Research Guides: Libertas Civics Camp 8.0: Book Banning and the Freedom to Read

Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v. Pico

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. - The First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Objectives:

Students will learn about liberties and limitations of freedom of speech that are identified in landmark Supreme Court cases.
Students will learn about ________________ and how it relates to ________________ in school.
Students will demonstrate their knowledge by creating a group project and present at the Family and Community Civics Event.

Focus Questions:

What are the key principles and protections of freedom of speech in the United States Constitution?
Why is freedom of speech important in a community or country?
How does freedom of speech affect students in school?
How does freedom of speech connect to the right to express opinions and beliefs?
How does Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico define freedom of speech?
How does Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico protect freedom of speech?
How does Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico limit freedom of speech?

Student Resources: Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico

Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico
The Island Trees Union Free School District's Board of Education (the "Board"), acting contrary to the recommendations of a committee of parents and school staff, ordered that certain books be removed from its district's junior high and high school libraries. In support of its actions, the Board said such books were: "anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, and just plain filthy." Acting through his friend Francis Pico, and on behalf of several other students, Steven Pico brought suit in federal district court challenging the Board's decision to remove the books. The Board won; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed. The Board petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, which granted certiorari.
Island Trees Union Free School District Board of Education v. Pico 1982 (Supreme Court Drama)
Article Contents:
- Introduction
- Side Bar: Banned Books
- Fighting Censorship
- Read All About It
Side Bar: America's First Book Burning
- Who Rules Schools?
Taking Book Banners to Court: Two Students in Missouri, Along with the ACLU, Are Suing a District for Removing Books.
In February of 2022. The American Civil Liberties Union recently filed a lawsuit against a Missouri school district on behalf of two unnamed students. Wentzville R-IV district was sued for banning eight books, including memoirs and novels addressing race, gender, and sexual identity.

Banned Books by Meryl Loonin
Call Number: 098 LOO
ISBN: 9781678204747
Publication Date: 2023-01-01
Public and school libraries around the nation are experiencing a rash of efforts to ban books.

Quick Read: First Amendment
Article Sections:
- The arguments for free speech
- Many types of speech
- No coverage for obscenity
- Not an absolute freedom
- Clear and present danger test
- A balancing act
- Commerce, jails, and schools
- Time, place, and manner restrictions
First Amendment Research Launch Page
Research Information using:
- Reference articles
- Case Overviews
- Primary Sources
- Biographies
- Academic Journals
- Magazines
- Newspapers
Freedom of Speech Research Launch Page
Research information using:
- Reference Articles
- Primary Sources
- Biographies
- Academic Journals
- Magazines

Teacher Resources: Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico

Steven Pico in 1981 (NCAC)

Key Vocabulary:

Challenged Books
Banned Books
Literary Merit
Censorship
Morality
Offensive

Lesson Plans:

Libertas Camp 8: Censorship and Book Banning

A Case for Reading - Examining Challenged and Banned Books
Any work is potentially open to attack by someone, somewhere, sometime, for some reason. This lesson introduces students to censorship and how challenges to books occur.

Free Expression & Censorship: Banned Books
In this activity, students will learn about the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of expression and about censorship by looking at the examples of banned children’s books. Then they will explore of the effect censorship has on free expression by creating two murals — one created freely and one censored.
Worksheet- Why Was It Banned

HB 900 Texas Administrative Code