FROM STAFF REPORTS
Iredell-Statesville Schools officials have pulled more than 250 books from school libraries throughout the district in response to citizen complaints.
Superintendent Jeff James told school board members this week that the district is committed to following the law when it comes to selecting, reviewing and removing books from school libraries.
A group of concerned citizens has been identifying books it deems as “pornography” and bringing them to the school board’s attention during the public comment period at monthly meetings. More than one of these individuals has attempted to read sexually explicit passages from different books during their comments.
District personnel have reviewed these book “challenges” and removed or relocated books that meet the definition of pornography or contain content that is not suitable for particular grade levels, James said.
Some books that contained content that was not appropriate for middle school students have been moved to high school libraries, the superintendent said.
In other instances, books that have been “challenged” have been removed from general circulation and placed behind the librarian’s desk. Students who want to check out those books will need a parent’s permission, James explained.
State and federal law guides decisions in these matters, along with the district policy, which James described as “robust.”
“I just can’t knowingly violate federal or state law. That’s in my contract,” James told the board. “It doesn’t mean I agree with what is in” some of these books.
In one instance, however, the superintendent said, he made a “unilateral” decision to remove a book that he decided was “too pornographic.”
“If I’m in trouble for that, I guess I am,” James said.
Paula the book banner must like reading that stuff.
Wow! Unbelievable! Meanwhile pay NO attention to what’s going on behind the curtain…..
These so called “conservative christians” apparently left their morals at the door. Our school board is a pathetic joke! What a downfall of a school system that was headed for a bright future. Horrible Leadership and Weak Administration. Partisanship = Ineffectiveness. Sad to see.
Thank God. We wouldn’t want actual parents deciding what’s appropriate for their own children when these people can decide for all of us.
Jon, the problem with your comment is that in many cases, there is no parenting anymore.
What a damn shame. Iredell County is truly a bunch of backwoods hillbillies.
Sad.
Good job on protecting our children.
Banning books has zero to do with protecting children. It has everything to do with a bunch of people’s religious indoctrination and discrimination! If the district is going to continue this trajectory, they better be prepared to ban the bible! It exposes murder, sex, incest, pedophilia and more! Obviously, a lot of mess was happening in biblical times, and it hasn’t changed! When a man wants to marry an underage GIRL and this state sanctions this type of behavior, banning books in public schools and libraries is the least of parents’ and their children’s worries!
This reminds me of Ray Bradbury’s classic book Fahrenheit 451 where officials go crazy and start burning all of the books. I’d suggest you go check this out from the library if there is still a copy that hasn’t been banned.
Have they removed the Bible yet, with its explicit portrayals of adultery, incest, rape and prostitution?
Jim- apparently all of that is appropriate for their children to read. The Great Flood and Noah’s Ark is a bedtime story and millions of toddlers’ toys are made of it. The story is little more than a tale of mass murder.
Here we go again. A certain group of people feel they must resort to name calling when they can’t have it their way.
I find it ironic that these are the same people who don’t want the government to be involved with what their children read in school, BUT, want the government to feed and babysit their children.
Originally, I pondered posting a response to this controversial topic. I am a former educator as well a student from the boomer generation. HOW DARE YOU! The majority of the books you have removed are a tip of the iceberg. Are you going to confiscate their computers and cell phones next? There is certainly more information that is inappropriate on the web.