On January 24, high school students across Rockingham County organized walk-out events to express their opposition to the book bans enforced by the Rockingham County School Board. On January 9, the board temporarily banned 57 titles from the county's public school libraries, citing concerns about vulgar themes and explicit content. 

Student Voices and Underrepresentation

In the protests, students voiced their frustration, believing they were not fairly represented in decision-making. A student from East Rockingham High School expressed that the bans convey a lack of respect and trust in students in handling book content, suggesting they cannot choose and read books responsibly.

The protests were not confined to objections against the banned books; students also criticized broader policies, including those influenced by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Department of Education. A student from Spotswood High School defended the right of students to access knowledge and condemned restrictions on information.

Supporting Student's Concerns

Students chanted slogans such as 'You can't ban books and love freedom,' emphasizing their First Amendment rights. Some students urged unity, expressing the need for a stronger community facing challenges.

While faculty members did not actively participate in the protests, they offered support by staying nearby to ensure peaceful demonstrations. The faculty's endorsement demonstrated solidarity with students against the imposed restrictions. 

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The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) has penned a letter to the Rockingham County School Board, expressing their opposition to the board's choice to temporarily remove 57 books from school libraries without adhering to the district's established policy for challenges and reviews. NCAC urged the board to reinstate the books on library shelves until a formal review by a designated committee is conducted.  

Board's Decision and Future Actions

Following the guidelines outlined in the 2023 Model Policies, the Rockingham County School Board temporarily eliminated several library books. The decision was made with Matt Cross elected as the newly elected chair. 

Cross mentioned that the board had talked about these modifications with librarians in the division, emphasizing that the discussions were constructive and not intended as a criticism of librarians.

The Rockingham County School Board plans to have public sessions to discuss how they handle controversial books. The list included books with parent complaints, notes about complex topics, and uncertainty about their presence in Rockingham County school libraries. The prohibited books comprise works such as "Beloved," "Looking for Alaska," and "All Boys Aren't Blue."

The Rockingham County School Board also stated on January 19 that it would outline plans for work sessions to involve the public, faculty, and parents in revising policies related to library materials. Once they have a new policy on acquiring library materials, they will update the process for reviewing challenged books and re-evaluate the titles they temporarily removed. Some might be returned to libraries and classrooms.

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