Book Ban Backfires With Texas’ Kellar Independent School District Forced to Pull the Bible, Anne Frank Book
A Texas school district took dozens of challenged books from library shelves — including the Bible — just before the start of the school year under a new policy introduced by conservative leaders.
“Attached is a list of all the books that were challenged last year. At the end of the day, I need all the books taken from the library and classrooms,” Keller Independent School District curriculum executive director Jennifer Price instructed principals in an email Thursday. Three, posted by Texas Tribes. “Once this has been completed, please email me a confirmation. We need to make sure this action is taken by the end of the day.”
The books were withdrawn due to a new compliance policy that the school board adopted on Aug. local store WFAA Dallas reported. Based on Dallas Morning News, Keller spokesman Bryce Nieman says the new policy requires every book ever challenged to go through a review process. Keller Superintendent John Allison said each book will be returned to its respective library if it is found to be in compliance with district guidelines. However, officials say they do not know how long the process could take.
Forty-two books total — including the Bible, an adaptation of the graphic novel by Anne Frank’s Diary, Blue eyes by Toni Morrison, and Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe — were removed from school shelves, although some of them had previously been approved for circulation by officials.
Follow list of counties Regarding challenged books, one parent raised concerns in November 2021 about “any variation” of the Bible written by “men who lived long ago.” Parents withdrew their challenge in December. However, another parent challenged the Bible in February 2022. After the panel reviewed it, members initially found that it would remain. in the current library location.
Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptationremade by Ari Folman and illustrated by David Polonsky, was challenged by a parent in February 2022, but the board also initially decided that it would remain in its current location.
Both books were withdrawn Tuesday for review due to new district policies.
Follow Tribune, the school district’s conservative trustees Joni Shaw Smith, Sandi Walker, and Micah Young unanimously voted in the spring to amend the district’s policy. The trustees were elected from the school board in the spring and are believed to have received financial contributions from Christian political groups.
“These books have gone through the official challenge committee process established by the county. But because they all passed the committee process, our ultra-Christian nationalist school board decided the process was ‘cheating’, committee member books and parents Laney Hawes wrote in a Twitter thread. “This is a violation of our children [sic] constitutional rights. “
“I want to make it clear that administrators, teachers, librarians and staff are NOT to blame for the takeover and book bans of extremists in @KellerISD,” Hawes continue. “Our radical school board… who are funded by right-wing PACs.
The Keller Independent School District did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment Wednesday.
