Children's Books discussion
Banned Books: discussions, lists
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Discussion of censorship, equity, and other concerns.
Cedar Rapids Iowa Public Library discusses ‘Banned Books Week’https://www.kcrg.com/2024/10/04/cedar...
When you walk into the Cedar Rapids public library, you’re greeted a display outlining the timeline of challenges to books throughout history, showcasing several titles that have come into controversy over the years.
“‘Isn’t that interesting, oh my gosh I read that book as a kid I didn’t even know it was an issue’ and so having something in a public space meant for that public discussion is definitely what we’re trying to do,” said CR Public Library director Dara Schmidt.
Iowa, a ban against sexually explicit materials in public school libraries is now being enforced. Public library staff say after that law went into effect, they’ve seen more parents and students interested in books that were banned from public school libraries.
“Curiosity will happen, people will want that book, and if we didn’t already own it, people are going to be requesting it,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt said by openly talking about challenges against books, the library’s been engaging in more discussions with patrons about it’s policies regarding what it puts on these shelves.
“We absolutely get complaints about books, but people are able to say ‘is this really not okay for anybody in our community’. And most of the time the answer is honestly ‘I don’t like it’,” Schmidt said.
TexasCy-Fair ISD’s focus on libraries followed flood of book challenges by two trustees’ inner circles
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/ar...
Board member Todd LeCompte, his wife, his campaign treasurer and the wife of trustee Lucas Scanlon accounted for 52 of the 58 book reconsideration requests submitted during the 2022-23 school year, according to records obtained from the Houston-area district.
Records obtained from the Houston-area district show that of the 58 book reconsideration requests submitted during the 2022-23 school year, a total of 52 were made by new board member Todd LeCompte, his wife Patti LeCompte, his campaign treasurer Monica Dean and Bethany Scanlon, the wife of trustee Lucas Scanlon, who already was on the board at the time. A total of six books were challenged during the previous three school years combined, and no reconsideration requests have been received since March 2023, according to a district representative.
Still, trustees for the third-largest district in Texas have since voted to eliminate about half of the district's librarians as part of budget cuts, which have resulted in campus libraries being open only part of the time this year. They also implemented a policy in which proposed library materials must be posted online for a 30-day period of public review before they are purchased, along with removing 13 chapters from a series of state-approved science textbooks that touch on topics such as climate change and vaccines.
"When you do an analysis to make a decision as a board member or as a superintendent or as a leadership team to change a policy, I think you need to look at what drove that change," said Duncan Klussmann, a former Houston-area school superintendent who now is an assistant clinical professor of education at the University of Houston. "And if 58 requests came in, mainly from four people, is that really an issue for the whole community?"
Documents obtained from Cy-Fair ISD through an open records request show the district, which serves about 118,000 students northwest of Houston, began processing library book challenges during the 2019-20 school year.
All the book challenges made by the LeComptes, Dean and Bethany Scanlon are permitted by Cy-Fair ISD policy, which allows reconsideration requests to be submitted by any district resident, district employee, parent of a student in the district or a district student who is age 18 or older.
Bethany Scanlon accounted for 34 of the book challenges during the 2022-23 school year, records show. Dean filed 15 reconsideration requests, while the LeComptes combined to challenge three books.
Todd LeCompte, who had not yet been elected when he challenged the inclusion of "Flamer" in the Bridgeland High School library in December 2022, serves on the district's library materials committee that was created in 2023, according to his biography on the Cy-Fair ISD website.
"I think it's clear that in some districts, we've had board members run very much on a single issue of what's in libraries or what's in instructional materials. That's been their sole focus," Klussmann said. "I think that's pretty evident that that's been the trend in a couple districts over the last 3 or 4 years. I'd say Cy-Fair ISD is one of them."
The school-specific challenges submitted by the LeComptes, Bethany Scanlon and Dean focused on a total of nine books, all of which include subject matter about race, gender identity or sexuality.
None of the books they challenged was removed from a school library, according to determinations made by campus-level review committees, which deemed them age-appropriate and educationally suitable, records show.
Cy-Fair ISD is shifting this year from campus review committees to a district-level committee for reviewing challenged books, a district spokesperson said.
As school districts have largely shifted to online ordering for library materials, Klussmann said there are "library books that end up in libraries that probably should not have been in those libraries." But he also said formal review policies like the one in Cy-Fair ISD have "in many cases worked very well" in ensuring collections are appropriate for students.
"The board members have to be careful that they're not playing to a small minority of individuals who are loud," Klussmann said. "They need to have a sense for the whole public and making sure that they're making decisions that the public in general would support."
An opinion piece from Iowahttps://www.thegazette.com/guest-colu...
Iowa author’s dream denied by book ban
This week's latest from MichiganAlpena backs away from firing library board after s-x-themed books are moved
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
Alpena County commissioners threatened to fire public library board members in a fight over s--ual-themed books
The books are being moved, prompting commissioners to back away from the threat
It’s the latest example of book battles involving Michigan public libraries.
In recent months, one librarian had been compared to a serial killer, several library employees resigned and yard signs popped up throughout town accusing the library of “grooming.”
Library officials told Bridge in July that they followed guidelines and resources provided by an attorney with the Library of Michigan and declined to move the books out of the youth section.
Since then, the library has grouped most if not all of the controversial books into a section about puberty.
“That way if they want to find a book, that’s where they go, and if they don’t want to see those books, they can stay away from that section,” Alpena Public Library Board Chair Joe Garber told Bridge Michigan Tuesday.
Commission ChairJohn Kozlowski said the commissioners can appoint two new library board members to five-year terms in coming months.
The board will look to appoint members who are sensitive to the concerns of residents, Kozlowski said.
“Moving forward, we will look at it (who the commissioners appoint to the library board) a lot more closely than we have in the past,” he said.
Garber said he is pleased that the commissioners backed away from their threat to fire the board.
“This is positive for the community and the library, and allows the board to move forward with its job,” Garber said.
Oh good grief. The 5 year old can access it! argument is getting old and has always been ridiculous. Shape your own young one's mind if you must but let other parents parent their own children. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/loc...
North Carolina
Demonic’ or satire? Wake rejects mom’s request to ban book from elementary school.
Dark Lord: The Early Years
Rita Fontaine, the Wake Forest parent who filed the book challenge, told The News & Observer on Friday she will appeal the committee’s decision to the school board.
Fontaine said books that talk about school violence aren’t a good choice given the current climate of school shootings. “Even if it’s satirical, planning a school overthrow and showing pictures of violence and general disdain for authority is not going to be safe in the minds of children,” Fontaine told The N&O.
Earlier this school year, Fontaine’s third-grade daughter borrowed the book from Brassfield’s library. But Fontaine says she stopped her daughter from reading it before it could affect her. “No one under 18 should read this trash,” Fontaine wrote in her Aug. 5 letter asking Brassfield to remove the book from the library.
‘LIKABLE ANTI-HERO’
On Aug. 27, Brassfied’s instructional materials review committee unanimously rejected Fontaine’s request. The committee was made up of the principal, library media coordinator, a counselor, teachers and parents. Committee members said Dirk Lloyd was a “likable anti-hero.” The novel is relatable to students who feel that they’re in an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar people and things don’t make sense, according to the minutes of the committee meeting.
‘WORSHIP OF EVIL AND THE DEMONIC’
On Sept. 8, Fontaine appealed the school’s decision to the district’s Instructional Materials Review Committee, which consists of administrators, teachers and parents. Fontaine cited some passages and illustrations from the novel. She called it an “unhealthy and dangerous book” with violent pictures, “sadistic themes, and foul language, that even kindergarteners can access.”
“While I am all for expanding horizons and exploratory literature, this book has themes of defying authority figures, mistrust of caregivers, plans for school overthrow (with pictures of attack plan), and violence to other children using weapons,” Fontaine wrote in her Sept. 8 letter. “Not to mention inappropriate language and worship of evil and the demonic in general.”
‘THREATS TO BE READ AS RIDICULOUS’
The minutes from Wednesday’s committee meeting show members highlighted the positive aspects of the novel. This includes how there are positive adult role models like the main character’s foster mother and how his friends show loyal behavior.
The committee said the book “might be motivating and attractive to reluctant readers.” Fontaine’s concerns about the violent passages and illustrations were noted. But the committee said the book has an overarching element of humor and satire with the “threats to be read as ridiculous versus serious.”
It was also pointed out that the book isn’t used for instruction. Instead, it’s a choice whether students check the book out of the library. The committee voted 9-1 to uphold Brassfield’s decision to keep the book.
“I am disheartened but not surprised by the outcome,” Fontaine told The N&O Friday. “What shocks me is the majority vote lacks common sense in parenting let alone teaching and shaping young minds in a positive and safe way.”
Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/loc...
Alabama This is weird and totally uncalled for.
https://www.waff.com/video/2024/10/11...
Cullman Library eliminates its young adult book section due to new rules from the state
IdahoEagle Public Library relocates 25 challenged books
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/loc...
The Eagle Public Library has received the highest amount of relocation requests of books since HB710 went into effect July 1.
On Sept. 18 the board voted to move 22 of the books to the adult section. They voted to have the other three books were removed from the shelves and put behind the counter, Board Trustee, Brian Almon told KTVB.
The complaints discussed are dated from July 12 to August 5.
The three books removed now have "dummy books" in their place, made of Styrofoam, Almon said. Visitors need to ask to check these books out.
The three books removed from the shelf include:
The Trauma Cleaner by Sara Kranostein (adult memoir)
Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth (adult stories)
What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold (Teen_
House Bill 710 states if someone complained about an inappropriate book being in the children's or young adult section, that library has 60 days to review and determine if it should be reshelved in another part of the library.
If that library board decides to keep it where it is, they could be sued for $250, plus damages.
The bill went into effect July 1. Since then, the Eagle Public Library has received the most requests for relocation of books, according to Mary DeWalt, who is on the Idaho Library Association.
The board discussed the books in a closed conversation, which was closed to the public. Almon said that was a decision made by the city's attorney.
When asked if keeping the discussion private was allowed, Dewalt said technically yes, because each library district or board has created and approved their own policy regarding how they'll address harmful material complaints.
"Any kind of business conducted by the board generally, does need to be conducted in a public forum," DeWalt said. "There is one exception, for potential litigation... if the library or entity is about to be sued or has the potential."
She added she assumes that since HB710 allows for people to sue libraries, the board interpreted state code to allow for closed conversations about complaints submitted.
Records show that only four of the complaints give explanations for relocation, mostly quoting blurps from the book. The rest only listed book titles for consideration.
Almon said he appreciated complaints that provided reasons why someone wanted a book removed.
When asked about the conversation board trustees had about the books, Almon said they considered, "How often is it checked out? Is this something that's really popular, or is this something that is very obscure, it's hidden somewhere, and nobody ever sees it? And then also book reviews, some of the mainstream reviewers, what did they say about that?"
He added a popular series by Sarah Maas was requested for relocation, and that the series has "high circulation" in the Eagle Public Library.
"Reading some of the excerpts, they did have pretty explicit, graphic situations, " Almon said about Maas's series.
Each of the names of the person who filed a request for relocation were redacted for privacy reasons.
"Perhaps, if you're going to redact some of the information, at least leave one piece like maybe a first name, so that someone who's examining the records can tell whether a particular item was challenged by one person or five different people," DeWalt told KTVB.
Twenty-one of the complaints came in on July 24, 2022.
When asked if they could have all been submitted by the same person, Almon said he couldn't speak specifically to the people who made the complaints.
"I would guess if there is a lot of them one day, it's likely there are members of the community who were watching for when the law went into effect," Almon added.
Four of the complaints were also submitted on July 12. Which means the Sept. 18 decision came five days after the 60-day deadline.
When asked why the board did not make a decision on the four books before the 60 days were up, Almon said there was a scheduling issue.
"Typically, we have meetings on the third Wednesday of the month, and it was just the timing of things," Almon said. "We ended up missing one, meeting there wasn't a quorum because various members had personal issues, they had to take care of. So, we decided to just handle them all at the following meeting."
But the five days, leaves a possibility for the library to be sued.
"Hopefully, whichever person submitted those, we'll get some grace there," Almon said about missing the deadline.
It's unclear if this will be the process moving forward for the Eagle Public library, to review complaints in chunks.
"I think the plan is to just do them as they come in," Almon said.
He added it could become a regular part of the monthly meetings, or not, depending on when, and how many complaints the public makes.
The list of 22 books that were moved to the adult section includes:
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
Elenor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
I’ll give you the sun by Jandy Nelson
Last Night and the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Late Midnight by Cassandra Clare
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Mondays not coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Spinning by Tillie Walden
Super Mutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
That’s what’s happening to my body? Book for Girls by Lynda Madaras
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
Wait what? Heather Corina
We know it was you: A strange Truth Novel by Maggie Thrash
People kill people by Ellen Hopkins
Forever by Judy Blume
IllinoisBook fair controversy at Prairie Hill sparks community debate over book selection
https://roscoenews.com/g/roscoe-il/n/...
