Scholastic Faces Criticism for Allowing Schools to Opt-Out of Diversity Titles About Race, LGBTQ

Scholastic book fairs Diversity Titles race LGBTQ representation

By E.Baloyo , Parent Herald Oct 20, 03:03 am

Photo: (Photo : KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images)

Prominent children's book publisher Scholastic finds itself in the eye of a storm as its annual Scholastic Book Fairs grant schools the discretion to include or exclude a novel diversity collection.

This new collection, while aimed at celebrating diversity, is particularly focused on titles emphasizing race and LGBTQ representation.

New Controversial Offering in Scholastic Book Fairs

As the season for Scholastic Book Fairs unfolds-an annual event where students are immersed in a world of books within the confines of their school corridors-Scholastic has introduced its latest collection titled "Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice."

However, this year's inclusion comes with an option, allowing schools to decide whether they want this particular collection on their fair shelves.

The intention behind this collection was to accentuate diversity, specifically by highlighting stories and narratives related to race and LGBTQ representation. However, this move has been met with substantial criticism from various quarters. Gabrielle Balkan, a seasoned school book fair organizer, shared her reservations with Scholastic.

Balkan stressed the importance of Scholastic book fairs as platforms that celebrate and educate about all aspects of the human experience. She emphasized the urgency of not sidelining stories that dive deep into discussions of race or represent LGBTQ themes.

Decoding the Diversity Debate in Scholastic Book Fairs

The newly incorporated diversity collection isn't just any assortment of books.

It bypasses mainstream controversial themes like explicit content, aiming to magnify stories from marginalized groups, with a particular focus on race and LGBTQ representation.

Featured in this collection are stories about civil rights advocates like Ruby Bridges, renowned figures like Ketanji Brown Jackson, and narratives that offer insights into the LGBTQ community. But it's the "opt-in/opt-out" model that has drawn sharp critique. Megan Angelo, an experienced book fair organizer, illuminated the potential risks of this approach.

She expressed concerns about the undue power vested in individual organizers, allowing them the discretion to potentially exclude books that delve into race or LGBTQ representation.

Scholastic At The Crossroads of Diversity Debates

This isn't the maiden voyage of Scholastic through the choppy waters of debate. In previous encounters, the company faced challenges in states like Texas and Florida, with districts questioning certain book selections, particularly those that explored themes of race and LGBTQ representation.

PEN America, a torchbearer for free expression, joined the discourse, appealing to Scholastic to evaluate its current stance.

In a powerful statement, they underscored the pivotal role of literature in cultivating empathy and broadening horizons.

They stressed that a diverse collection, especially those that address race and represent LGBTQ themes, should be accessible to all, emphasizing the obligation publishers have in such trying times of censorship.

Adding another layer to the controversy, a school district in Texas had previously suspended its Scholastic book fair.

The decision was grounded in concerns that some of Scholastic's offerings weren't age-appropriate, inadvertently letting students purchase such books.

Scholastic, in its defense, has chosen to remain tight-lipped about the number of book fairs they've had to cancel over such disagreements in recent years.

In conclusion, as Scholastic Book Fairs continue to be a treasured event for many students nationwide, it remains to be seen how the publisher navigates the intricate landscape of representing diversity, race, and LGBTQ themes.