Scholastic Reverses Policy Allowing Schools to Opt out of ‘Diverse’ Books at Fairs

Newly donated LGBT books are displayed in the library at Nystrom Elementary School in Richmond, Calif., on May 17, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Scholastic has backtracked on its previous decision to allow school districts to decide whether they wish to sell a collection of books, including those with LGBT themes and “diverse” titles, at school book fairs following backlash over the move.

In a statement, the publisher said it will discontinue its separate collection of books on race and gender moving forward and apologized on behalf of the company to “every author, illustrator, licensor, educator, librarian, parent and reader who was hurt by our action,” noting its former decision, while made “with good intention,” was a mistake.

The children’s book publisher had previously placed books on themes such as race, gender, and sexuality into a separate optional catalog, titled “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice,” out of concern for its book fair hosts in the wake of legislation passed in various states aimed at preventing children from accessing inappropriate or sexually explicit content.

Sixty-four books were placed in the collection, allowing schools to opt in or out of showcasing them at the book fairs, NBC News reported. The diversity collection is one of several “cases” or collections of books that book fair organizers can choose from when ordering books for a fair.

California State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond reads from the book "Red: A Crayon's Story" to second grade students at Nystrom Elementary School in Richmond, Calif., on May 17, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

This collection included a children’s biography of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a fantasy novel about a Native American Lakota girl, a graphic novel featuring the Black Panther superhero, and a book about different family types, including families with adoptive same-sex parents, according to a list provided by Scholastic to The New York Times.

However, the decision to create a separate collection for these books sparked an outcry from some parents, teachers, and authors, including PEN America, a nonprofit aimed at protecting free expression.

In an Oct. 17 statement, PEN America stated that “sequestering books on these topics risks depriving students and families of books that speak to them.”

“It will deny the opportunity for all students to encounter diverse stories that increase empathy, understanding, and reflect the range of human experiences and identities which are essential underpinnings of a pluralistic, democratic society,” the organization said.

‘An Impossible Bind’

The statement noted PEN America “lays the blame” for the book separation solely on “the legislators and activists who are putting Scholastic and other publishers in an impossible bind when it comes to the distribution of a diverse range of books.”

Separately, an online petition in opposition to the optional catalog started by Red Wine and Blue, a liberal political group, garnered more than 8,500 signatures.

In response, Ellie Berger, the president of Scholastic Trade Publishing, said in a statement, “We understand now that it was a mistake to segregate diverse books in an elective case. We recognize and acknowledge the pain caused, and that we have broken the trust of some of our publishing community, customers, friends, trusted partners, and staff, and we also recognize that we will now need to regain that trust.”

Transgender affirming children's books in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 30, 2022. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

The separate catalog will be discontinued with Scholastic’s new season in January, Ms. Berger noted.

Additionally, the publishing company is currently working on a “pivot plan” for the remaining book fairs this year. The publisher also plans to “find an alternate way to get a greater range of books into the hands of children.”

“We remain committed to the books in this collection and support their sale throughout our distribution channels,” Ms. Berger wrote in the statement.

Removing Sexually Explicit Books From Schools

In its initial statement announcing the collection, Scholastic, which reportedly hosts 120,000 book fairs annually, cited restrictions imposed on schools and educators by state legislation and local policy.

Multiple states have in recent months passed laws aimed at preventing books containing sexually explicit or divisive materials, as well as those containing the controversial teaching of critical race theory, from falling into the hands of young children in public schools across the nation.

Republican lawmakers insist such legislation does not amount to a “book ban” but is instead aimed at protecting children from inappropriate material, in contrast to the Biden administration’s push to promote “diversity, equity, and inclusion“ across schools.

Scholastic, in its initial statement, said there is active or pending legislation in more than 30 U.S. states aimed at preventing certain kinds of books from being in schools—mostly LGBT titles and books that it said “engage with the presence of racism in our country.”

“Because Scholastic Book Fairs are invited into schools, where books can be purchased by kids on their own, these laws create an almost impossible dilemma: back away from these titles or risk making teachers, librarians, and volunteers vulnerable to being fired, sued, or prosecuted,” the publisher wrote.