Prairie Hill School District (PHSD) finds itself at the center of a heated discussion between upholding students’ access to diverse stories and responding to parental concerns. What began last April as a dispute over a specific book offered at the Scholastic Book Fair has evolved into a community-wide conversation, echoing the national debate over censorship and inclusivity in children’s literature.
A father’s concern: The book that sparked it all
It was a regular spring afternoon when Michael Breeland’s fourth-grade daughter came home from Prairie Hill Elementary, excited about the books she had seen at the Scholastic Book Fair. However, her mention of a specific book, Stars in Their Eyes: A Graphic Novel by Jessica Walton and ASKA, raised concerns for Breeland and his wife. The graphic novel follows two young teens navigating friendship and identity. It features a cover depicting two youths kissing.
“When my daughter brought up that book, I initially thought it might have slipped through the review process,” Breeland explained. “We trust the school to create an environment that is safe for young students, and this book didn’t align with what we consider suitable for elementary-aged children.”
Prairie Hill administrators say that some parents have specifically asked them to make Stars in Their Eyes available for their child. And in their book fair policies, they say they are simply following HB2789, which took effect in January 2024. Supporters applaud the law, signed by Gov. JB Pritziker, for making Illinois the first state to "outlaw book bans" in libraries. Under the law, Illinois libraries can receive state-funded grants only if they adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which says reading materials should not be "proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval." The public libraries in Rockton, South Beloit, and Roscoe have all subscribed to the Library Bill of Rights.
The Breelands’ biggest concern was the book’s recommended reading age—12 and up, for grades 7-9—despite its availability at the elementary book fair, where it was accessible to children as young as four. Stars in Their Eyes is a young adult romance that touches on themes like bisexuality and nonbinary identity—content that the Breelands felt was not appropriate for young readers. “This isn’t about censorship,” Breeland says. “It’s about ensuring age-appropriate content is provided in places intended for young children.”
The incident was particularly jarring for Breeland because of his family’s previous positive experiences with the school. The Breelands had moved to the district in 2021, viewing the school’s Blue Ribbon status as a perk. Any issues they’d had in the past were promptly resolved. This time, however, they found themselves increasingly frustrated. When Breeland’s wife first emailed the librarian about the book, she received no response. A follow-up email eventually prompted a reply from the previous school administration, who defended the book’s presence, citing the wide array of titles available at the fair for different age groups.
Feeling dismissed, Breeland pushed further, suggesting compromises like segregating mature content or limiting access to such books to after-hours when a parent was present. “At the very least, these materials should be segregated for older students and adults to view and purchase,” Breeland said. “But none of our suggestions were considered.” This dismissal of their concerns ultimately led Breeland to escalate the issue to Superintendent Clint Czizeck and eventually to the school board.
Breeland denies that the safeguards Czizeck describes in our interview were in place at the book fair. He says he suggested these safeguards to them afterwards.
Superintendent Clint Czizeck:
The Scholastic Book Fair is meant to offer a wide range of reading materials to appeal to students of varying ages and different reading abilities. While it’s held at the elementary school, students from older grades and their families also visit the book fair. It’s organized in a manner that separates content for specific age groups. For example, materials for younger readers are displayed separately from those meant for older or more mature audiences.
When students attend the book fair during the school day, their teachers or librarians direct them towards more age-appropriate books. If a student picks up a book that is above their grade or reading level, that book is placed in a holding basket, and the librarian encourages the student to return with their parents to review it together before making a purchase. If there’s any question at all, the librarian won’t let the student purchase that book until a parent has the chance to review it.
The state of Illinois has placed explicit prohibitions on banning or restricting access to books in libraries. While the book fair is technically different from a library, we apply that law in the same spirit to the book fair.
At this time, there isn’t a plan to involve parents more directly in selecting books. However, we do send out information about the book fair in advance. This includes a link to the Scholastic website where parents can preview all the books that will be available. We also send a principal letter and a flyer home to let parents know the book fair is coming up. The book fair features around 400 titles, so it’s really meant to serve as a community resource for books, not just for the students of the school where it’s held.
I’d like to note that if a parent wants to place greater controls on their child’s participation in the book fair, they do have that option. We respect the individual opinions of parents, and we’re willing to work with them to address their concerns. It’s worth mentioning that, while the Breelands have expressed concerns about this particular book, I’ve also had other parents specifically request that it be available for their child. We’re striving to meet the needs of all our families as best we can.
When a concern is brought to us, we first address it at the building level. If that response doesn’t suffice, it moves to the district level, and if necessary, it then goes to the board level. That’s how we plan to continue addressing any issues that come up.
Board President Josh Hendryx:
We take pride in being prompt in our responses, but we also ensure that the information provided is accurate. If there is a concern, it’s important to take the necessary time to vet the information, consult with staff, and determine the best course of action.
Rockton-Roscoe News: Michael Breeland mentioned that he might have felt more comfortable about the book fair if there were signs indicating sections with more mature content. Is that something the district would consider?
Superintendent Clint Czizeck:
We do something similar within our library, such as using our Red Dot program to identify content that might require parental approval. I believe we may already be doing something similar for the book fair, but I’d have to double-check to confirm. We want students to have access to appropriate material, and any adjustments that make this clearer for parents are something we’d consider.
Board President Josh Hendryx:
The Red Dot program has been in place for quite a while, even before I joined. Essentially, parents need to sign a permission slip that allows their students to check out or review any books that are part of the Red Dot program. These are books identified as potentially more mature, so we ensure that parents are involved in that decision.
Rockton-Roscoe News: Are there any other measures in place to guide students toward age-appropriate content at the book fair?
Superintendent Clint Czizeck:
During the book fair, students have the opportunity to preview the available books during school hours, and staff members are there to ensure they’re browsing material appropriate for their age level. Also, the library is locked when the librarian is not present during the book fair, so there is always adult supervision whenever the book fair is accessible.
Michael Breeland’s dissatisfaction with the handling of the book fair controversy, along with his growing distrust of the school administration, ultimately led him to pull his children from the district and homeschool them. Despite withdrawing his children, Breeland has remained involved, attending the Prairie Hill School Board meetings, recording them, and posting them to his Facebook page as a resource for parents. “We’re not here to create conflict. We’re here to ensure that the students in the district have a safe, supportive environment,” Breeland said.
Breeland’s actions have sparked a wider conversation among the community, with both support and opposition coming to light. He created Parents of Prairie Hill School District 133, a Facebook group for parents to voice their concerns and share experiences. “After the emails stopped, I was feeling discouraged and angry,” Breeland explained. “I realized I needed to move forward, and that’s when I decided to start the group to bring more transparency.”
The group, now numbering 188 members, has seen several parents express similar frustrations over the lack of responsiveness and transparency from the administration. Breeland has provided a platform where parents can discuss their experiences and stay informed about school board decisions. The group’s anonymous posting feature aims to protect parents who fear backlash, although, Breeland mentioned, “Many parents are still hesitant to speak up, fearing repercussions from the administration.”
Community reluctance and lack of response
The topic of book selection at Scholastic school book fairs and dealing with parental concerns like Breeland’s has proven to be a sensitive issue, with many community members reluctant to share their stance publicly.
The board of the Fluvanna County High School (VA) could not make a decision on the future of the final two books challenged in a batch of 13 and both the books, Dime and What Girls Are Made Of, will be read and reviewed by the full committee for a November decision.https://fluvannareview.com/2024/10/sc...
Better news from TexasThe Denton, Texas, mayor wanted to appoint a frequent book banner to the city’s library board. The city council vetoed the idea.
https://www.ntdaily.com/news/mayor-no...
Debbi Scaggs
Scaggs has challenged over 100 books in Denton’s public libraries and the Denton Independent School District, claiming they were obscene or lacked educational value. She stated on her campaign website that she removed 37 books and restricted 20 others when she was running for School Board Place One last May, though she lost to Barbara Burns by over 3,500 votes.
In February, Scaggs challenged two books featuring gender-nonconforming characters, “Jacob’s New Dress” and “Jacob’s Room to Choose,”
Scaggs reached out to Citizens Defending Freedom for help in challenging these books. The CDF said in a news release, “this dispute revolves around her challenge to the educational suitability of certain books introducing gender ideology to young children.”
At a Denton City Council meeting on Sept. 17, Scaggs protested the book “Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human” being shelved in the teen section of a Denton public library, which is labeled for ages 11 through 17.
She requested the book, which contains drawn nudity, be moved to the adult section.
Very scary news from ArizonaGilbert police probing Higley teacher over books
https://www.queencreektribune.com/new...
A Williams Field High School teacher is being investigated by Gilbert Police due to a complaint lodged by a parent about a book assignment.
The unidentified parent’s complaint was based on the content of books assigned in a class by Brittany O’Neill, an English teacher at the Higley Unified school.
O’Neill teaches a class of 65 students in an Honors Multilingual Literature course, an elective class not required for graduation.
The Higley Unified spokeswoman said Gilbert Police had notified the district on July 31 that a criminal complaint has been lodged by a parent against a teacher over a classroom novel assignment. Last week, she said, the district was informed that Gilbert Police are actively investigating the complaint.
At the Aug. 27 Higley Unified Governing Board meeting, O’Neill detailed how she had worked over the summer to create a comprehensive book list for the class, as per course description provided by Chandler Gilbert Community College.
“These texts span across Asian, Arab, African and Native American literature and range over the past century, with books that are expected to be at a college rigor,” she said.
But that did prevent the parent objecting to the reading materials she was assigning, according to O’Neill.
She said that the parent accused her of being a groomer during the first week of school this year and has subsequently contacted other students’ parents to press criminal charges against her.
O’Neill also implied that the parent in question is getting help from a Higley board member.
“It has barely been a month since we adopted a new procedure to address situations like this, in a way that puts the needs of students, parents and teachers at the forefront,” she said, referring to the updated policies for reading materials approved by the Governing Board.
The policies include updated permission slips and school textbook committees to review and approve new reading materials.
The updated permission slips allow the parents to review any assigned reading material for a period of 15 days.
Parents who deny permission can check boxes on the slip indicating their reasons for denial and ask that their child be assigned alternative reading material.
The committees are made up of parents, community members, teachers and staff, who will periodically hold meetings to discuss, review and approve the new reading materials.
A number of parents and students were also at the Aug. 27 board meeting to advocate for O’Neill.
The novels O’Neill assigned that were mentioned during the board meeting include “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini and “The Perks Of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.
“Books are powerful, they teach us many things, parent Ginger Churchill told the board. “They help define our beliefs and help us examine them.”
Another parent and Higley teacher, Jessica D’Ambrosio, echoed that sentiment and urged parents to select a different book for their child to read if they were unhappy with its content.
Two people spoke up against the assignments at the August meeting.
Grandparent Bob Parrish and parent Dr. Charles Villafranca said that they never received the updated permission slips when their children were assigned new material at the beginning of the school year.
“I am here tonight to discuss that I, a parent, was never given a consent (form), ever, under ARS 15-120.03, for my child to read a book that went against all of our teaching values in my home. My parental rights were stripped,” Villafranca said.
D’Ambrosio followed up on the issue at the board’s Sept. 17 meeting, noting that a parent is still actively trying to press criminal charges against O’Neill and have her fired.
“Following public comment, one member of our school board, against legal advice and correction, used her voice to attempt to shut down and to minimize the concerns and the thoughts of the student who spoke,” she said, addressing board member Anna Van Hoek’s response to student who spoke at the August board meeting.
D’Ambrosio was referring to this comment made by board member Anna Van Hoek as a response to criticism at the Aug. 27 meeting.
“One of the students mentioned that we are teenagers,” Van Hoek told Williams Field senior Dominic D’Amrosio. “That’s exactly it, you are teenagers, not adults to be given adult content to be read.”
Dominic D’Ambrosio said “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” was affecting students in a profound way.
“Although I can understand how some parents are upset with the sensitive nature the book explores, it connects with us teens - giving us something to relate to as well as something to apply and factor into our lives to further us,” Dominic said.
UUGHH New Hampshire! I have family there and this is so disappointing!https://archive.ph/xrUzq#selection-30...
White Mountains Regional High School (NH)
‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian’ was cut from a 10th-grade English class syllabus after a parent objected, said Superintendent Marion Anastasia.
Anastasia said the parent requested the syllabus and lodged her complaint during summer break, but the high school principal removed the book from the syllabus before classes began.
It is unclear why the unnamed parent objected to the award-winning book.
During the Sept. 26 school board meeting, former WMRHS parent Isabella Southworth asked school officials and staff to be more mindful when choosing books in the future.
Southworth said she had objected to a different book when her children were in school, and it was similarly dealt with.
However, she said, “I am not really here to talk about those two books […] I am here to ask about the role of those unwritten and voluntary boundaries around speech in the crazy times we live in. Do they still matter? If they do, should they be applied equally to adults and children? Is it unreasonable to suggest that if a text is not comfortable to be read in front of parents and taxpayers at the school board meeting, it might not be the best choice for English class.”
She said her preferred approach was “Not banning [a book]. Just, not selecting it.” (Same thing, lady)
The school board will look into the district policy on providing course reading lists to parents and guardians.
