Hana Jaffe-Walt
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
I went back to that last chapter recently, and what stood out reading it this time, knowing it had been banned, is that even 12-year-old Jordan Banks knows that his account of his own life will not be acceptable to his white teacher and is better kept in the safety of his journal. He knows his teacher won't be able to read it without feeling personally attacked.
I went back to that last chapter recently, and what stood out reading it this time, knowing it had been banned, is that even 12-year-old Jordan Banks knows that his account of his own life will not be acceptable to his white teacher and is better kept in the safety of his journal. He knows his teacher won't be able to read it without feeling personally attacked.
He knows that what has happened to him will not matter as much as how it makes her feel to read about it. He already knows that even if it's all real, she'd rather he keep it to himself. Eight states have recently passed legislation restricting the teaching of racism and bias in public schools. Texas is one of them. Nearly 20 more states have introduced or plan to introduce similar legislation.
He knows that what has happened to him will not matter as much as how it makes her feel to read about it. He already knows that even if it's all real, she'd rather he keep it to himself. Eight states have recently passed legislation restricting the teaching of racism and bias in public schools. Texas is one of them. Nearly 20 more states have introduced or plan to introduce similar legislation.
These laws almost never list specific books you can't teach. They talk about feelings. They prohibit teaching any lessons that might make students feel, quote, "...discomfort, guilt, or anguish because of their race."
These laws almost never list specific books you can't teach. They talk about feelings. They prohibit teaching any lessons that might make students feel, quote, "...discomfort, guilt, or anguish because of their race."
After Bonnie's petition and the complaint about New Kid including vulgarity, the district responded, launched an investigation, and said it was using the new Texas law to evaluate the book. It also pulled Jerry's books from the library and called off his author visit.
After Bonnie's petition and the complaint about New Kid including vulgarity, the district responded, launched an investigation, and said it was using the new Texas law to evaluate the book. It also pulled Jerry's books from the library and called off his author visit.
In Pennsylvania, a group of parents got the school board to ban a list of diverse books, including a children's book about Rosa Parks. They worried the books could be used to make white children feel guilty. A group of white moms in Tennessee have demanded a book about Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington be removed from the curriculum.
In Pennsylvania, a group of parents got the school board to ban a list of diverse books, including a children's book about Rosa Parks. They worried the books could be used to make white children feel guilty. A group of white moms in Tennessee have demanded a book about Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington be removed from the curriculum.
They also objected to a chapter book called The Story of Ruby Bridges because it makes it seem like white people are bad. These are parents who claim reading books about Black experiences or Black history, or just a Black kid going to middle school, will harm their children. And their desire to protect their kids from discomfort is now enshrined in the law.
They also objected to a chapter book called The Story of Ruby Bridges because it makes it seem like white people are bad. These are parents who claim reading books about Black experiences or Black history, or just a Black kid going to middle school, will harm their children. And their desire to protect their kids from discomfort is now enshrined in the law.
The investigation into Newkid lasted 10 days, at which point the district announced their findings. No inappropriate material. Children would be allowed to read this book in Katy, Texas. And Jerry's event with the kids was rescheduled. It went fine. Kids ask the same questions they always do. What inspired you? Is there going to be a movie? But that same day, the Katie School Board had a meeting.
The investigation into Newkid lasted 10 days, at which point the district announced their findings. No inappropriate material. Children would be allowed to read this book in Katy, Texas. And Jerry's event with the kids was rescheduled. It went fine. Kids ask the same questions they always do. What inspired you? Is there going to be a movie? But that same day, the Katie School Board had a meeting.
Parents showed up to complain that the event was allowed to go forward, that critical race theory was infiltrating the schools, and they demanded a full audit of the whole library, which, just recently, they won. There was one mom who got up to defend New Kid and to say what the book means to her family.
Parents showed up to complain that the event was allowed to go forward, that critical race theory was infiltrating the schools, and they demanded a full audit of the whole library, which, just recently, they won. There was one mom who got up to defend New Kid and to say what the book means to her family.