friends of the Tennessee Libraries (FoTL) jointly express our strong disapproval of HB0800/SB1216 on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and goes against the democratic ideal of free access to information that is fundamental to the American way and the professional ethics espoused within the library profession. Furthermore, school districts already have reconsideration policies and controversial materials policies for textbooks and materials. This legislation takes away the rights of parents to have a voice in their student's education when it comes to instructional materials and creates barriers to a school district meeting the unique needs of their students. In speaking out against this bill we are living up to the principles of the Library Bill of Rights, specifically: III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. Library Bill of Rights, American Library Association <http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill> This bill would be an act of censorship by the state General Assembly. The First Amendment applies to both federal and state laws and states (should we need reminding) that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Policymakers in America have attempted to enshrine censorship and religion-based values in public school textbook policy many times over the years and have repeatedly been admonished by the Supreme Court, such as in Epperson v. Arkansas, where “the Court struck down a state statute that made it unlawful for any teacher in any state-supported educational institution to teach the theory or doctrine that mankind ascended or descended from a lower order of animals…” because it was a policy based on the reading of a particular religious text and was therefore unconstitutional ( Consitution.Congress.Gov <https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt1-1-2-1-1-2-3/ALDE_00000715/> ). Librarians have long been advocates for free speech and First Amendment rights, thus we feel that it is our responsibility to publicly and vehemently oppose harmful legislation such as HB0800/SB1216. Signed, Eryn Duffee, Chair Tennessee Library Ecosystem Coalition (TLEC) Erika Long, President Tennessee Library Association (TLA) Lindsey Kimery, President Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL) Diane Johnson, President Friends of Tennessee Libraries (FOTL) *Erika Long* School Librarian—MNPS President—TLA Secretary/Treasurer—AASL Follow me on Twitter @erikaslong