Said school board member Ben Jellison, “It would be nice to know what the procedure is around communicating that, for transparency.”
IndianaGarrett-Keyser-Butler school board (IN) had banned the use of The Handmaid’s Tale in a 12th grade class but it was reinstated at the last board meeting. The book was used in an advanced placement class.
https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/artic...
Former 10-year school board member Mary Lee Freeze applauded the board and Superintendent Daniel Durrwachter for standing up for what she “believes is right for our school in curriculum for students in the classroom.
“And I don’t believe this book is right. I don’t think it’s a case of banning it, that’s not what we’re talking about. What we are talking about is curriculum for our students in the classroom.”
Her son, Matt Freeze, is a member of the school board.
Laura Freeze shared that if her eighth-grader brought home this book, she would be appalled.
“He does not watch things like this. He doesn’t read things like this. And it’s not about what society it is — how fast things can change if people follow the wrong person,” she said.
“It’s about the explicit descriptions. School is violent enough, why do we need to bring more violence in it? [The book was in an AP class for seniors for college credit not 8th graders!]
“As a 17-year veteran teacher, working mostly with students with intense trauma, it’s amazing how these students sit in your classroom that add to this trauma that you know nothing about.
“This could trigger very destructive trauma-induced actions. I appreciate you looking deeper into this. There’s lots of books out there that you can get the same ideas from.
“I am all for learning about freedom. Learning how fragile democracy is. Learning about the feminism that goes through this book. And rights.
Local pastors Josh Ashenfelter and Bud Owen both thanked everyone for their passion about the issue but expressed opposition to the book being included in the curriculum.
“I am not against anybody in here,” Owen said. “They’re just as passionate in what they believe. But I am also passionate on who I believe in.”
Most of the students do not have a hard copy of the book, but are periodically handed out a few chapters of the book for study. Some have obtained a full copy of the book on their own. Students were given the opportunity to choose an alternate book to study or work from a filtered version from the instructor, Shannon Swonger.
The school’s media center has at least one physical copy and it is also available on their electronic book platform, SORA, Swonger said.
Durrwachter, who began his duties as superintendent this school year, thanked parents and the community for sharing their concern regarding the discussion of the educational content.
“I, as the superintendent, wanted to take time to consider if the content was at the level of maturity of the students. Please be patient as I work with high school administration to have the lease amount of educational disruption possible in all educational and instructional goals,” Durrwachter said.
MassachusettsThis is sad. I live nearby! I can't see anyone I know objecting to books.
https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/...
North Attleboro School District (MA) has developed a new policy for who can complain about books in the district.
School committee members have approved a new policy for considering whether books and other media should be removed from school library shelves in the wake of the controversy that erupted earlier this year after a book was removed.
The uproar ensued in January when it came to light that “Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice” had been taken off the library shelves at Martin School at the end of the 2022-23 school year.
The book was quietly moved from general library circulation to a teachers resource library after a parent complained about it, a review committee voted for its removal, and Superintendent John Antonucci upheld the decision. The move was met with strong, angry opposition and the book was returned to the library shelves.
School committee members approved the proposed Library Media Center Materials Selection Policy by a vote of 6-0 at their meeting Tuesday night.
Under it, challenges will be limited to residents.
The policy spells out three key choices for an expanded reconsideration committee: Keep the library resource where it is, relocate it to a different grade level area or teachers resource area, or remove it from the library collection.
Two-thirds majority votes are required.
“We want to set a high bar,” Antonucci said.
Within 30 days, a written report must be submitted to the superintendent that will include summarizing the opinions of dissenting committee members. The superintendent will have up to 14 days to render a decision.
The complainant will have the right to appeal, also within 14 days.
“This is the biggest, what I think is the most important change,” Antonucci said. “We had to build in an appeal process.”
If the superintendent’s decision leads to material being removed, the school committee will be notified and any resident, not just a parent/guardian, can also appeal.
School board members will review the decision and can overturn it by a majority vote.
“This is an appropriate consideration with multiple steps,” committee member Charlie Peters said. “We want to be prepared for whatever comes next.”
School board member Sarah Stone added, “Talking to parents, one thing I heard over and over again was transparency. I think it’s a good policy.”
“Overall the spirit the policy brings of visibility and transparency is definitely achieved,” board member Keith Lapointe said.
As for the expanded reconsideration committee, it will now include students — which Antonucci said he thinks is very important — as well as staff, administrators, and parents.
“It will be inclusive and representative to make sure the committee represents the population,” he said.
Time for a lawsuit in North Shelby, Alabama!North Shelby Public Library (AL) will be segregating LGBTQ+ books out of their children’s collections.
https://www.alreporter.com/2024/10/04...
The North Shelby Library board approved new policies last week that will create a new youth section requiring parental supervision for access to books about sexual orientation and gender.
The new board members were appointed by Republican lawmakers representing the district after a bill passed for the Legislature to take control of the board selection.
Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, had a public spat with the library over a pride display last year that highlighted LGBTQ books.
Now, minors 17 and under won’t be able to access any books regarding sexual orientation or gender identity without a parent present.
“Materials for children that contain nudity, or a discussion of sexuality must be shelved in a separate area of the Children’s Department to be accessible only with parental guidance, even if the text is regarding religion, history, biology, human anatomy, or human sexuality,” the new policy states.
“The term and phrase ‘Human Sexuality’ and ‘discussion of sexuality’ include topics related to sexual orientation, gender identity, consent, and s---al ethics. Librarians may not direct children (birth to 12 years) to these selections without parental consent.”
The library’s unattended minor policy already requires parental accompaniment through the fifth grade, so most children in the children’s department should already be accompanied by a parent.
The new policies also take steps to comply with new state aid requirements from the Alabama Public Library Service, emphasizing that the library will not acquire obscene or s--ually explicit materials for minors.
The policy uses the state definitions of “obscenity” and “harmful to minors” to define what materials it will not purchase or shelve for the youth areas of the library.
Many libraries across the state have adopted the state definition of “material harmful to minors” as their standard to comply with APLS code, which requires libraries to prevent minors from accessing “materials inappropriate for minors.”
Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, who is one of the three lawmakers who chose new board members for the North Shelby Library, has been trying for years to change that definition to extend to gender. The original bill had more to do with drag shows in public places, but has since been tweaked to apply to library materials as well.
The latest version of that bill has 50 sponsors in the Alabama House of Representatives, signaling easy passage in the first chamber of the Legislature. Although the bill changes the definition of material harmful to minors to reference certain performances of gender, it should not affect children’s books in the library because that is merely one prong of a three-prong test.
In order to be considered “harmful to minors,” the material must “taken as a whole, appeal to the prurient interest of minors” and lack any “artistic, literary, scientific or political value for minors.”
None of the most challenged books in Alabama libraries appear to fall within that definition—for example, the controversial s-x education book “It’s Perfectly Normal” featuring cartoonish depictions of se---al acts, would likely be found to have scientific value.
South CarolinaCharleston Co. school board makes first vote in state book ban policies
https://www.live5news.com/2024/10/03/...
The Charleston County School District’s Board of Trustees took the first step Wednesday night in implementing a new rule to regulate which books are allowed in public schools.
This summer, the new law went into effect for all South Carolina schools and requires school books and learning materials to be age and developmentally appropriate.
Since the South Carolina Department of Education implemented the new law, the Charleston County School District’s Board of Trustees had no choice in approving the policy.
The board approved the first reading of a majority of the policies, but a few additional more specific policies will still need to be voted on in the future.
The state law completely bans material for any age group if it includes visual depictions or descriptions of s--ual conduct. It also outlines a process for someone to challenge them all the way up to the State Board of Education.
...
A local school board also has the authority to adopt a local policy that goes beyond what is required in the regulation.
Board members were presented with multiple, very detailed policies that are aligned with state regulations. Some were revised after already being in place and others were completely new.
“I realize that it’s difficult to define that right now, but I want to make sure that we recognize that it’s still very vague and the interpretation of that is very loose,” Board of Trustees Member Courtney Waters asked.
The rule mandates districts maintain a list of all books and materials in their libraries and media centers.
The regulation allows the State Board of Education to have the final say in local disputes over what materials are appropriate, ranging from school library books to even those read by an afterschool student book club.
“I do have grave concerns that this was created,” Board of Trustees Member Dr. Carol Tempel said. “This regulation was created by an unelected group, and that also has not been reviewed by the legislature.”
Beyond that, it states districts need to provide a list of instructional materials in classes upon reasonable request from a parent or guardian.
“This policy is going to get tested,” Board of Trustees Member Keith Grybowski said. “There is no question about it.”
Banned Books Week 2024: PEN America Rallies to Turn the Page on Book Banshttps://pen.org/banned-books-week-202...
Laramie County Schools (WY) https://capcity.news/community/educat...
Book battles brew in Laramie County schools: A community divided
The school district has received significant public feedback for more than a year on its recently passed library regulations, with opinions ranging from disdain to applause.
Fall 2022 At the time, parents could enroll their children in an “Open Access” or “No Access” option. In addition, a guardian could communicate with librarians if they didn’t want their child to check out certain books or authors.
But for more than a year, trustees have communicated to the public they wanted to add two new options: “No Access to Materials Containing S---ally Explicit Content” and “Parent/Guardian Limited Access.” In addition, the board would compose and enforce its own definition for “s--ally explicit content.”
... Fall 2024. Those proposed rules that took years of discussion, research, public feedback and revisions are now codified in district policy. In a 4–2 vote, board trustees passed the district’s first library policy, colloquially known as the “Opt-In Policy,” in December 2023; in August, they OK’d a second policy, called the “Procurement Policy,” which prohibits librarians from adding any books containing “s---ally explicit content” to their collections.
Many members of the public ... are not pleased about these new rules. And many people — educators, trustees and parents included — have expressed concern that the district is slipping toward book banning,...
Those who stand in opposition to the district’s new policies say the school board is overstepping its power by encroaching on a student’s ability to access ideas. Parents and other community members have banded together to discuss book controversies in public forums, such as the Facebook page “LCSD1 Books in Context.” Community members formed a local nonpartisan organization, Wyoming Family Alliance for Freedom, in 2023 in direct response to the school board meetings. ...
Those who support the policies argue that restrictions on library access help bolster parental rights and keep questionable content out of students’ grasp. One such advocate is Patricia McCoy,...
A mother of four children, McCoy has spent many hours addressing ... explicit content in public school libraries. She has been a regular at the LCSD1 Board of Trustees meetings to voice her discontent about books she says impose an ideology on children.
“I am accepting, I am tolerant to an extent,” McCoy told Cap City News. “I will let you believe what you believe, I will let you do what you want to do until you try to force it on my children — until you tell me I have to believe the same way that you do. That’s not OK.”
Other influential stakeholders stand by McCoy’s mission to expose and flag books with controversial content. School board candidates, a Cheyenne-based policy organization and individuals running for county and state offices have condemned objectionable content in public school libraries.
...
Last fall, the district held a public comment period for its Opt-In Policy. Parents, teachers and students submitted more than 1,500 comments, and a clear message prevailed: The public did not want this policy to pass. After analyzing the comments, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle found that 77% of the submitted statements opposed the Opt-In Policy.
Earlier this year, the district hosted a public comment forum for its second library policy, colloquially known as the “Procurement Policy.” This second policy prohibits librarians from purchasing new books containing “s---ally explicit content,” a definition that the Opt-In Policy established. Cap City News examined the roughly 200 comments and found that 68% disapproved of the Procurement Policy.
“In our view, this was about forcing one set of personal beliefs on the entire district, undermining professional librarians who are trained to ensure age-appropriate materials, and adding unnecessary work and stress to their already overburdened plates.”
Marcie Kindred, mother and founding member of Wyoming Family Alliance for Freedom
... Despite this, the board voted to pass the policies.
Some have argued the board acted in open defiance of the public’s will. And according to Kindred, the board’s book policy decisions have led to apathy.
“You’ll notice that [the comments] are significantly less,” Kindred said. “Folks have completely lost hope in this board. And many folks are saying, ‘What’s the point?’ … [The board has] completely ignored the part of the political process that involves public input. And they’ve made it clear that they’re going to do whatever they want, regardless of what this community wants.”
That said, trustees did integrate public feedback and softened some of the language in its Opt-In Policy. In the final draft, the board altered the policy so that books containing explicit content would only be removed from elementary libraries. Originally, those titles would have been removed from both elementary and junior high collections. In addition, trustees softened language to lessen liability for classroom educators.
Throughout this week, Cap City News will publish a story each day that homes in on a different facet of the LCSD1 school board policies. The five-part series will examine the following topics:
What the policies say and the arguments for and against them
How the policies are affecting district staff
How organizations and Wyoming elected officials are invested in public school library access
The potential for lawsuits, other education-related issues community members would rather focus on, and the role and responsibility of board trustees
This Pennsylvania graduate is lending a hand in the fight against book bans in her hometown school districthttps://keystonenewsroom.com/2024/10/...
