US Educators , Fight Back Against , Book Bans and Censorship.<br />Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1557 <br />which bans discussion of sexuality or gender in <br />classrooms from kindergarten through grade three.<br />Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1557 <br />which bans discussion of sexuality or gender in <br />classrooms from kindergarten through grade three.<br />Al Jazeera reports that the legislation, which LGBTQ rights <br />advocates call the "Don't Say Gay" law, also allows <br />parents to sue if they believe a teacher has broken the law.<br />Al Jazeera reports that the legislation, which LGBTQ rights <br />advocates call the "Don't Say Gay" law, also allows <br />parents to sue if they believe a teacher has broken the law.<br />DeSantis also passed the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids <br />and Employees Act, or the “Stop WOKE” Act, which bans <br />critical race theory from being taught in schools. .<br />DeSantis also passed the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids <br />and Employees Act, or the “Stop WOKE” Act, which bans <br />critical race theory from being taught in schools. .<br />Al Jazeera reports that while the laws fall short of outright banning <br />books, the broad language they were written in have resulted <br />in schools removing books that could be in violation.<br />Meanwhile, teachers are only <br />allowed to distribute approved <br />books in the classroom.<br />In Florida, school districts have <br />reportedly removed 175 books <br />from schools across the state.<br />According to a report by the American Library <br />Association, the number of book bans surged in <br />2022 with 2,571 titles targeted for censorship.<br />Al Jazeera reports that educators and librarians <br />have found creative ways to skirt the new laws.<br />What happens when these specific books <br />are no longer available is, it decreases <br />representation remarkably, and when <br />you are not represented, you know <br />that you do not have power, Adam Tritt, a high school English teacher in Melbourne, Florida, via Al Jazeera.<br />Al Jazeera reports that digital library cards have <br />also allowed more people to access ebooks <br />and audiobooks amid surging censorship
