Banned Books Week celebrated at Sussex Academy

Banned Books Week was Sept. 25-29. As Sussex Academy students walked past the school library, they saw yellow and orange caution tape reading, “Keep Out.”  On the library windows were photos of Sussex Academy staff members reading challenged books. Above the library door a sign read, "Don't Keep Out ...This is Banned Books Week! Celebrate your freedom to read!"

The American Library Association’s Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community and readers of all types in shared support of the freedom to seek, to publish, to read and to express ideas, even those ideas considered unorthodox or unpopular by some.

Sussex Academy students were drawn to the library and swarmed in to check out some of the challenged books and the reasons these books have been challenged over the years. Students were able to see which of their favorite titles have been challenged. Students also had the opportunity to guess why some of their favorite titles may have been challenged, and then check their answers for accuracy. Some students even opted to take a picture of themselves with their favorite banned book, just like their teachers.

Sussex Academy is a public charter, tuition-free in Georgetown. Serving sixth through 12th grades, the school practices a project-based learning approach, and all 11th- and 12th-grade students participate in the International Baccalaureate program. For more information, contact Gina Derrickson at 302-856-3636 or gina.derrickson@saas.k12.de.us.