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In 2004 ALA

Book-banning battles were not as preva-

Mandated Integration vs. Self-Determination.

Forced segregation by race has been a blot on

lent as evolution or expression fights last

executive director

American society since the nation's earliest

year, but they were still common, occurring

Beverly Becker

days. However, government-mandated integra-

in at least eight states. And those were just

said her group

tion has also been problematic, often robbing

the ones for which we found major media

people of control over their own lives in order to

stories. According to the American Library

received reports

atone for past discrimination. At issue in dis-

Association, however, book fights were prob-

of 547 book

putes between segregation and freedom is often

ably much more common than that. In 2004,

whether different racial groups, genders, or eth-

for instance, ALA executive director Beverly

challenges and

nicities should be allowed to go to schools and

Becker said her group received reports of 547

estimated that

classes intended to serve them specifically or

book challenges, and she estimated that to be

perhaps three

only a quarter of the likely number.10

whether integration is of overriding impor-

tance.

Multiculturalism. Perhaps nothing--not even

times that many

Integration versus self-determination be-

creationism--has produced as much anger as

went unreported.

came a very high-profile issue in Nebraska last

the portrayal of different races, ethnicities, and

year when the state's only black state senator

cultures in America's schools. What groups

amended education legislation so that it split

should be included in history textbooks? What

Omaha's school district along racial lines.

aspects of their histories? How does a school

"Several years ago I began discussing in my com-

handle disputed "facts" about different groups?

munity the possibility of carving our area out of

Questions such as these produced a geyser of vit-

Omaha Public Schools and establishing a dis-

riol in 2005­06, as states and school districts

trict over which we would have control," Senator

tried to decide what every student under their

Ernie Chambers said during the debate on the

authority would learn--or not learn--about the

floor of the legislature. "My intent is not to have

myriad groups that make up our society.

an exclusionary system, but [one] we, meaning

California was the site of perhaps the most

black people, whose children make up the vast

fierce dispute last year, as Hindus across the

majority of the student population, would con-

state expressed great discontent with history

trol." Despite Chambers' intent to give Omaha's

books currently approved by the state that

African Americans control over their own

they say egregiously misrepresent Hinduism--

schools, many black leaders in Nebraska dis-

and as a result, Indian history-- by focusing on

agreed with his efforts. "This is a disaster," Ben

the caste system and oppression of women.

Gray, co-chairman of the African-American

Those are common smears, they said, dating

Achievement Council, told the New York Times.12

back to British rule over India. But many his-

torians have disagreed with their complaints,

Struggles between integration and self-

arguing that right-wing Hindus were trying to

determination were limited to only about

whitewash history.

five states, but where they occurred, passions

Hindu reaction to the dispute has been

ran high.

intense. According to Glee Johnson, president

Sex Education. In 2005­06, parents who

of the state school board, the board received

wanted their children to receive no sex educa-

over 1,500 letters and e-mails from the Hindu

tion in schools or just abstinence education,

community in a single week. "To many peo-

were in regular fights with parents who wanted

ple, it gets very emotional," Johnson said.

their children to be provided more compre-

"This is not just about academics, but is tied

hensive sex education. From upper-middle-

class Montgomery County, Maryland,13 to the

in to people's view of themselves and their his-

tory"11

Kyrene Elementary School District in Tempe,

Arizona,14 the determination of what children

In 2005­06, fires over the inclusion and

treatment of different cultures, races, and

should be taught about sex created significant

ethnic groups in school curricula and text-

political tension. At a minimum, 13 states saw

books burned in at least 11 states.

controversies over sex education.

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