American society, like much of the world, is deeply polarized. There are many behavioral manifestations of that division, but few are as clearly delineated as what parents believe their children need for education. One branch of educational advocacy is the “marketplace of ideas” concept that sees exposure to diversity and the exploration of the unknown as a fundamental aspect of growth. This viewpoint would support the free inclusion of literature about controversial or uncomfortable topics. A different branch of advocacy is the espousal of strong parental rights and influence on curriculum and materials selection. The implicit freedom of expression covenant in the First Amendment is claimed by both groups. Efforts to ban books and other instructional materials have become far more common in recent years. Though litigation is sparse, controversy is not. Educators must be prepared to deal with protests and should develop tactics for avoiding them.