Sydney Vincent is a graduate of the Lehighton Area School District and a lover of books. So when she heard of a potential book ban in her community, she jumped into action.
Growing up in the Lehighton Area School District in Carbon County, Sydney Vincent was a voracious reader.
The 2019 graduate said she found a lot of escapism in books. So when Vincent found out from her former English teacher that her alma mater’s school board was talking about a book ban, she knew she had to get involved.
“I want to make sure the kids are able to access all kinds of books,” Vincent said. “A book ban strips kids of their privacy and their own personal interests.”
In August, 33 books were removed from the Lehighton High School library for an “audit” to determine if the books were appropriate for students, if they should require parental permission to read, or, potentially, be banned.
Sean Gleaves, treasurer of the school board, originally proposed the idea of putting together a committee to conduct the audit, where members read the 33 books and evaluate the content.
“My entire intention is to protect the innocence of children, and I believe that some of the ideas that are in some of these books are dangerous to children,” Gleaves said during a recent school board meeting.
Some of the books include LGBTQ+ issues and African American history. Others provide facts about sexual health and reproduction. According to Vincent, a complete list of the book titles in question has not been made public.
“This is the second time this has happened,” Vincent said. “The previous school board went through with it. Books about sexuality and race in middle school require a parental signature to take out. That flew under the noses of the people. I think a lot of local politicians hope these things do fly under the radar.”
During the September meeting of the Lehighton School District, parents and students alike spoke both in favor of, and against, the book audit and potential ban.
“I have a few friends who are part of the LGBTQ+ community in school and a lot of them are not supported by their parents and they don’t feel safe going to their parents,” said Natalie Blair, a Lehighton student.
Blair also pointed out that if she was old enough to get pregnant, she should be considered mature enough to read a book on birth control and how not to get pregnant.
While the audit did take place in mid-September, and most of the books are back on the shelf, Vincent said everything was done based on people’s opinions and personal bias. There is really no policy in place to deal with the issue, she said. It’s worth noting, too, that those books may not have been saved if people like Vincent didn’t show up to defend them.
Lehighton’s Policy 109 deals with resource materials in the district, which includes library books. It provides vague guidance for content guidelines and does not provide a procedure or process if content is challenged.
The policy does state that “no adoption or significant change of materials shall be made without the Superintendent’s recommendation, except by a two-thirds vote of the Board.”
“They need to establish policy,” Vincent said. “They jumped the gun when they took those books off the shelves. Unfortunately, the community and the board aren’t communicating. Local government relies on people not paying attention. To fight this, we just need to keep showing up.”
GOOD NEWS!https://pen.org/press-release/victory...
24 books that had been previously banned in Escambia County Schools (FL) are back on shelves
e Escambia County (FL) School Board has returned 24 previously restricted books to school library shelves in a victory for the freedom to read over the discriminatory restrictions at the heart of its lawsuit against the board.
Along with Penguin Random House, authors, and families, PEN America is suing the school district for restricting over 100 books; books by two authors who were original plaintiffs in the suit, David Levithan and Sarah S. Brannen, were among those returned to shelves, as well as one title by children’s author Kyle Lukoff (another of his books remains restricted). Books by other author plaintiffs in the suit, George M. Johnson and Ashley Hope Pérez, also remain restricted.
The plaintiffs celebrate the return of these 24 books to the shelves, signifying at least some recognition of the viewpoint discrimination at the heart of the initial book restrictions. However, despite the return of these titles, the county’s implementation of Florida House Bill 1069 has resulted in many works remaining inaccessible. Consequently, the plaintiffs in PEN America, et al., v. Escambia County School Board filed a motion with the District Court on Friday seeking to amend their complaint to challenge the school district’s indefinite review process.
The vociferously anti-LGBTQ superintendent of Spotsylvania, Virginia, county schools district claims he was fired not for a lack of qualifications or his bigoted online activity, but for joining with former child star-turned-ultra-conservative evangelical activist Kirk Cameron in a campaign to sideline secular children’s titles by Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher of children’s books, in favor of Christian-themed books that “reinforce biblically-based, foundational values.”"from BookRiot's Literary Activism newsletter
More news from Literary ActivismHorry County, South Carolina, schools have pulled Assassination Classroom from shelves for review
https://comicbook.com/anime/news/mang...
The ordeal was sparked after the mother of a ninth-grader submitted a complaint to the district.
“They’re talking about the operative on how they’re going to kill this teacher, and different ways to kill the teacher.”
Currently, Horry County is reviewing the complaint, so Assassination Classroom is under a temporary ban. The district has 30 days to assess the manga and make a final decision about its inclusion in libraries.
Some good news in Florida for a changeAlachua County School Board keeps books on shelves
Each book’s decision was on recommendation of the District Library Association
https://www.alligator.org/article/202...
The Alachua County School Board voted to keep nine books on shelves at a meeting Tuesday. Each challenged book went through a review process through the District Library Advisory Council.
Alachua County residents may only object to a maximum of one material per month. There is no limit to the number of objections parents or guardians may make, due to their access to school district materials.
Books can be challenged if the material includes p----graphy or s---al content, or is age-inappropriate for grade level, not suited for student needs or hard for students to comprehend.
A list of all challenged books in Alachua County is available through the Alachua County School Board.
Three out of the nine books were challenged under the reasoning the material was inappropriate for the age and grade level for which it is made available.
The book "You Don't Know Everything Jilly P!" by Alex Gino was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote Tuesday.
It was challenged in December 2023 and was also one of six books still left to receive hearings from 2023. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves.
The petitioner of the challenge failed to offer any documents relating to their request and they did not appear for the DLAC book challenge hearing, Staff Attorney Susan Seigle said.
The book "Water for Elephants" by Sara Guren was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves with circulation limited to grades 11 and 12, as it was appealing and relevant to the age groups, according to the case document.
The book "The Ship We Built" by Lexi Bean was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
Although the book contains depictions of s--ual abuse, the case document reports it meets the needs of students who understand the topics of substance abuse by parents and parents who are incarcerated. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves with circulation from fifth grade and above.
Two of the nine books were challenged under the reasoning the material pushed the concept of gender ideology.
The book "Ana on the Edge" by A.J. Sass was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
The book addressed the needs of middle school students struggling with gender identity, according to the case document. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves with circulation fifth grade and up.
The book "Marvin Redpost - Is He a Girl?" by Lois Sachar was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
DLAC found the book addressed gender stereotypes and not gender ideology and recommended it remain on shelves.
Two of the nine books were challenged under the reasoning they contained s--ual conduct.
The book “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Piccoult was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
In a District Library Advisory Council hearing on Aug. 15 for the challenged book, DLAC recommended keeping it on shelves after the council found no p----graphic intent, according to the case document.
The book "Jesus Land: A Memoir" by Julia Scheeres was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
Although the case document reported it depicts child sexual abuse, the material addresses several topics that are required instruction. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves for grades 9 through 12.
Two of the nine books were challenged under the reasoning that the material was not suited for the students’ needs or their ability to comprehend the material.
The book "Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
DLAC recommended it remain on shelves with circulation limited to students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. The material is suited to a small group of students enrolled in higher level courses, according to the case document.
District Media Specialist Patty Duval said advanced placement courses also include International Baccalaureate and Cambridge courses during the ACSB meeting.
The book "Ho'onani: Hulu Warrior" by Heather Gale was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
The book addressed required curriculum regarding the history and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves.
The next ACSB meeting will be Oct. 15.
New JerseyNew Jersey’s Freedom to Read Act will be moving on to review by the whole state Senate.
https://www.insidernj.com/the-great-t...
North Carolinahttps://www.wral.com/story/wake-schoo...
The Wake County Public School System is investigating the appropriateness of a short story that was assigned to students at Athens Drive Magnet High School, spokeswoman Lisa Luten told WRAL News.
It comes after 15-year-old student Lorena Benson told board members in September that she was uncomfortable reading and discussing a short story that included a brief description of s--ual activity between two cousins.
The school system confirmed that Benson's 10th grade English class was assigned to read “Tomorrow is Too Far” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The 2006 story is about a girl whose brother has recently died.
Conservative activists have taken up Benson's cause, and a well-known pastor disrupted a county school board meeting Tuesday night to challenge the assignment.
John Amanchukwu, a pastor known for challenging school boards across the country and working with national conservative groups, complained about library books available in some schools and the assignment given to Benson and then refused to leave to podium once his three minutes of public comment were over.
“Justice for Lorena Benson!” he shouted repeatedly.
That violated the school board’s meeting policy, and Chairman Chris Heagarty asked Amanchukwu to leave. Heagarty noted that state law prohibits “willful” disruptions of official meetings.
Heagarty apologized for the disruption after Amanchukwu left.
“It was a premeditated publicly stunt," Heagarty said. Amanchukwu is promoting his business, he said. “No one on this board is breaking the law.”
Heagarty took issue with Amanchukwu’s claims that school board members were “criminals” because certain books were “available” in schools that depict sexuality or gender identity, which Amanchukwu said violated “HB49.”
Senate Bill 49, also know as the Parents Bill of Rights, only prohibits instructional materials from teaching students about gender identity, sexuality and s--ual activity in kindergarten through fourth grades. It doesn’t reference library book selections — inside of a teacher’s classroom library or inside of the schoolwide library.
Benson and her family were not in attendance during Tuesday’s meeting.
But her dad, Bruce Benson, talked with WRAL News on Wednesday.
“There’s thousands of great books that could be taught to kids,” he said. “Why does something in the school system and the teachers have to go out of the way to teach content that is so clearly over the line?”
Lorena Benson’s comment to the school board came during a Sept. 17 meeting, in which she also said she would be leaving the school, where she had only recently enrolled.
“This graphic, incestual, sexual language should not be taught in any class, much less an Honors English class,” Benson told the board.
Benson took issue with a sentence near the beginning of the story, published in Prospect Magazine.
The school system began looking into the appropriateness of the assignment after Benson's comment during the meeting and before Tuesday's disruption. The Benson family never brought their concerns to the teacher or principal before speaking publicly.
The 15-year-old said her family moved to North Carolina from the Dominican Republic a few months ago.
Benson’s last day at Athens Drive was Sept. 20. She returned to her previous school, an online and in-person Christian homeschool co-op based out of Washington State.
District officials declined an on-camera interview, citing privacy laws for students and personnel. However, they said they have been evaluating the appropriateness of the assignment since Benson’s complaint and have not reached a conclusion.
Bruce Benson said the family never brought their concerns up to the school principal before deciding to withdraw Lorena from the school after they searched online and found other people complaining about books in Wake County schools.
Follow-upNC pastor escorted from Wake school board meeting in handcuffs. Was it a publicity stunt?
John Amanchukwu, a Wake Forest resident and an assistant and youth pastor at Raleigh’s Upper Room Church of God in Christ, has garnered millions of views on social media after he was escorted from a Wake County school board meeting in handcuffs this week.
Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/loc...
Good news from MissouriSt. Joseph School District (MO) will be keeping two more books in their school libraries: Tricks and 13 Reasons Why.
https://www.kq2.com/news/sjsd-book-co...
13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher and "Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins will stay on library shelves.
13 Reasons Why was retained without restrictions. Jay Asher's book is in seven school libraries including Benton, Central, Lafayette, Bode, Robidoux, Truman, and Spring Garden.
According to documents obtained by KQ2, the book has been checked out a total of 24 times in the last two school years.
"Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins was retained, but parent permission is required. The book will stay on the shelf, but when a student checks it out, a parent permission notification will tell the librarian if the child is allowed to read it. A parent must provide permission.
Tricks is in Benton and Central libraries. The book has been checked out seven times in the last two school years.
There are three challenges remaining including "All Boys aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson, "If I was Your Girl" by Meredith Russo, and "Looking for Alaska" by John Green.
BOSTON!Somerville Library (MA) had a bomb threat that disrupted Drag Queen Story Time.
https://www.wcvb.com/article/bomb-thr...
A small number of people gathered on Saturday to protest a drag queen story hour at the Somerville Library, but video shows about 100 supporters of the event also showed up.
"Whenever hate arrives in Somerville or Medford or Boston, love and joy always come out 10-fold to kind of drown it out, and that's what happened here," said Christian Krenek.
"Luckily, those few people who did show up were vastly outnumbered by many members of our community who want to support queer people, who want to support children, who want to make sure we can be an inclusive community," said Willie Burnley Jr.
Subsequently, a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the library and the cancellation of the story hour. No bomb was found but the threat has prompted a police investigation.
It remains unclear if the threat was related to the protests and police have not yet determined if the threat was a hate crime.
Protestors did not formally identify themselves at the scene, but online, one protestor claimed victory for canceling the story hour, taking credit along with her Super Happy Fun America sisters. That Massachusetts-based group is known for its ties to white nationalism and the far-right.
“We are relieved that today’s drag queen story hour for 4- to 8-year-old children at the Somerville Public Library was cancelled. It is our goal to preserve children’s innocence and we did show up to peacefully voice our objections to the event. We do, however, denounce the action of a bomb threat being called in, especially at a children’s event. We have no connection to the caller,” Christine Doherty, Director of Operations for Super Happy Fun America, wrote in a statement.
