English Teachers Fight Texas School District From Banning Books

Are we talking about banning books to the point they're burning books? No. It's not that extreme. We're talking about a book club reading list in Leander Independent School District, which basically covers the northern part of Austin, including areas like Round Rock and Goergetown.

Students are allowed to pick a book from a list of 15 options that are selected based on their grade level. The thought behind the list is that students will get to choose a book from something that interests them. Unfortunately some parents have started to complain about some of the books that are being offered.

Bruce Gearing, the Leander ISD Superintendent released a statement saying:

For the past few months, we have been listening to our parents and rectifying our mistakes concerning the selection of books in our high school English Language Arts (ELA) classrooms for the student book club units. We would like to address community concerns, take ownership of our mistakes, and clear up misinformation as we continue to repair trust. We acknowledge there was a breakdown in our process as we selected reading material for our student book clubs where students self-select titles from a book club list. We first outlined and addressed this issue and our action steps at our Nov. 5, 2020, Board of Trustees meeting.

Some of the books that were offered but are now under attack are graphic novels. Some of the graphic novels are adaptations of acclaimed novels like Emily Carroll's adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak.

The English teachers are fighting back against this because graphic novels can help struggling readers. CLICK HERE for more info on how graphic novels can help struggling readers.

Another issue that is popping up in regards to the books has to do with the content of the books. Funny how the people that are upset about the content of these books are also probably the same people that cry about cancel culture and missing "the America they grew up in." One book in particular is In the Dream House because it deals with LGBTQ themes and includes a sex toy. I know! A sex toy! God forbid! It got to the point that a parent showed up to a district meeting with a sex toy to protest the book. I'm willing to bet that sex toy was either previously in her collection, or now has a happy home next to her bedside, ready to use at a moments notice.

Another parent, who is upset about the books being banned said:

I'm kind of confused at why there's a controversy. I am mad that other parents are trying to take away my child's choice. Whether or not I want to allow my kid to read that book is up to me, but nobody else has the right to remove a choice from my kid without going through proper procedures.

I mentioned this earlier, but I'll say it again. I'm willing to bet the parents that are protesting these books are the same ones that cry about cancel culture and "censorship".