by Reagan Reese
A South Carolina school district has removed 97 books from its libraries following complaints of “adult content,” according to WSAV News.
A parent of the Beaufort County School District complained about books in the school libraries featuring sexual explicit content such as “Tricks” and “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” causing the books to be removed, according to WSAV News. The books have been pulled from the district and are currently under review by a material reconsideration committee.
“Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins is about several teen prostitutes and “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson is a graphic memoir about the experiences of a queer black boy, according to each book review.
“The school district, the administration and the librarians need to be accountable for having these books in schools,” the parent told WSAV News. “They need to be held to the same laws as anyone else would be. Because if I gave a book like or a bookstore would give a book like this to a minor that store would probably be shut down or the person arrested.”
In response to the book complaints, the school district has created an opt-out process for parents to keep their kids from accessing any material in the library, WSAV News reported. A “Request for Reconsideration of School Library Materials” is now available for parents to submit book complaints.
“It’s not as easy as just removing a book from a Barnes and Noble shelf,” District Chief Instructional Services Officer Dr. Mary Stratos told WSAV News. “There are 32 schools. This is a school system and we are shifting to culture change and putting a little more understanding to what we purchase as a school system.”
The principals within the district will meet with the librarians to determine what books and content is provided in the library, according to WSAV News. The school district’s Human Resources and legal team will administer any penalties deemed necessary through the reviewal process of the books.
“We are putting systems in place to not have as much autonomy,” Stratos told the outlet. “A more collaborative approach. Us being able to identify if the material is appropriate.”
Beaufort County School District and Stratos did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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Reagan Reese is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
