In November, as pundits discussed polls and politicians held watch parties, a quiet victory took place. Of course it was quiet — this victory went to the librarians.
Publishers Weekly reports that in thousands of school board elections across the country, “voters leaned toward candidates who emphasized equity and consensus-building, and rejected division and censorship.” The trend is undeniable: People want diversity, access, and professional respect returned to public education.
In one Kansas county, a parent entered the race because diversity, equity, and inclusion were being erased from the local school system; that parent won. In New Mexico, two candidates endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers built their platform on labor issues; they won. In several Colorado counties, teacher unions played an active role in supporting candidates who wanted to uphold the professional autonomy of educators; they all won.
And do you remember that sixth-grade teacher in Idaho who was told to remove her “Everyone Is Welcome Here” sign because it was deemed controversial? Well, her name is Meghan Brown, and she just won a seat on the West Ada School Board. Maybe everyone really will be welcome soon.
Even in Texas, the tide seems to be turning. In the Dallas area, an incumbent who wants to “clean up libraries” lost to a former teacher who wants to restore classroom libraries. In the Houston area, Moms-for-Liberty-endorsed candidates lost to candidates who voiced advocacy for the restoration of politically dismantled libraries.
“‘The school board election results we saw here in Texas seem to show us that Texas parents are tired of culture wars being waged in their children’s classrooms and libraries,’ Laney Hawes, cofounder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project (TFTRP), told PW. ‘The misinformation-based political messaging of ‘groomer’ librarians, the dangers of CRT, and the LGBTQ agenda in library books isn’t garnering the votes it did as recently as a year ago.'”
National Education Association President Becky Pringle summed up the trend as a desire to bring in “new leaders committed to making sure every student has the support they need to succeed.” Let’s keep moving in a positive direction for our schools, our libraries, and most importantly, for our students!
