Ten Things Banned in American Schools (Hint, Guns Aren't One of Them)

Updated on March 30, 2023

• Hope Carrasquilla of Tallahassee Classical School in Florida was forced to resign after a parent complained that sixth-grade students were being shown pornography in class. The pornography in question was Michelangelo's famous statue of David during a Renaissance art lesson. 
• The lesson also contained references to Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" painting and Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", some of the most famous works in the Western art canon.
• Last year parents were sent an advance notice that Michelangelo's statue of David was going to be shown in class but principal Carrasquilla had not provided notice this year.
• Barney Bishop III, the chair of the school board, said:

"Parents are entitled to know anytime their child is being taught a controversial topic and picture."

Missouri's Republican-led legislature has rejected a proposal that would ban children from carrying guns in public. The proposal was rejected by a 104-39 vote with Republicans criticizing it as a redundant infringement on gun rights. This got us thinking about what is - and isn't - banned for kids in American schools...

Ten things banned in American schools

1. Book banning has been gaining momentum in the U.S. The majority of these books emphasize transgender, LGBTQ, female, and minority voices. From July 2021 to June 2022, PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans listed 2,532 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,648 unique book titles.
2. The words "poverty", “dinosaurs,” “birthdays,” and “Halloween” are banned on city-issued tests in New York because they could foster "unpleasant" emotions in children.
3. One Pennsylvania school banned UGG boots because students were hiding cell phones in their shoes and using them during class.
4. Some schools in Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas have banned backpacks because of concerns about concealed weapons. One Long Island school has made clear backpacks a requirement for all students. 
5. In 2009, the New York City Department of Education banned schools from hosting bake sales by prohibiting the sale of "non-approved items".
6. School districts in Florida, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Texas have all banned dodgeball, suggesting that it is violent and encourages bullying.   
7. A California school banned the game of tag because it is too rough.
8. A school in Murrieta, California banned dictionaries for a few days after a parent complained about oral sex references.
9. Some schools in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts have banned hoodies, citing safety concerns.
10. Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs have been banned in American schools because the plastic toys inside might pose a choking concern.

One item not banned in American schools

• Automatic weapons.

Contact your reps and demand action on gun control now.

—Emma Kansiz