Are Public Attitudes Changing?

Trends in Public Opinion Regarding Access to Sexual Content in Schools and Libraries

Abstract

Access to divisive subject matter in public schools and libraries has recently become a hotly debated issue. Between 2021 and 2023, 16 Republican-led states have used state legislation, governor executive orders, or actions by state boards of education to limit discussion of sensitive or controversial topics in schools; specifically critical race theory and LGBTQ issues.1 Florida is one of the states where new laws have mandated changes to how teachers teach, what they can discuss with students, and which books students can access in schools. The Parental Rights in Education Act (2022), often referred to as “Don’t Say Gay,” and the 2023 expansion are two examples of Florida laws aimed at increasing parents’ rights to control the care and upbringing, including the education, of their children. While the changes mandated by these Florida laws has, arguably, increased information sharing between school staff and parents, and transparency related to the books and subject matter available to children in schools, they also have unintended consequences which may violate the constitutional rights of children and parents, and result in harm to vulnerable students. Teachers and librarians have been threatened with termination, criminal prosecution, or violence for allowing “pornography” in schools, and this will likely have a chilling-effect on which materials are removed or selected for school collections. Is this really what the public wants? This article examines trends in public opinion and finds that, despite increased rhetoric and debate on the availability of divisive content in schools, the majority of Americans support access to diverse instruction and materials in public schools.