How to be a brave new teacher

Walking into our school’s book storage room this past week, I intended to catalog options for next school year. I knew I had stored, years ago, 25 copies of Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye.” Opening its box, I found that each copy was gone.

On May 26, 2023, Gov. Kim Reynolds approved Iowa Senate File 496, restricting educators’ ability to support students. SF 496 has officially been added to Iowa law, and Iowa schools are beginning to see its full impact. It bans gender-affirming accommodations without guardian approval, prevents discussions of gender identity in grades K-6, removes students' input on library materials, and mandates that school libraries contain only "age-appropriate materials,” excluding books describing an act deemed sexual. As a result, texts like “The Bluest Eye,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” have been removed from many Iowa schools. These restrictions hinder English teachers’ ability to foster world understanding through literature. In the face of these challenges, educators must consider, how can we move forward?

Step One: Get Informed. Stuck between Scylla and Charybdis, many Iowa educators feel powerless. But understanding educational rights is essential to countering its effects. The Iowa Legislature’s Summary of Legislation provides accessible overviews of passed bills. Additionally, the Iowa State Education Association and other professional organizations advocate for public school employees and offer guidance.

Step Two: Find Inspiration. English teachers have honed their approaches to teaching literary theory, yet SF 496 forces them to navigate topics like gender and sexuality with caution. Still, educators can create meaningful discussions within legal boundaries. In “Workshopping the Canon for Democracy and Justice,” Mary Styslinger emphasizes the necessity of teaching literary theory: "No authority can impose truth on someone who understands the variance of truths proposed by different ideologies." Encouraging critical analysis — rather than explicitly guiding toward contentious topics — allows for rich discussions without violating legislative constraints.

Styslinger provides guiding questions for student-led discourse: Who does this novel think its readers are? What assumptions does it make? What roles do power, class, gender, and race play? What societal structures are evident? Are there class conflicts? By empowering students to drive discussions, educators foster critical thinking within SF 496’s limitations.

Step Three: Maintain Hope. Morale among educators, especially English teachers, has declined under restrictive policies, yet hope remains a vital tool. Staying informed, seeking support from professional networks and adapting teaching methods allow educators to persist. Though bills like SF 496 pose challenges, teachers’ resilience will shape the future of education in Iowa.

Parents, teachers, community members and students should attend school board meetings, voice their concerns to legislators and support Iowa organizations in fighting for our students’ rights to read.

Alexa McClellan is a high school English teacher in Des Moines. She lives in Ames.