"Hate has no place here in Somerville. When any one of us is hurt, we're all hurt, so it's just not acceptable," said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne.
PennsylvaniaHow the Independence Law Center is gaining momentum in Susquehanna Valley school districts
https://www.wgal.com/article/south-ce...
ArkansasConway School Board grills candidates on anti-trans restroom policy, book removals
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/20...
The Conway School Board now has an almost direct line to make sure everything it does pleases Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. On Tuesday night, the board voted 5-1 to appoint Thomas Kennedy, the husband of Sanders’ chief legal counsel, as its newest member.
Before making their choice, sitting board members interviewed the candidates. Two issues still on some board members’ minds were the controversies surrounding a decision two years ago to remove two transgender-themed books from school library shelves and to require students and adults to use the school bathrooms that match the gender they were assigned at birth. Anyone uncomfortable with the assigned restroom can request private accommodations, according to the policy. A similar version of the bathroom measure later became state law.
During Tuesday’s meeting, board president Dr. David Naylor Jr. described both books as “s-----ly explicit” and asked the candidates if they agreed with the board’s decision on them.
Kennedy praised the Conway school board’s decision to remove the books and mentioned another transgender-themed book, “This Book Is Gay,” which he said is among four or five other books that “might need pulled.”
“The school system is not here to teach children their sexuality. The school system is here to teach them academics,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy also applauded the district’s bathroom policy, saying, “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
He even joked about it. “I just used one,” he said, referring to a men’s restroom. “I felt really good in there. Thank you for that.”
The sole member who voted for another candidate was Sheila Franklin, who supported Leona Walton, a respected community activist, particularly in the Pine Street neighborhood.
Walton had earlier dared to say that she thinks book decisions should be left to librarians and parents. An older Black woman, Walton also said the policy mandating which restroom to use “struck a nerve” with her because, as a child, “I couldn’t go to the bathroom you went to because of the color of my skin. So, I felt at the time that we were going backwards because of sexual orientation.”
After being told that other accommodations would be provided if someone wasn’t comfortable with the gender bathroom assignment, Walton said she believed she could follow the policy with some clarification.
TexasMontgomery County, Texas
to reconsider citizen-led book review policy
Currently, the policy allows a panel of citizens to review books submitted by other residents. However, despite requiring that a person must be a resident of Montgomery County to submit a book for review, the residency of an applicant is not actually checked.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Just a few months after first implementing a citizen-led book review board, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court may soon reconsider some aspects of its plan to ensure that only true residents can submit a book for review.
In March, the commissioners court approved a new Reconsideration of Library Materials policy. Currently, the policy allows a panel of citizens, appointed by members of the Commissioners Court, to review books submitted by other residents. However, despite requiring that a person must be a resident of Montgomery County to submit a book for review, the residency of an applicant is not actually checked.
"It's kind of a messy policy; there are some things in here that need to be fixed," Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said. "We do need to make sure that if someone is going to file a complaint that they're a Montgomery County resident. It's mentioned in here that you need to be a Montgomery County resident but then on the next page it says we're not going to require them to provide any sort of proof that they're a Montgomery County resident."
The court had two agenda items regarding the Montgomery County Memorial Library System, including one about by-laws and policies. During the public comment period, several residents brought up issues they had with the book review board, including who exactly was allowed to submit a review.
County Judge Mark Keough, who authored the policy, said no proof of residence was required to allow Woodlands residents who technically live in Harris County to participate.
Noack said he understood the reasoning but still thought more should be done.
"We need to make sure they're Montgomery County residents," he said. "We have worked really hard as a court and as elected officials to bring in great books and make sure that we have a library that's kind of reflective of everybody in our community. What's to stop one person from coming in and pulling that book, or all of those books?"
The policy needs to be reviewed so that only community members can have a say, Noack said.
"I want the county attorney to work with the librarian and they can work with you and your team and make sure that this is designed to meet the needs of everybody," he said.
Back to Crawford County where they don't quit even though a judge said put the books back. There.Is.No. P___ in libraries! And ye gads! How many times does that word appear in this one article? The Republican Party of Crawford County, Arkansas, put up billboards that claim voting republican will keep p---n out of the libraries.
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/n...
The Crawford County Library System (CCLS) — along with Crawford County Judge Chris Keith, the Crawford County Quorum Court, and the interim library director — was sued by parents in 2023 for moving LGBTQ+ books made for children to the adult section of the library called the "social section." Three mothers filed the lawsuit on behalf of their children, stating that the library system was violating their First Amendment right to receive information.
In September 2024, a federal judge ruled that the library must return books on "social issues" to general circulation. The judge ordered the library system to "immediately dissolve the 'social' or 'social issues' section." The CCLS must now move the books to "appropriate sections," regardless of their opinions.
Additionally, the judge said the library system is prohibited from "coercing CCLS staff into acting inconsistently with this injunction."
"In order for us to receive federal funding, we have to follow CIPA rules, which is the rules for internet access for children, and that prevents us from having any type of p---n on our computers anywhere, because all of our computers are filtered," said Charlene McDonnough, Executive Director of the Crawford County Library System, when asked how they regulate.
"Our wireless is filtered, so the only time anyone can access p---n here at the library and the computer area is through bypassing our filters, which means they are doing something illegal. We follow those same rules and guidelines for our books, because we are not allowed to have p---n in our libraries," McDonnough explained.
CCLS board chair Keith Pigg said the library will not address the billboards.
"We are aware of the billboards and are purposely not going to address them," Pigg said. "We have worked hard to focus our libraries on being a resource for our communities and on building young readers. We are going to continue our important work to that end."
"I thought it was a low blow. The library is not a place for political agenda by any party" said Pigg, when asked about his personal reaction to seeing the billboards. "There's no p---- in the library. I mean, it's, it's against state and federal laws for that that to be a case."
Sheila Bell with the Democratic Party of Crawford County called the billboards deceitful on Facebook.
"Democrats cannot put p----raphy in libraries. Republicans cannot put p----graphy in libraries," Bell wrote. "Neither we, nor they, have that power. It is illegal, under Arkansas law and federal law, for pornography — as defined by Congress — to be in any library in America."
Wow how low can you go?Virginia where this library won Virginia Library Association Library of the Year
https://royalexaminer.com/library-boa...
Library Board Ponders Reason For, Impacts From County’s Decision to Stop Public Works Maintenance of Library Facility
October 7, the Samuels Public Library Board of Trustees got down to some less pleasant business later that afternoon. That business was exploring options to fund some building and grounds maintenance projects in the wake of the Warren County Board of Supervisors unanticipated and un-publicly announced instruction to its Public Works Department to stop performing maintenance on the County-owned public library facility as has been done for a decade.
(Writer’s note: After publication of this story Library officials clarified that Cheryl Cullers had notified them of a scheduling conflict that would prevent her from attending the October 7 Library Board of Trustees meeting.)
Samuels Public Library may have recently been named The Virginia Library Association (VLA) 2024 state Library of the Year from over 400 public libraries across the state, but apparently that doesn’t guarantee you continuation of your facility maintenance agreement with the county you operate in.
Monday afternoon, October 7, the Samuels Public Library Board of Trustees ... was exploring options to fund some building and grounds maintenance projects in the wake of the Warren County Board of Supervisors unanticipated and un-publicly announced instruction to its Public Works Department to stop performing maintenance on the County-owned public library facility as has been done for a decade.
...
An emergency Board of Trustees meeting ... focused on a sudden change in the County maintenance policy toward the library.
“The fact is that the prior County administration, as of 2014, established the system whereby the Library could utilize the County’s ‘Facility Duty’ program to request basic maintenance service. Services such as electrical, plumbing, miscellaneous maintenance, and lawn service, which were within their normal scope of work on other County-owned buildings,” Board of Trustees President and meeting Chairman Melody Hotek told her board in opening the 4:30 p.m. convened meeting.
According to information received by the Royal Examiner, when that 2014 change was announced in a letter from then-County Administrator Doug Stanley, it was cited as a money-saving option for the County in reducing the Library’s annual operational budget requests to the County for maintenance work done by private contractors on the County-owned building and grounds.
“Needless to say, we are confused about this change in procedure and can only ask — To What End? Why the sudden change after ten years? Without the benefit of being included in the County’s discussions or thinking on this matter, we have to make some emergency decisions at this point in time,” Hotek told her board as the meeting got down to business.
(Writer’s note: After publication of this story Library officials clarified that Cheryl Cullers had notified them of a scheduling conflict that would prevent her from attending the October 7 Library Board of Trustees meeting.)
Samuels Public Library may have recently been named The Virginia Library Association (VLA) 2024 state Library of the Year from over 400 public libraries across the state, but apparently that doesn’t guarantee you continuation of your facility maintenance agreement with the county you operate in.
In the wake of the celebratory Ribbon Cutting of its new Studio 330 Media-Memory Lab at 3 p.m. Monday afternoon, October 7, the Samuels Public Library Board of Trustees got down to some less pleasant business later that afternoon. That business was exploring options to fund some building and grounds maintenance projects in the wake of the Warren County Board of Supervisors unanticipated and un-publicly announced instruction to its Public Works Department to stop performing maintenance on the County-owned public library facility as has been done for a decade.
Cheryl Cullers, to the left behind the falling ribbon bow, was smiling at the Media/Memory Lab ribbon cutting, along with Town Mayor Lori Cockrell and Town Manager Joe Waltz, among others. But the county board chairman missed an emergency Board of Trustees meeting about an hour and a half later. That meeting focused on a sudden change in the County maintenance policy toward the library. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini
“The fact is that the prior County administration, as of 2014, established the system whereby the Library could utilize the County’s ‘Facility Duty’ program to request basic maintenance service. Services such as electrical, plumbing, miscellaneous maintenance, and lawn service, which were within their normal scope of work on other County-owned buildings,” Board of Trustees President and meeting Chairman Melody Hotek told her board in opening the 4:30 p.m. convened meeting.
According to information received by the Royal Examiner, when that 2014 change was announced in a letter from then-County Administrator Doug Stanley, it was cited as a money-saving option for the County in reducing the Library’s annual operational budget requests to the County for maintenance work done by private contractors on the County-owned building and grounds.
“Needless to say, we are confused about this change in procedure and can only ask — To What End? Why the sudden change after ten years? Without the benefit of being included in the County’s discussions or thinking on this matter, we have to make some emergency decisions at this point in time,” Hotek told her board as the meeting got down to business.
It might be noted that over the past month, one topic of several County Board of Supervisors Closed/Executive Session meetings has been “library services.” As we reported on the supervisors’ “library services” Closed Session topic at their September 3rd meeting:
“As to the Closed/Executive Session item, in the wake of all the turmoil and conflicting messaging from some supervisors regarding operational control and content of Samuels Public Library materials last year, this passage got our attention: ‘… for consultation with legal counsel and the provision of legal advice regarding legal matters related to the providing of library services’.
“If it hadn’t been Closed Session discussion, we would have called Chairman Cullers for some clarity on exactly what kind of legal advice the board was getting regarding ‘the providing of library services’ in the future.”
Well, I guess now we know.
But as library Board of Trustees President Hotek asked, “To What End? Why …”
...
Among the emergency decisions the Samuels Library Board of Trustees meeting was called to authorize was the acquisition of independent legal counsel to help facilitate a review of the existing lease terms and any historical precedents in that regard from the amended operational arrangement in place for a decade. Up to $10,000 was unanimously authorized for the retention of legal counsel on the matter.
Other decisions approved included instructing Library Director of Operations Eileen Grady to explore pending maintenance costs and work with the Finance Committee on reviewing projected Fiscal Year-2025/26 budget request numbers to the County in anticipation of the impact of contractor charges for maintenance work. “Our request for funding will need to be increased with the anticipated increase in operating expenses,” Hotek reminded her board.
In a concluding remark, Samuels Public Library Trustees President Hotek told her board that: “Going forward we need to keep in the back of our mind that fundraised money is not for operating expenses. Our donors do not normally make donations toward operating expenses. They anticipate that the County will cover those through their taxpayer dollars for the library, and rightly so.”
In response to a board member comment that the County already did not cover 100% of the library’s operating expenses, thus requiring some reserves already to be used in this regard, Hotek observed that currently the County covered 75% of its contracted public library’s operational expenses. To cover the difference the library pulls from State funding, its reserves as necessary, and occasionally endowment sources as allowable.
A story that is NOT trueGeorge Dawson Middle School in Texas Banned Book Written by Eponymous Author?
"Life Is So Good" was written by the grandson of an enslaved person.
Snopes.com investigated and thankfully found this accusation to be untrue.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/geo...
This is sickening. Way to NOT harm the children! Kelly Jensen of BookRiot reportsA South Carolina Public Library Won’t Buy New Books for Those Under 18
Thanks to a new proviso in the South Carolina state budget, at least one public library system in the state has made the decision to acquire no new books for those under the age of 18. In a statement released across York County Public Library’s social media late last week, the library board chair announced the moratorium on new purchases until the State better clarifies what is and is not permitted in public libraries.
