COE Faculty Duo Receive Grant to Focus on Book Censorship in Tennessee

November 26, 2024 – Two College of Education (COE) faculty members have received funding from the University of Memphis Division of Research & Innovation to study book banning practices in the state of Tennessee. Their Communities of Research Scholars (CoRS) Program, titled “Mediating Policy, Politics, and Pedagogy: Exploring Educator Practices in Response to Censorship Efforts in Tennessee,” will look at how educators at the K-12 and university levels can navigate ever changing legislation.

“Book challenges and bans have been on the rise in recent years, reaching every school in some capacity, including self-censorship,” said Matthew Panozzo, assistant professor of Literacy in COE’s Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership (ICL).

Panozzo and his Co-Principal Investigator in this study, Nikki Wright, assistant professor of Education Leadership in COE’s Department of Leadership (LEAD) made note in their proposal to Research & Innovation about what the last four years have looked like for literary works containing controversial topics.

“Book banning and censorship policies have thrust K-12 classrooms and libraries into the national media spotlight and emerged as key issues in state and local political dialogues since early 2021,” the proposal read. “As of spring 2022, 17 states had passed broader policies targeting “divisive concepts” that attempt to control how teachers address race and gender in the classroom.”

Panozzo and Wright intend to spend the spring of 2025 interviewing educators at university-level teacher education programs, as well as K-12 leaders ranging from principals to literacy coaches, across the state to understand more on the intersections of policy and politics. Research & Innovation’s deadline to have work and findings completed is Aug. 31, 2025.

“Our study will provide insights to better understand the ways in which teacher educators and school leaders in Tennessee can navigate, mediate and communicate the influence of book banning and censorship efforts on classroom practice,” said Wright.

The funding will go toward providing financial incentives to participants as well as providing summer pay for Panozzo and Wright. They intend to apply for additional funding through the Elva Knight Grant in the spring, as well as the Spencer Foundation.

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