ALA’s OIF Responds to Chicago Public School Banning of “Persepolis”

From ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom:

…Chicago Public Schools (CPS) yesterday ordered that all copies of the award-winning graphic novel Persepolis be removed from schools district-wide. Initially the order explicitly included libraries, but the head of school libraries has since issued a directive that, pursuant to its collection development policy, the book is to remain on library shelves.
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While still in school libraries, they have been “temporarily recalled” from classroom libraries and teaching curriculum until CPS can “control” how the book is being presented. She said there was no timeline for CPS’s evaluation. CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett also has issued a memo to CPS principals regarding the removal.

Chicago Public Schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett is asking principals to disregard an earlier order to pull the graphic novel “Persepolis” out of schools by the end of today, but she asked that schools stop teaching the book to 7th-graders.
Read the Complete ALA Blog Post
Much More: CPS tells schools to disregard order to pull graphic novel (via Chicago Tribune)
Background, updates, quotes.
New Video: Barbara Jones, Director, ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom Speaks at Press Conference Re: Persopolis/Chicago Public Schools (March 15, 2013)

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Awards, Libraries, News, School Libraries