For more than 25 years, SIRS has been dedicated to the concept of
intellectual freedom and excellence in education. To further this concept, we
established SIRS Intellectual Freedom awards.
2002
Jay Scherma
Thomas Memorial Library
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
2001
Bill Davis
Criminal Justice Committee, Maine Council of Churches
Portland, Maine
"It is truly gratifying to know that library
people, who epitomize intelligent responsibility, should bestow this award on
an educator from youth corrections. Thanks most of all for that.
Unfortunately, the potential for censorship is very great in correctional
facilities."
2000
Laura Johns
Brooksville Elementary School
Brooksville, ME
1999
Deborah M. Locke
Westbrook High School Library
Westbrook, ME
"Many thanks, not only for the recognition of my efforts
to resist censorship in my own school system, but for your sustained
commitment to preserving intellectual freedom throughout our country for so
many years. I am honored to be among the long list of your award
recipients."
1998
Julie Zimmerman
Biddle Publishing Company/Avon Reed Press
Brunswick, ME
1997
Educators for Intellectual Freedom
Farmington, ME
Stuart Hardy:
"Whether it is pretty to think so or not,
almost all of Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" has truly happened... and the kerosene
and matches aren't too far in the future." Elizabeth Cote-Albro:
"Henry S. Commager said it best in What is
America? (1954). Censorship leads to the '....kind of society that is
incapable of exercising real discretion, incapable of doing an intelligent and
honest job and this guarantees a steady intellectual and cultural decline."'
Joseph Corcoran:
"Those who support censorship, whether they be
administrators worried about local politics, the religious right or simply
ignorant, do as much damage to children and learning as the widespread lack of
proper funding for education." Marla Ferris
Molly Sinclair
1996
Laura Johns
Brooksville, ME
1995
No recipient
1994
Nancy Crowell
Scarborough Public Library
Scarborough, ME
1993
No recipient
1992
Clay Conley
Tallie Taylor
Thomas Adams
Massabesic High School
Waterboro, ME
1991
Richard Dyer
Alden Wilson
Maine Arts Commission
1990
No recipient
1989
David Ingmundson
Morse High School
Bath, ME
1988
Stephen King
Author
Bangor, ME
