Kansas Association of Teachers of Teachers of English Response to the Kansas National Education Association's Recent Censorship of Books in Kansas Public Schools

Recently, the Kansas Association of Teachers of English (KATE) became aware of an incident of censorship within the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) Reading Circle Commission. Each year, the Reading Circle is tasked by the KNEA with the reading and selection of books that become a published list and valuable resource that is shared with public schools, educators, students, and families across Kansas. The expertise of the reviewers is a great benefit for educators and students. Many of the books read and reviewed by these professionals are not included on the published list of recommended books. After the process is finalized each year, the reviewed books are placed in school and classroom libraries as well as the hands of children across the state. Two of the books that were reviewed and not selected for the 2025 publication list were found in a Kansas elementary school library. These children’s picture books address and provide instruction on human anatomy. Two executive officers of the KNEA demanded that these books be removed from all Kansas Public School locations, thereby censoring the access of the books by school staff and patrons. 

KATE believes in the importance of intellectual freedom for all students and staff in public schools. Additionally, we affirm the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)’s various position statements on censorship and academic freedom which are as follows: 

• NCTE Position Statement on Supporting Teachers and Students in Discussing Complex Topics (2024)
  
• Statement on Academic Freedom (Revised, 2019)
  
• Guidelines for Dealing with Censorship of Instructional Materials (2018)
  
• The Students’ Right to Read (2018)
  

KATE continues to support and affirm educators’ expertise and students’ access to materials in and outside of the classroom. Furthermore, we denounce the censorship of materials and the work of educators in their professional capacities.

Signed,

The Kansas Association of Teachers of English
July 18, 2025