CBLDF Interm Director Weighs In On The New Scholastic Policy

Following up on a previous story regarding Scholastic’s newest Book Fair Policy and Collection that has gotten the attention of the Mainstream News Media, the CBLDF (Comic Book Defense Fund) has shared their opinion on the new policy in a new interview with ICv2’s Brigid Alverson.

Scholastic has always been a part of our lives growing up, whether it has been through their Pop Up Shops (aka Book Fairs), storytime at a library, or perhaps a purchase at a book store. The book publishing company has played an important role in a child’s creativity and education when it comes to reading. But their new practice aims to harm a child’s intellectual growth and education by separating books that offer diversity from the general collection under the guise of Sharing Every Story, Celebrating Every Voice, claiming it was necessary to put books about racism and LGBTQ+ people in a separate collection because of states newest regulations that restrict books on both subjects.

Jeff Trexler, the Interm Director Of The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund spoke to ICv2 in an interview, discussing Scholastic’s newest policy, addressing the librarians fear of losing their jobs, the library’s funding and the publisher’s reason behind the new policy, citing that publishers do not want to sacrifice all book due to legal consequences or public attacks due to certain images or themes because condemning it wouldn’t solve the problem.

“It’s the supplier-side version of what’s happening with librarians in Missouri, Texas, and other areas from states to school districts, [Scholastic is] not pulling books or setting books aside because they’re censors, racists, etc. – they feel forced to take actions they wouldn’t otherwise take due to circumstances beyond their control. Librarians don’t want to lose their jobs or jeopardize the library’s funding. Publishers don’t want schools to have to sacrifice all books due to potential legal consequences or public attacks due to certain images or themes. Condemnation won’t address the underlying problem – I’m much more interested in solving it.”

Jeff Trexler, Interim Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Mr. Trexler also appealed for volunteers, saying that the CBLDF wants to work with local attorneys, librarians, and others in areas where books are being challenged. There is no skill, and there is no relevant background to us. Local networks are power. The people who are part of the CBLDF, they’re the real power of the CBLDF, and that’s how we’re going to win this.

RELATED: Scholastic Responds To New Allegations Regarding Censorship Under New Diversity Offering

It has also drawn widespread condemnation from librarians, commentators, and creators who have described Scholastic’s policy as an attempt to compromise with what has been described as fascist laws. Artists and Creators such as Raina Telgemeier, Katy Farina (artist for the best-selling Baby-Sitters Little Sister), and Jarrett J. Kroscozka have signed a statement opposing the new policy which mentions:

While the Scholastic trade division does publish many diverse books, the fairs division must follow that through and commit to actually getting those books to kids,” the statement said. “The books separated for optional exclusion are almost entirely written about or by people of color or the LGBTQIA+ community. Deciding that the subject matter of these books might go against a state’s law capitulates to the idea that these books are not suitable for children. That is harmful and wrong.

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According to ICv2’s Bridget Alverson, who gathered a short list of graphic novels involved in Scholastic’s Share Every Voice Collection:

• Into the Heartlands: A Black Panther Graphic Novel– Roseanne A. Brown
• Booked– Kwame Alexander
• Freestyle– Gale Galligan
• Mabuhay!– Zackary Sterling
• Miss Quinces– Kat Fajardo
• Speak Up!– Rebecca Burgess
• Remarkably Ruby– Terri Libenson
• Big Nate: Payback Time!– Lincoln Pierce

Source: ICv2

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