Books removed, policies reworked as complaints continue to spark action from districts across the country | Overview of censorship

Districts in South Carolina, Michigan and Iowa are removing books, while Florida requires elementary schools to post all available library materials, books in classrooms and reading lists in the latest overview of censorship.

Stamp retired for at least five years at the SC district

The Pickens County School Board (SC) voted unanimously to remove Stamp by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi of Pickens County School District School Libraries, according to FOX Caroline. The book had been under study for a month after parents complained the book was manipulating students’ thinking, the station reported. District spokesperson Darian Byrd said Stamp was used in an English class as an alternative supplemental resource for expressing bias and showing students how to identify bias.

The board also voted to remove Stephen Chbosky Charlie’s world for “not to benefit the students academically”, according to WSPA.com. By district policy, Stamp will be reviewed again in five years, while Wallflower will be reviewed in three.

Florida elementary schools must post all library materials

On Wednesday, October 19, the Florida Board of Education passed amendments to the state’s “Parental Rights in Education” law, according to WTSP. One of the changes requires elementary schools to post on the school website all school library resources available to students, including classroom libraries and required reading lists. Titles should be searchable by author and title, depending on the education board. According to advice, this change will eliminate “inappropriate, indoctrinating and pornographic material in libraries and classrooms”.

According to WTSP, the state board also discussed the possibility of teachers losing their jobs or licenses if they are “intentionally” discovered teaching classes about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Gender Queer moved to counselor’s office at MI High School

In a 4-3 vote, the Spring Lake (MI) Public School Board decided to scrap Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe from the high school library, according to wooden tv. The book will now be available from the counsellor, social worker or school psychologist, with parental consent. A district hardware review committee had recommended that it remain available.

According to the story, the parent who filed the complaint appealed the review committee’s decision to the board, saying, “My request to remove the book is due to the mature sexual content of the graphic novel and its images of naked individuals engaging in sexual acts. ”

Board member Chris Beck proposed the compromise because he “worried that the ban would lead to a ‘slippery slope’ of book banning, but he remained concerned about the ‘visual graphics’ in the book.”

Dearborn, MI, schools set new guidelines for determining age appropriateness

Dearborn (MI) public school district administrators have released new guidelines on how books will be rated for age, sexual content and violence, according to CBS News Detroit. This update includes a mandate for district media specialists to remove all books that are no longer used by students, outdated, or not age appropriate.

The guidelines indicate this age suitability will be determined by reference to the recommendations of at least two of the following professional resources: School library journal, Kirkus, The Editor’s Weekly, Common Sense Media and NoveList. There will be a district-wide discussion among media experts if professional journals recommend different age groups. The district has also created an opt-out form for parents who wish to limit the titles their children can access.

The new guidelines were issued after the October 10 council meeting was suspended and postponed due to protesters interrupting council members and ignoring police efforts to maintain order, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Iowa district removes three books

The Carroll Community (IA) School District School Board has removed three books from library shelves while they are reviewed by staff members. The board is also considering changing the book challenge review policy after a parent complained about the books at a board meeting in August, according to the Carroll Times Herald. No formal complaint has been filed. The three books are Sold by Patricia McCormick, Things by Ellen Hopkins, and Red Riding Hood by Elana Arnold.

The parent argued not only for the removal of the books, but also for the district to create new criteria for judging “questionable” books. School board member Duane Horsely supported the removal of all three books, while requiring parental permission for students to view books labeled “questionable.”

27 books returned to PA district

Pleasant Valley (PA) School District Superintendent James Konrad has returned 27 books to the shelves of the school library. The books had been removed in response to complaints from a group of parents who were using a list of books from Moms for Liberty, according to the Times News. Books were placed behind the circulation desk and could still be borrowed during the review process.

Parents who attended the September school board meeting pointed out that removing the books from the shelves violated the district’s reconsideration policy. Konrad said the district is creating an opt-out form for parents to list books they don’t want their children to have access to.