York County Library’s statement reads as follows:
On behalf of the York County Library (YCL) Board of Trustees, we wish to inform the public of an important decision made by the YCL board at its October 10, 2024, meeting. The board voted to place a moratorium on purchasing any materials for minors (17 and under) until further clarification and guidance is received from the state regarding Proviso 27.1 and until the Attorney General makes a ruling providing libraries with guidance for collection development.
The motion passed with a 4-3 vote. Those infavor were Dennis Getter, Carol Herring, Susan Piening, and Tim Steele. Those opposed were Wendi Michael, Charles Robinson, and Anne Witte.
This moratorium is in effect immediately and will be in place indefinitely as we work to ensure we are in full compliance with any new regulations or requirements or until the board chooses to dissolve the moratorium. The motion and resulting action refer to information in a memorandum issued by the State Library to SC library directors regarding State Aid which reads “The State Library is in the process of requesting an attorney general’s opinion on the matter related to authority of collection development in public libraries.
The memorandum also outlines the requirements the State Library determined for compliance with Proviso 27.1 to receive State Aid. York County Library meets all the requirements and the YCL board signed the Certification Form in June of 2024.
Please know that we understand the impact these changes will have, and we are committed to working diligently to find solutions that address the needs of our community while meeting the requirements set forth by our state legislature.
In Service,
Dr. Anne Royal Witte on behalf of the York County Board of Trustees
https://www.yclibrary.org/?utm_source...
Oh no they didn't?! I know this is true, doesn't everyone know the story of Squanto? There was a Disney movie in 1994! It's on Disney+ I take exception to the generalization of "early explorers." Who were they? Dutch? I grew up on ancestral Wampanoag land and live very close by there now, possibly also on Wampanoag land, probably Narragansett. WE who do public history know these stories. We know King Philip's War, we know the Wampanoag want their artifacts and land back. FACTS
https://www.brown.edu/news/2022-10-05...
This is facts not fiction. I spotted this book in the library and it seemed to be popular. AHHH Texas!
https://popular.info/p/texas-county-s...
Texas county sidelines librarians, reclassifies book on abuse of Native Americans as "fiction"
A Texas county has mandated public libraries move a well-regarded children's book documenting the mistreatment of Native Americans in New England — Colonization and the Wampanoag Story— from the "non-fiction" section to "fiction." The decision was made after the government of Montgomery County, under pressure from right-wing activists, removed librarians from the process of reviewing children's books and replaced them with a "Citizens Review Committee." Colonization and the Wampanoag Story was "challenged" by an unknown person on September 10, 2024.
The Committee responded by ordering that the book be moved to the fiction section of public libraries in Montgomery County by October 17, 2024, according to public records obtained by the Texas Freedom To Read Project shared with Popular Information.
The author of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story is Linda Coombs, a "historian from the Wampanoag Tribe." Coombs spent three decades working at the Wampanoag Indigenous Program, an initiative to preserve the history of the Wampanoag people.
The book is published by Penguin Random House, which describes the book as "[t]he true story of the Indigenous Nations of the American Northeast, including the Wampanoag nation and others, and their history up to present day."
Colonization and the Wampanoag Story tells the real story of the brutalization of the Wampanoag people by European settlers. An excerpt:
"[C]ertain ship captain began kidnapping Wampanoag men and those of other tribal nations along the coast. Sailors invited them aboard their ships under the pretense of trading, then lifted anchor and sailed away. The men were prisoners, stolen from their families and homes.
They were taken to England and Spain to be sold into slavery and paraded through the streets as "novelties," something for the people of Europe to gawk at as curiosities — not as human beings. Imagine how these men must of felt when they realized their situation: they would never see their children, parents, wives, relatives or communities and homelands again. What a terrible shock for all their families when they realized their men were gone — just disappeared forever.
This is fact, not fiction.
In addition to telling the history of the Wampanoag people, the book also includes several parables. But these sections are identified in italics.
It does not change that it is a history book, which is why it is classified as non-fiction by the Library of Congress. The book's Library of Congress classification begins with "E99," the non-fiction classification for books about Native American peoples. It is also classified as non-fiction by Penguin Random House, the Houston Public Library, the Austin Public Library, and the Fort Worth Public Library.
The move to reclassify Colonization and the Wampanoag Story comes after a controversial decision last March to remove librarians from the decision-making process when a children's book carried by Montgomery County is challenged. Previously, there was an advisory committee comprised of five librarians and five community members. As a result of the change, the librarians were removed from the Committee, and the determinations of the new Committee, which consisted of five non-librarians, became binding.
The change to the book review process was driven by a local right-wing group, Two Moms and Some Books. The group is led by Michele Nuckolls, a local mother. Nuckolls believes "children’s books with alternate gender ideology to be moved to the adult section." The group also is demanding more "conservative and Christian’s [sic] books in the public library." The group is especially enthusiastic about titles from Brave Books, which publishes children's books from far-right authors like Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Donald Trump's former press secretary Sean Spicer, and Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn . In case there is any confusion about the objectives of the group, its slogan is "Make Libraries Great Again!"
Before the change to the review process, Nuckolls expressed frustration that the local library system was not altering its holding to conform to her ideology. Nuckolls then successfully lobbied the Montgomery County Commission to change the policy and put non-librarians in charge:
“It’s been a long road,” said Michele Nuckolls, a Montgomery County mom who advocates for keeping the children’s section of local libraries safe and appropriate for kids.
“I first sounded the alarm about concerning children’s books at commissioners court a year ago,” Nuckolls told Texas Scorecard…
“I challenged two of the most alarming children’s books late last year and the committee head, a librarian, sent me a letter saying that they would stay right where they were,” said Nuckolls. “The old policy was not working.”
Under the new policy, once a children's book is challenged, it must immediately be moved to the adult section, with only adults allowed to access it. The book is then considered by the Citizens Review Committee at a meeting that is "closed to the public except for the Resident who made a formal request for review." The decisions of the Citizen's Review Committee are final, and there is no appeals process.
From the outset, critics of the new policy warned that it could be abused.
Teresa Kenney, a Montgomery County resident who owns an independent bookstore, submitted a public records request revealing the decision to reclassify Colonization and the Wampanoag Story. No explanation for the decision was provided.
_____________________________________________________________
AND Kamala Harris knows this is true and is being attacked for it. Some people would rather stick their heads up their butts than apologize, make reparations or admit that our lively experiment is not perfect.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/har...
Groups with national ties, Wyo state officials intensify debate over books in schoolsThe vast majority of books challenged as inappropriate in Laramie County schools come from one person.
https://capcity.news/education-2/2024...
Residents believe children are being influenced and told what to believe [and are] concern[ed] that people in the district are pushing ideology onto students. People on both sides of the argument believe that national politics and culture wars are influencing the LCSD1 board’s book policy decisions.
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Laramie County’s local chapter for Moms for Liberty was started by mother Kathy Scigliano. The chapter is now led by Patricia McCoy, a mother of four children who all attended LCSD1. She told Cap City News her goal as chapter chair is to empower and educate parents on their rights to improve their children’s education. Her intention is not to battle big government or upend the status quo.
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McCoy said she had several motivations for joining Moms for Liberty. Over the past several years, she has observed a shift in the public school district’s curriculum. The school district is pushing systems of belief onto students, which has significantly affected her personal life. McCoy’s child experienced gender dysphoria and socially transitioned, which led to academic struggles and the loss of friends. McCoy withdrew her child from their school environment, which she said “influenced” her child into identifying as male. McCoy’s child eventually graduated high school and is now thriving, she said.
“If you look back when I’m speaking to the school board, I always make a point to say, ‘We have excellent teachers in our district,’ because it’s true,” McCoy said. “We have fantastic teachers in our district. But like with every profession, there’s always going to be one or two bad apples that try to rotten the whole bunch.”
During the two years her child distanced themself from their family, nobody was willing to listen to or help McCoy except Moms for Liberty, she said.
McCoy isn’t the only community stakeholder who feels certain ideologies are being shoved onto students. Nathan Winters is a former state representative and founder of Wyoming Family Alliance, an organization that advocates for stronger parental rights for Wyomingites. The organization is rooted in the foundations of faith, family and liberty, per the organization’s website. Winters believes that institutions across the U.S., including those with influence over the circulation of ideas, are failing Americans. He feels that organizations like the American Library Association and PEN America are increasingly promoting left-leaning agendas and materials that include s--ual themes.
“I think that many, many people in our culture today have begun to … feel manipulated. And as a result, they are showing up more and more” to meetings, Winters told Cap City News in an interview. “And all we’re saying is, ‘Hey, that should not be in the control of those people’s hands. It should be in the control of the parent.’”
Winters cites an instance in 2023 where newly appointed ALA director Emily Drabinski had labeled herself a “Marxist lesbian” in a social media post.
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The WFA president questions the definition of “banned books,” too, stating that reports of content being restricted aren’t being communicated in good faith.
“When you walk past a rack of books, or if it’s in a glass case — it’s all decorated, and it says ‘Read banned books,’ and the banned books are literally right there — it’s very evident to anyone who will think about it that those, evidently, are not banned books. They’re immediately accessible,” he said.
Winters contends that the modern concept of “book banning” is a fabrication. He labeled contemporary book bans as a “pseudo-event,” an anomaly created for the purpose of media attention. A pseudo-event, according to Winters, promotes an idea and acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Brooke Bulgrin, the Laramie County Moms for Liberty treasurer, has submitted around 50 of the district’s 63 form nominations as of late September. McCoy has sent in five. Bulgrin’s book nomination submissions are taken verbatim from Book Looks, a website started in 2022 that aims to identify books containing what it considers questionable content. The site publishes reports that feature book passages from titles depicting sexual acts or other scenarios that may be uncomfortable to some readers. Parents can copy and paste book descriptions and cherry-picked passages from Book Looks at LCSD1 without having to read the books themselves.
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Proponents such as Bulgrin have employed hyperbolic language at school board meetings to get their points across. At a June 2023 school board meeting, Bulgrin read from a book in the district’s library. She said there should “be zero sentences, pages or paragraphs available in public school libraries referencing” the sexual acts or terms mentioned in the book, which she began listing.
Jen Solis is a co-founder of Wyoming Family Alliance for Freedom – not to be confused with Wyoming Family Alliance – an organization that advocates for all Wyomingites to read freely. She believes those who want to remove obscene material from school, in many case, are well-intentioned.
“If I genuinely believed that there was smut and p----graphy in my kid’s school, I might also be concerned,” Solis said. “But I have kids in school, I have the ability to email my kids, teachers and librarians and ask questions. … But if you’re a, you know, if you’re an older person whose kids are no longer in school and you’re hearing this misinformation, I see how it’s easy to be like, ‘Oh, this is terrible that this is happening.’”
Moms for Liberty and Wyoming Family Alliance have forged allies with Wyoming candidates and current state officials.
Other local organizations have allied with national groups. At its second annual policy summit in November 2023, Wyoming Family Alliance partnered with the Heritage Foundation, a national right-leaning think tank that has garnered significant media scrutiny in recent months for its Project 2025 initiative.
Local school board candidates have also been campaigning on platforms promoting parental rights. Several have commented on the book policies. Candidates include Shelia Kistler, an educator at LCSD1, and Kaleigh Rehm, both of whom have been regular speakers at public meetings and supporters of the book policies. At the Aug. 19 board meeting, Kistler said anyone found in possession of library books with graphic content could be convicted of a crime.
“I’m just floored that this ‘banning books’ term is a fearmongering term” Kistler said. “That needs to stop, and we need to respect parents.”
Kistler spoke on her beliefs further in a recent Q&A with Cap City News. She said the board’s decision to pass the policy has put power back into parents’ hands and allows all parents to be heard and respected. She added that the Procurement Policy is a step in the right direction, as it functions as a safety net for district staff.
Rehm, a mother of three children, said at the same meeting that passing the Procurement Policy was the right choice, even if most of the public comments were against it.
“It’s not a public vote,” Rehm said. “The public already voted. And we voted for all of you on the board to protect our kids. And that’s what we expect tonight.”
Wyoming Family Alliance has endorsed Kistler, Rehm and Alicia Smith as “conservative candidates” for the school board, which is a non-partisan entity.
Meanwhile, Barb Cook, a retired educator and newcomer in the candidate race, has opposed the book policies. She said at the April 8 board meeting that existing library policies were sufficient and that trained librarians should be trusted to do their jobs. She said during her time as an educator, she never came across inappropriate books and that the Procurement Policy is a “pre-emptive ban.” The district has “tied the hands of our librarians."
House District 43 Republican nominee Ann Lucas said at the April 8 school board meeting that she has been pleased with the LCSD1 board’s actions.
“The next step, of course, is to control how clean and dirty books get into the school libraries,” Lucas said in reference to the Procurement Policy at the meeting. “A former school superintendent here spoke at a board meeting not that long ago and referenced ‘the clean list’ and ‘clean books.’ So I know that if we have clean books, we have dirty books. It must be. So, how did they get there?”
