Across the country, there is a coordinated attempt to restrict what students can learn, teachers can teach, and libraries can lend. But students have a right to learn in an environment where they feel valued and can think for themselves.
This school year and beyond, each one of us has a role to play in ensuring that all Massachusetts students get a quality education in an inclusive environment — free from censorship.
Jump to:
- Right to Learn Toolkit
- Resist Book Bans
- Resist Other Restrictive Policies
- Know Your Rights: Back to School
- Get Involved with ACLU of Massachusetts
RIGHT TO LEARN TOOLKIT
RESIST BOOK BANS
The vast majority of calls to ban books across the country specifically aim to remove books that are by and about LGBTQ people, communities of color, and other marginalized groups. In Massachusetts, there were at least 37 attempts to restrict access to books last year, with 63 titles challenged. We applaud the communities that have resisted such censorship attempts. Read the ACLU of Massachusetts and GLAD’s letter to the Massachusetts Associations of School Superintendents and School Committees.
RESIST OTHER RESTRICTIVE POLICIES
Since 2021, dozens of states have moved to introduce and pass censorship bills that restrict students and teachers from discussing race, gender, and sexual orientation in public schools. At the same time, some have introduced sweeping restrictions on learning materials. Read the ACLU of Massachusetts’ letter opposing one such proposal, which was ultimately rejected by the Ludlow School Committee.
While public schools are allowed to have dress codes and uniform policies, they cannot discriminate against certain students or censor student expression. Read the ACLU of Massachusetts’ letter opposing a dress code proposal with both free speech and discrimination implications.
Other resources for students and educators are available through the ACLU of Massachusetts’ Free Expression Project.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: BACK TO SCHOOL
Massachusetts students have free speech rights at school, but those rights do not protect speech that causes substantial disruption or that qualifies as bullying, and therefore invades the rights of others.
Public school students may not be compelled to recite the pledge of allegiance or to stand during the pledge or national anthem.
Here, we provide basic information about when K-12 public school administrators or law enforcement officers — including school resource officers — can and cannot search public school students or their belongings or question them about their conduct.
GET INVOLVED
Join an Advocates Academy workshop
The ACLU of Massachusetts Advocates Academy is an ongoing series of workshops and trainings created to inspire, educate, and mobilize a new generation of civil liberties advocates.
The ACLU of Massachusetts is committed to working with students across the state, involving them in a variety of state legislative and local municipal campaigns on ACLU priorities. Students can sign up to create or join a high school club.
JOIN THE ACLUM GEN Z BOOK CLUB
The ACLU of Massachusetts' Gen Z Book Club is open to any Gen Z Action Team member who loves to read. The ACLUM Gen Z Book Club meets the last Wednesday of every month. We read a variety of books, including books banned in schools across the U.S.