Advocacy Groups Got 1,600 Inappropriate Books Removed From Public Schools Last Year

The books: Almost all of the books being restricted in schools contain politically progressive content and promote either transgenderism or critical race theory to children, with some texts containing sexual and pornographic details. Upward News covered some of public schools’ most common radical books.

Political perspectives: Because the books are highly progressive, those on the left view the efforts to restrict these books as racist, transphobic, homophobic, and akin to censorship and book burning. Conversely, conservatives view the in-school texts as political youth indoctrination.

Most Americans don't support the progressive agenda: According to a new poll, more than two-thirds of registered voters are against teaching sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary school. Still, school boards and progressive teachers have been able to sidestep parent sentiment and include these books in lesson plans and curricula.

Big picture: There are two frontiers in the battle over children’s education in America. One is legislative, where governors like Florida’s Ron DeSantis and Virginia’s Glenn Youngkin have worked to restore parental rights in education. The other is through advocacy, where political groups have successfully started to restrict inappropriate books in schools.