Category Archives: Acacia O’Connor: Author

Judy Blume’s Film Debut: “Tiger Eyes” Hits the Big Screen June 7

Posted on May 14, 2013 by

Maybe it was Forever. Perhaps it was Are you there God, it’s Me, Margaret? It could have been Deenie or even Tiger Eyes. Chances are that if you went through puberty since the 1970s, you learned something from one of Judy Blume’s real, relatable and … Continue reading →

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Anne Frank (and all her parts) Will Stay in Northville Schools

Posted on May 14, 2013 by

A reconsideration committee in Northville, Michigan, voted to retain Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl after it was challenged by a mother of a middle schooler who called the book “pornographic.” In a letter to the community, Assistant Superintendent Bob … Continue reading →

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Ta-Ta to Texas Ethnic Studies Bills, May We Never Meet Again

Posted on May 13, 2013 by

Librotraficantes and their allies are dancing over the legislative grave of Texas HB1938, which sought to limit which courses university students could take to fulfill state history requirements. After impressive advocacy efforts on the part of Tony Diaz and Los … Continue reading →

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School Counselor Who Defended ‘Family Book’ Honored by GLSEN

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

In honor of National Teachers Appreciation Day, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has honored Matt Beck, a school counselor in Erie, Illinois, with its 2013 Educator of the Year Award. Matt showed impressive courage and resolve in … Continue reading →

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Fla. Teens Write on the Dangers of Book-Burning

Posted on April 30, 2013 by

For the last few months, the West Palm Beach Library Foundation in Florida has been hosting the travelling exhibition Banned and Burned: Literary Censorship and the Loss of Freedom from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. In addition, the Library asked students in … Continue reading →

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Farewell, Edward de Grazia

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

Edward de Grazia, a lawyer, professor, playwright and staunch defender of free speech died on April 11 at the age of 86. de Grazia represented famed banned writers Arthur Miller, William S. Burroughs, and Normal Mailer among others and served as … Continue reading →

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Texas Day of Action 4/26: Fight for Ethnic Studies!

Posted on April 24, 2013 by

Right now the Texas state legislature is considering a bill that would require college students to take the equivalent of two semesters of “courses providing a comprehensive survey in American History” in order to graduate. One of the two semesters could … Continue reading →

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8th Grade Student Suspended and Arrested for Apparel at School (And no, this is not 1965)

Posted on April 23, 2013 by

Logan Middle School student Jared Marcum took a trip to the courthouse after a confrontation over his t-shirt last week. The t-shirt boasted the National Rifle Association’s logo and the words “Know Your Rights” over an image of a hunting … Continue reading →

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Protests After Alaska School Censors Student Art Show

Posted on April 17, 2013 by

“Art is a way to speak our minds!!!” one hand-drawn sign reads. “IB Art Matters!” reads another. These signs hang on the art display boards where art, done by Palmer High School’s IB Art students, once hung. In response to … Continue reading →

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Marjane Satrapi to CPS: ‘Find your Brain Again. Stop Lying’

Posted on April 9, 2013 by

Khury Petersen-Smith of SocialistWorker.org caught up with Persepolis author Marjane Satrapi to talk about the shady restrictions being placed on the teaching of her book in Chicago. Again, Satrapi showed her insight and savvy and aptly expressed the utter confusion and dismay … Continue reading →

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