ABSTRACT
The selection of books and materials is influenced by local community values, which can vary widely from community to community. At the same time, public school students have rights under the First Amendment, including the right to receive information. Hundreds of books in schools and school libraries are challenged as inappropriate by parents, school officials, and interest groups who believe they have the responsibility, the moral obligation, or the right to determine what public school children can and cannot read. Courts have been inconsistent in interpreting students' First Amendment rights regarding local school board authority to remove books and other materials from school curricula and school libraries. The First Amendment protects the expressive rights of students, including the right to receive information and ideas. The potential for conflict between the power of school boards and the First Amendment rights of students remains.
