Illinois made ways becoming the first state in the U.S.

to ban book bans 3 years ago.

But efforts to censor books in schools and libraries across the country reached near high last year.

The American Library Association tracks challenges to more than 4200 unique titles last year.

That is the second highest ever documented by the group.

Nearly 40% of those challenge titles represented the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community and people of color and more than 90% of all book challenges were initiated by pressure groups.

Government officials and decision makers joining us to talk about this and the broader impact of book bans is don't see Hunter, the University of Chicago's inaugural banned books, postdoctoral scholar a joint appointment with you, Chicago Library and the Chicago Forum for Free Inquiry and expression.

It's a fun title.

Thank you for joining us.

Tulsi congrats on the position.

Thank you very much for having me.

I am.

>> Honored and excited to be joining the University of Chicago as the initial inaugural banned books, postdoctoral research scholar as part of this collaboration.

Yeah.

In 2023, the Reagan Stein Library at the university established launch.

This ban books initiative and in collaboration with the Forum for free in Korean expression.

they have now brought in a dedicated, banned books, postdoctoral research scholar to year there and further, right.

You started started in September.

What is the idea behind a new position?

>> The idea is there would be a dedicated scholar, too.

>> Research the conditions and impacts a book banning and they were bringing in the position for someone who is researching book banning.

But from a distinct angle of interest.

So that's where my work comes in.

As someone who is studying book banning from a trauma informed perspective.

>> You are a long-time English language arts teacher in Florida.

And much of your research is about the impact of teaching banned books in the classroom.

What is the impact on students when books are banned from libraries or academic curriculum?

>> When books are banned at students are losing those opportunities to engage with diverse perspectives either experiences that they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to engage with stepping into the world of literature is one of the most powerful ways of experiencing the lived experience of another human being without actually going through that oneself.

So it there's a lot of power in that.

The opportunity to build in empathy, enhance one's understanding of other experiences that your own.

>> We hear about banned books a lot, of course, that people may not always know just how common some of these books actually are.

What are some books that people are familiar with that have been banned or challenged?

>> Probably most folks that you can think of from your high school, English language arts class room.

Many have been classically and classic and contemporary works have faced challenges or bans.

We have started and series called band and brilliant and through the Chicago for yes, the S and R my first choice for that series was Toni Morrison's, the bluest eye.

So we have classic works of literature that have been recognized for their literary merit.

Their importance such as the bluest eye but are widely facing book bans.

And most recent real was just released.

And that's Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, right?

Which everyone is familiar with, especially, you thanks to the success of Hulu series.

>> Were you surprised by the numbers from the American Library Association that efforts to censor books in schools and libraries have reached, you near high last year.

it's not necessarily surprised now on.

Unfortunately, this has been part of a trend in recent years intensifying.

And yes, last year was the second highest.

>> Percentage rate of of books that have been banned or challenged second only to 2023 and the margin was quite small.

The numbers were very close.

So >> you you speak with a lot of teachers.

And as a former teacher yourself, you experienced it firsthand as well.

How would you compare the experiences of teachers in Illinois with the in Florida over the topic of book bans and experiences.

>> Yes, I have engaged in conversations with teachers from all over the nation.

I'm still in the process of that work.

But local and state.

Legislation and mandates do make a big difference of how teachers are making meeting and experiencing the teaching of banned and challenged books.

So in talking with educators from Illinois, they are experiencing a very differently because, of course, they're kind of in the hot seat the way that some other teachers are in other areas of the country like in Florida, which is where I'm from.

But they are very supportive standing in solidarity and very concerned about the trends that they're seen nationally, even if they're not experiencing it in their own backyard because I can imagine teachers in Florida, you know, it's probably had a chilling effect you know, instilling a little bit of fear about what they can talk about, what they can teach.

That's right.

Yes.

>> Teachers experience a lot of fear and self-censorship in that chilling effect.

As you said, using words like I feel terrified.

I'm afraid I'll lose my job and possibly even face criminal charges.

And a lot of the language is ambiguous surrounding the laws.

So sometimes teachers are just not aware of what the repercussions will be.

So they take those safe choices instead of more potentially controversial or challenging difficult bucks.

There can be very different themes and some of these books, your research looks at the intersection of trauma and grief or loss in banned books.

>> What does it look like for teacher to help students unpack and engage in a difficult subject matter like those?

>> Yes, that's increasingly in interest and concern in education and educational scholarship better preparing teachers to engage with difficult works of literature, particularly with students who may also be experiencing effects of trauma in their own lives, but also for teachers who are experiencing trauma in their lives and how that me and him enter twine with the work that they and the complexities of engaging with literature like that.

So traditionally teacher prep for prep teacher.

Preparation programs have not really centered on those concerns.

And increasingly they are whether it's practices like Pentagon G or on better preparing teachers to meet those distinct needs.

>> You mentioned your monthly series on social media that highlights banned books.

Your first pick was Toni Morrison's first novel.

You mentioned the blue side.

The most recent one came out just today.

Margaret Atwood's, The Handmaid's Tale.

>> A few seconds left.

Why should people read or watch and more people read banned books?

>> Banned books.

Give us an opportunity to step into the world of another character and really enhance our broaden our perspective.

This is really about our shared humanity.

Our shared vulnerability and our shared responsibility.

2 up, hold each other.

Even when we