Texas School District
Rejects Plan to Ban Books
After a month of controversy over banning books containing profanity from school classrooms and libraries, the Santa Fe (Tex.) school board reaffirmed its policy October 19 to allow teachers and principals to decide what books are appropriate for elementary and intermediate students. In September, school board members John Couch and Robin Clayton reported complaints from parents whose children brought home books containing profanity, prompting the review.
More than 100 students, parents, and teachers packed the small meeting room in Galveston County to hear the board’s 4–3 decision to let the policy stand, the October 20 Houston Chronicle reported. However, no one in the audience favored a change. “It’s not like kids don’t hear cuss words in their everyday lives,” 6th-grader Ashley Clement told the board.
Some in the audience were upset by a recent announcement by School Superintendent Richard Ownby that students must have parental permission before checking out the Harry Potter books from the library, though that decision still stands. Registered nurse Jennifer Acklen told the board her 6th-grade son has benefited from the series. “I think he’s a mature enough child that he’s not going to go out and practice wizardry,” she said.
Posted October 23, 2000.
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