Lucas beat longtime incumbent Dan Zwonitzer in August’s primary election. She is running uncontested in the general election.
Solis, the co-founder for Wyoming Family Alliance for Freedom, is the Democratic candidate for House District 41, while former LCSD1 board trustee Marguerite Herman is running for Senate District 8 as the Democratic nominee. Solis and Herman have been staunch opponents of library policies that restrict book access.
Another candidate, Kathy Scigliano, founder and former chair of Laramie County’s M4L chapter, ran for a position on the Laramie County Board of Commissioners but failed to gain enough votes in August’s primary election. She approved of Campbell County’s decision to part ways with the American Library Association.
Over the past year, State Rep. Ben Hornok has commented at LCSD1 board meetings books in the district contain obscene content. He has also said any parent who shares such material is committing a misdemeanor and could be put on Wyoming’s sx offenders list.
It’s possible the LCSD1 Board of Trustees may soon have a closer connection with state legislators, too.
Trustee Alicia Smith is married to Darin Smith, a Cheyenne attorney and the Republican candidate who prevailed in August’s Senate District 6 race. According to Smith’s campaign website, he received an official endorsement from former President Donald Trump. He has spoken in support of parental rights and the removal of s--ually explicit books in schools at board meetings over the past year.
Smith contributed financially to the Laramie County Moms for Liberty’s political action committee during the 2022 general election. Commenting further on education, the candidate said in a recent Q&A with Cap City News that he is committed to “banning controversial programs that push progressive, anti-American agendas, such as CRT in the curriculum.”
Perhaps one of the most notable figures pledging support for parental rights and school library policies is Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder. In November 2023, the superintendent released policy recommendations on how districts could modify their library material policies. The policy suggestions, deemed pro-parent and pro–local control, sample policies directly from LCSD1’s definitions and procedures found in the Opt-In Policy.
Degenfelder’s document is only a tool for districts to reference rather than an enforcement.
Degenfelder has also coordinated with outside groups to express parental rights in schools. In a June video published by Wyoming Family Alliance, the superintendent congratulated the LCSD1 Board of Trustees for passing its Opt-In Policy. She also gave a speech at the June 2023 Western Conservative Summit in Denver. The superintendent said during the summit that s--ually explicit content is accessible to elementary students, that academic achievement is being deemphasized and that “our public schools are becoming settings of public experimentation that serve to divide rather than unite us.”
WisconsinControversial book subject of renewed discussion in Oshkosh School District
https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwauke...
One YA book Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human
Oshkosh parent Joshua Vienola said he wants it removed because he said some images are too s---ally graphic for students. He has four school-aged kids.
“When I saw the illustrations in the book, I thought it was absolutely disgusting and repulsive. I had thought that that was what was considered p----graphy,” Vienola said. Vienola said he was so completely taken aback that the Oshkosh School Board decided to allow this book in the district that he now homeschools his kids.
“I don’t want them exposed to that. We don’t have those views on life or those kinds of morals,” Vienola said.
Jennifer Considine said she supports the school board’s decision to keep the piece of literature on district bookshelves.
“I think kids have a right to have access to information, and I think kids deserve to have books in the library that represent their experiences and that represent a diversity of experiences,” Considine said.
She has two kids, a middle and a high schooler, in the Oshkosh School District. Considine said this book is more than just a s-x book.
“It’s about relationships and it’s about the human body,” Considine said.
Dr. Samuel Coleman is the district’s assistant superintendent of instruction. Coleman said this book is also about human development, anatomy, reproduction, sexual identity and sexual development.
While Coleman acknowledged there are images that may shock people, he said this book is not p----graphic.
“There are images of body parts, there are images of individuals engaging in intercourse. For something to be considered to be pornographic, the intent has to be that content has to be intended to s-----lly arouse an individual, and that’s not what this is, an educational book,” Coleman said.
He said students have First Amendment rights, including access to this book. Coleman said it’s important to note this book is not required reading.
“This book is not in any of our curriculum expectations. It’s in a library, and students can choose to read it if they want to and if they don’t want to, or if they find this material to be offensive or explicit, they can certainly choose not to check it out. Parents also have the right and the ability to tell their students not to access certain library materials,” Coleman said.
Other books challenged
Gender Queer
Fun Home
Milk and Honey
Anatomy of a Boyfriend
Anatomy of a Single Girl
Good gravy! Are there any books LEFT in Cobb County schools?The total number of books now banned in Cobb public schools is now up to 32.
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/...
Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said that six more were removed for "sexually explicit and graphic content."
The total number of books now banned in Cobb public schools is now up to 32. Back on Sept. 19, six books were banned in an update to the district's ongoing book review process to remove and not provide materials in media centers that are determined to have lewd, vulgar or sexually explicit content, according to a release.
And on Thursday, Ragsdale shared that six more books were being pulled. The books are:
Summer of Owen Todd
More Happy Than Not
This Book Is Gay
We Know It Was You
The Sun and Her Flowers
City of Saints and Thieves
The latest list of literature will join 26 other books previously removed and no longer accessible in any Cobb County school. Those books are:
Laid
Crank
Tricks
Push
Milk and Honey
It Starts with Us
The Infinite Moment of Us
Casual Vacancy
Identical
Boys Aren't Blue
Juliet Takes a Breath
Monday's Not Coming
City of Thieves
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl
Flamer
Blankets
It Ends with Us
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Lucky
Thirteen Reasons Why
A Court of Wings and Ruin
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Frost and Starlight
A Court of Silver Flames
Iron Fire
Ragsdale said he encourages parents to seek the book out for themselves either online or at a local library to decide if it's something they want their child to read at home.
"No matter your decision, our Board has and continues to hold me accountable to leading the teaching of your children while you choose how to raise your family," Ragsdale said in a statement.
Ragsdale also went on to argue to those against pulling the books out of the school system that "this is a grand total of thirty-two books out of more than a million," explaining that he believes this represents just a small fraction of the literature that is out there to read.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91205568/...Why this children’s book publisher isn’t afraid of book bans
Kokila, a 5-year-old Penguin Young Readers imprint, built a brand on diversity. Now it’s navigating the anti-woke backlash.
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I guess I knew this was coming, sigh, but hopefully, all the attention given to Colonization and the Wampanoag Story will make more and more intelligent Texans and Americans in general both read this book and also show to their children, to students that this book is non fiction and thus TRUTHFUL AND REALISTIC.
Manybooks wrote: "I guess I knew this was coming, sigh, but hopefully, all the attention given to Colonization and the Wampanoag Story will make more and more intelligent Texans and Americans in general both read this book and also show to their children, to students that this book is non fiction and thus TRUTHFUL AND REALISTIC...."Here's the context behind the move- white supremacy.
https://www.houstonpress.com/news/a-s...
Michele Nuckolls, a homeschool parent frequents Conroe ISD school board meetings despite not having children in the district, is the one-woman show behind Two Moms and Some Books, a blog for her work finding books she deems inappropriate in public school and community libraries.
“The new policy is working,” Nuckolls said. “Citizens act as a jury appointed by each of you [the commissioners] to review the books and review placement based on community values.”
Nuckolls urged the court not to revise the policy and spoke out against Noack’s appointment of a new member, James Stilwell, to the citizen’s reconsideration committee established by the policy.
She argued that Noack’s term would end in December and that the court should hold off until Precinct 3 Commissioner Elect Ritch Wheeler assumes office in January and can appoint a “reasonable conservative.”
The committee comprises five commissioner-appointed residents who review children's, young adult, and parenting book challenges. Librarians had previously served on the committee but were stripped of their positions in March.
“The new policy is working,” Nuckolls said. “Citizens act as a jury appointed by each of you [the commissioners] to review the books and review placement based on community values.”
"They keep talking about conservative values, but when we had the article come out in the Montgomery County Courier, and it mentioned The Woodlands Pride Community Library, the overwhelming response was positive,” Teresa Kenney, owner of Village Books, said. “There was some negative. Obviously, we would expect that.”
Kenney said some of the same people reacting negatively to the library, which is housed within her store and displays works featuring minority, diverse and LGBTQ narratives that are likely taken off or not put on the public libraries’ shelves, referenced The Turner Diaries by William Luther Pierce in their comments.
Pierce was the head of the National Alliance, a neo-Nazi group, and his novel has been tied to the alt-right and White Nationalism.
“That’s very frightening because that’s essentially white supremacy. That’s what they’re playing to,” Kenney said in an interview with the Houston Press. “Those are the values that they’re playing to. That fear. That’s not conservative values.”
Nuckolls mentioned the library on Tuesday, which was founded by Rachel Walker, the engagement specialist and chair of community outreach for The Woodlands Pride. She described it as “specifically for the previously mentioned books” she took issue with.
The mom-turned-advocate called out Kenney’s past proposed appointment to the reconsideration committee, as she has done on her blog. Kenney was initially considered to serve in the role in July. This drew criticism from Nuckolls, who wrote that she was "not a conservative and would not have represented our community values."
There are no requirements to serve on the committee, such as affiliating with a certain ideology or political party.
Kenney was among roughly ten attendees who showed up on Tuesday to encourage the court to revise the policy. Kenney called for transparency in the committee meeting’s procedures and questioned whether there were boundaries to their responsibilities.
Notably, the business owner addressed one of the committee's decisions, which she learned about through a public records request, to recategorize a nonfiction title, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs, to a fiction book.
“I can only assume it is because it is a telling of the history of indigenous people that they do not approve of,” Kenney said. “Is this type of decision to recategorize a published book by a major respected publisher under their scope of work in the reconsideration policy? Whose history is fact or fiction?”
She asked for librarian oversight to return to the committee. Kenney also requested more information about these reviews be shared with the public. Kenney reiterated the need for experts with background knowledge in library science or education to be included in these conservations. She added that this is particularly true when these decisions are final, and there are currently no checks and balances.
Montana’s State Library Commission had a “spirited” discussion last week about the definition of young adult literature. https://flatheadbeacon.com/2024/10/11...
.Commissioner Tammy Hall prefaced the discussion by sharing her concern that while the Library of Congress continues to define “young adult” as age 12-18, other definitions have broadened in recent decades to include readers as young as 10 and as old as 25. Citing a May 2023 article in Publishers Weekly, Hall noted that 51% of young adult titles sold are purchased by adults over the age of 30.
“If the librarians are assuming it’s 13 to 18 and so are the parents, no problem. If there are people in Montana who think that it’s appropriate to have books that would be for 25 and 26-year-olds in the YA [section], that’s the problem,” Hall said, arguing that a book a 26-year-old would read “is not necessarily appropriate for a 10-year-old.”
Hall attributed the shifting definition of young adult books in part to the American Library Association, which the commission sought to distance Montana from last year by voting to withdraw the State Library from ALA membership. While the ALA’s Young Adult Library Services Association has acknowledged an expansion in the conventional definition of young adult, the association itself defines the age group as between 12 and 18 and makes frequent use of the term “teen” in its materials.
Commissioner Brian Rossmann noted that many Montana libraries similarly use “teen” in reference to their collections and youth sections instead of young adult. He added that, during discussion on the same topic at a recent meeting of the regional Broad Valleys Library Federation, librarians from southwest Montana emphasized the important role teen-branded spaces play for library-going youth. As for whether any of those libraries had received a complaint about a specific young adult title, Rossmann said there has been only one and it was “very oblique.”
“The spaces were more important than the collections, having a space for these kids that are no longer children but are not yet adults,” Rossmann told fellow commissioners, adding that such spaces were seen as safe places for teens to engage in clubs, tutoring and other activities. “So I’m not quite sure why we’re having this discussion. I think that the libraries are doing a very good job.”
Commissioner Carmen Cuthbertson, who also vice-chairs the board of trustees at Kalispell’s ImagineIF Libraries, questioned whether the state library commission ought to draft a recommendation for Montana librarians on how to deal with a book designated by others as a young adult title. She specifically referenced the graphic-novel-styled memoir “Gender Queer,” which has topped the ALA’s annual list of the most-challenged books in America since 2021 and played prominently in more sweeping debates about the titles housed in local libraries.
“What is the responsibility of a public library to be clear about what’s in those sections?” Cuthbertson asked. “Are we representing to the public that if it’s called a teen section, there’s some objective standard like with movies that this is or this is not in this book? It’s about empowering the parents to make choices for their kids.”
Tracy Cook, the State Library’s lead consulting librarian, clarified for the commission that most local librarians in Montana are in the practice of reviewing and analyzing new titles to determine where to appropriately catalog them. Cook also said it’s common in the state’s smaller libraries for librarians to use their familiarity with the community to help guide parents and children toward books they’ll likely find engaging. The same goes for children’s librarians and teen librarians in larger communities, she added.
“When I’ve seen them in action, they are clearly trying to focus on the love of reading and be respectful of people and their needs and the development of that individual standing in front of them,” Cook said. “Librarians don’t always follow — in fact they rarely follow — everything the American Library Association recommends.”
Later, Cuthbertson initiated a broader philosophical conversation about the role Montana libraries play in their respective communities. She said the issue arose for her in preparation for ImagineIF’s upcoming review of its strategic plan. In her view, the Flathead Valley’s library system has experienced “mission creep” as it’s sought to meet the specific needs of distinct community groups. Given that direction, Cuthbertson asked for the commission’s input on what a library’s priority should be in the community it serves.
...
Wednesday’s discussions were primarily high-level, with no commission action taken and no recommendations suggested or adopted. But Hall and Cuthbertson both said the conservations helped resolve key questions they’d been grappling with. The commission did accept a motion by Burnett to postpone discussion of its Statement on the Freedom to Read, a nonbinding affirmation adopted in 2022 that states “all Montanans will have access to library content and services, sufficient unto their needs. To allow anything less is contrary to the rights afforded to Montanans and Americans.”
Knox County, TennesseePatron records are confidential. You don't know who checked the books out. I bet you any money Gender Queer was checked out by this same woman who objects to it and/or another M4L disciples.
https://www.wbir.com/article/news/inv...
New amendments to a Tennessee state law that target some library books in schools is the topic of controversy among educators, parents and students.
Knox County Schools is required to follow this new ruling as state law, which changed the previous policy that referred to "The Miller Test" to determine if the value of the work as a whole outweighs the content considered obscene.
The new law outlaws nudity of any kind, descriptions of sexual excitement, s---al conduct, excess violence or sadomasochistic abuse.
The law also said any Local Education Agency, or school board, is subject to a loss of funding if a district or school keeps a "banned book" on the shelves. In a board meeting in August, the Knox County Schools Board of Education passed a policy revision to comply with state law.
WBIR chose five titles known to be in Knox County school libraries that are subject to controversy by the group “Knox County Moms for Liberty.” The group has been vocal in school board meetings and has created a list of books it consider explicit, asking for the district to take them off of the shelves and out of the hands of young students.
We asked KCS for more information regarding where these five titles were in schools and who checked them out.
The titles:
Gender Queer, Maia Kobabe
Fun Home, Alison Bechdel
The records WBIR requested did not find this book in KCS libraries.
The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
The Perks of Being a Wallflower" was checked out the most of the available titles on Knox County Schools' shelves. It can be found in all Knox County high schools, except Austin-East High School. It's also in four middle schools — Whittle Springs, Virtual and Special Day Schools, Farragut and Northwest Middle Schools. The book was checked out the most by Hardin Valley Academy students in the 2022-2023 school year, totaling nine times.
The book found the least across KCS libraries was "Gender Queer." There are four copies in high schools — West, Austin-East, Karns and L&N STEM Academy. The book was checked out a total of seven times in the last two years.
The Bluest Eye was checked out a total of 16 times. The title is in every high school in Knox County, with the exception of Career Magnet Academy. The book was checked out the most at Austin-East High School, with a total of 12 times during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.
There are 28 copies, including e-books, of The Handmaid’s Tale across Knox County high schools, with the exception of South Doyle High School. The book was checked out a total of 19 times and was checked out the most at L&N Stem a total of seven times over two years.
In total, out of the 60,000 Knox County students, these five "banned books" were checked out a total of 90 times over two school years.
We brought this information back to Knox County Moms for Liberty and shared this data with their treasurer, Sherri Garrett. She told us one of the titles she was most concerned about was Gender Queer.
"Even if one child has checked this book out in a two-year span, that's still one child too many," Garrett said. "They are targeting teenagers who are already going through issues with puberty and hormone changes. I think that confuses children and, and I think it's alarming."
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I wish I had those white supremacy parents adult children in my first year German classes. I would pound the evils of Nazism and the Holocaust into them with absolutely no mercy. And if the parents complained, I would totally and derisively laugh at them.
Rockingham County Public School just banned Allegedly and Looking For Alaska from the district.https://rocktownnow.com/news/218812-r...
At their meeting Monday night, the Rockingham County School Board voted 4-1 to remove ‘Allegedly,’ by Tiffany Jackson, countering the recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Larry Shifflett’s content review committee to retain the book. Board member Jackie Lohr cast the lone dissenting vote.
Shortly after, the Board voted unanimously to follow the committee’s recommendation to remove ‘Looking For Alaska,’ by John Green, as they found the book contains s---ally explicit content as defined by school division’s recently adopted supplementary materials policy.
Board member Hollie Cave recommended removal of ‘Allegedly,’ referencing several pages of the book that she said contained s---ly explicit material. This is the latest of several books to be removed despite the committee’s recommendations during the board’s meetings since the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
During the meeting’s public comment period, local resident Michael Stempel spoke about his concern over the board’s recent pattern of rejecting the committee’s recommendations to retain certain books.
“There have been multiple occasions, as noted tonight, where the school board has rejected the recommendations of its committee they created,” Stemple said. “These individuals are unpaid volunteers who take time away from their lives and their families to follow the school boards mandate and initiative to identify books with s----lly explicit content. My question for the school board is: why would you create a committee for this purpose and ignore their recommendations?”
In response, Chair Matt Cross referred back to comments from Shifflett during a recent school board meeting, during which he stated that the content review committee’s verdicts on the books they screen are recommendations that do not dictate the School Board’s actions.
From BookRiot's Literary Activism editor Kelly JensenFrom the school district that brought you a banning of 250-some titles and the Moms For Liberty member who just entered the school building to look for “naughty books” was a proposal from a board member to have the Ten Commandments on school walls. This is Iredell-Statesville Schools in North Carolina
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/edu...
he Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education rejected a request that would have adopted a display of the Ten Commandments in schools.
The display poster would have featured the Ten Commandments and the Bill of Rights.
School board member Brian Sloan was behind the proposal. He said the posters would be paid for by private donations, but other school board members worry any lawsuits against the district would have to be fought using the local budget.
The measure failed to get a second motion to reach a vote during Monday's meeting. Another board member introduced a measure to delay the vote on the matter to November's board meeting in order to receive further guidance on proposed changes to the display, including blurring the Ten Commandments to be less legible. However, this measure failed 4-3, which killed the measure altogether.
If the request was approved, the poster would be displayed at school entrances or in school libraries.
Children's Books
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My Rainbow (other topics)
Butt or Face? Volume 3: Super Gross Butts (other topics)
The Day the Books Disappeared (other topics)
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Jodi Picoult (other topics)Sarah J. Maas (other topics)
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Eagle PUBLIC library board relocates 24 books after closed-door deliberation
https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/...
The Eagle Public Library’s board of trustees last month voted to relocate two dozen books after deliberating, behind closed doors, about whether the material was appropriate for children.
On Sep. 18, Eagle’s trustees moved 21 books to the adult section of the library and placed another three behind the library desk, requiring that patrons ask staff to access them. The vote came after trustees discussed the books in an executive session, a portion of the meeting shielded from public view.
Relocating two dozen books in one fell swoop could represent the largest single action restricting minors’ access to library material since House Bill 710 went into effect July 1. The legislation allowed patrons to notify their library of material believed to be “harmful” to minors, and the bill gave patrons the right to sue the library if the challenged material isn’t removed from circulation or moved to an adult section of the library. Eagle’s decision last month showcased how this new process is playing out — and whether it’s transparent.
Eagle trustee Brian Almon told Idaho Education News that the decision followed “multiple requests for materials to be relocated.” EdNews obtained redacted copies of those requests through a public records request and found that all but one of the relocations stemmed from complaints filed on a single day in July.
Trustees voted, 3-1, to relocate 24 of the 25 books evaluated during last month’s meeting. The outlier was not in the library’s collection. Almon along with trustees Kelsey Taylor and Sarah Hayes supported relocating the books. Trustee Kirsten Lewis opposed the motion, while board chair Candice Hopkins was absent from the September meeting.
Almon, a conservative political writer with ties to the Idaho Freedom Foundation, wrote about the decision on his website, although he offered few details of the discussion, saying he couldn’t share what went on during the executive session.
“Some of the 25 books we evaluated were especially heinous, while others seemed to use a lot of profanity and s--ual expressions in the dialogue,” he wrote for the Gem State Chronicle.
House Bill 710 directed public libraries and school libraries — public and private — to implement procedures allowing patrons to challenge content they consider “harmful” for minors. A majority of GOP lawmakers supported the bill and Republican Gov. Brad Little signed it into law.
According to the statute, a book, movie or other content is considered “harmful” when it depicts (view spoiler)[nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or sado-masochistic abuse in a way that “appeals to the prurient interest” (hide spoiler)] or is “patently offensive to the prevailing standards in the adult community.” And “s--al conduct” includes any act of homosexuality.
The Eagle Public Library is operated by the city, as opposed to some other libraries that are operated by independent library districts. And Eagle’s library is governed by a board of trustees, who are appointed by the mayor and city council and oversee one library building, located near downtown.
To comply with HB 710, Eagle offers two written forms that patrons can file to challenge material in the library’s collection:
A “request for review of library materials,” which asks staff to analyze the material and determine whether it meets the criteria in the library’s collection policy,
And a “written notice to relocate library materials,” which notifies library staff and trustees of material that the patron believes is “harmful to minors,” per Idaho code.
Idaho libraries had processes in place for patrons to challenge books prior to HB 710. But the bill added a cause of action, granting patrons the right to sue if “harmful” material is accessible to minors.
Potential plaintiffs in a lawsuit must file a written notice to have standing, per the new law, and library officials have 60 days after the notice is filed to take action on the complaint before the patron can take them to court.
In response to EdNews’ public records request, the city of Eagle provided 30 complaints, filed with the library since July 1.
Twenty-six were written notices, alleging a “harmful” book was accessible to children in the library, and four were relocation requests. All but three of the written notices were filed on July 24, and the board of trustees later voted to relocate each of them.
It’s unclear who filed the July notices. The city withheld the names, addresses and contact information of the complainants.
Eagle officials cited an exemption in Idaho’s public records law that allows libraries to withhold information that would reveal the identity of a patron “checking out, requesting or using an item from a library.”
Meanwhile, the city received another seven complaints on various dates since July, and some books attracted multiple filings. “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews, for instance, was the subject of three complaints. One person who filed a reconsideration request pointed to about a dozen passages in the 2012 book with profanity and s--ual scenes.
“This is not a book that our teens or youth should have access to,” they wrote on the reconsideration form. “This book is harmful to minors, please move it to the adult section.”
While Eagle’s reconsideration form asks complainants to cite “objectionable” portions of a book, the written notices do not. They simply ask the complainant to affirm that they believe the material is “harmful” to minors and that they’re asking the library to relocate it to a section designated for adults.
Almon in his column wrote that library trustees rely on third parties, “including publishers, review journals, subscription services or websites like Moms4Liberty or BookLooks,” to read the books in libraries.
“I will continue to do the best I can as a trustee of the public library to make it a safe and welcoming place for children,” he wrote. “I have been a cardholder of the public library since I was ten, and it has always been a positive place for me and so many others. Yet keeping the sickness of our society off its shelves is going to take a lot more work than many of us thought.”
Idaho’s open meeting law requires that government bodies conduct their business in public, with just a handful of exceptions.
The law allows for executive sessions when officials are discussing the hiring and firing of public employees, the acquisition of property, sealed public records and certain trade negotiations, among other business. It also allows executive sessions when officials confer with an attorney about pending litigation or about “controversies…imminently likely to be litigated.”
The latter is the circumstance that Eagle trustees cited to justify their executive session to discuss the relocation requests. All four trustees present at last month’s Eagle library board meeting voted in favor of going into an executive session. Taylor, Hayes and Lewis did not respond to questions about the executive session, and Almon referred EdNews to Villegas and Eagle’s deputy city clerk Holly Csencsits.
Villegas is an attorney with the Meridian law firm Borton-Lakey, which contracts with the city of Eagle. He told EdNews that written notices, required for a potential plaintiff to have standing for a cause of action against a library, constitute a “precondition” to filing a lawsuit. And Eagle’s written notice form requires filers to acknowledge that they believe the library material is “harmful,” per the statute, and that they’re asking the library board to relocate the material within 60 days.
These books were moved to the adult section: [books the censors have never read.]
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews
“Allegedly” by Tiffany D. Jackson
“Lady Midnight” by Cassandra Clare
“The Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo
“SuperMutant Magic Academy” by Jillian Tamaki
“Spinning” by Tillie Walden
“Shiver” by Maggie Stiefvater
“What’s Happening to My Body? Book for Girls” by Lynda Madaras
“This One Summer” Mariko Tamaki
“Wait, What? A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up” by Heather Corinna
“We Know It Was You” by Maggie Thrash
“Strange Truth” by Maggie Thrash
“I’ll Give You the Sun” by Jandy Nelson
“Concrete Rose” by Angie Thomas
“Damsel” by Elana K. Arnold
“Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo
“Queen of the Shadows” by Sarah J. Maas
“A Court of Frost and Starlight” by Sarah J. Maas
“A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
“Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell
“Monday’s Not Coming” by Tiffany D. Jackson
These books were placed behind the library desk
“The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman’s Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster” by Sarah Krasnostein
“Portnoy’s Complaint” by Philip Roth
“What Girls Are Made Of” by Elana K. Arnold