Parent Seeking Removal Of Certain Library Books
The topic of removing certain books from the elementary library took center stage at Monday’s LGISD school board meeting.
The beginning of every meeting is devoted to public comment and during that time La Grange’s Sarah Kellen, a mother of four, spoke.
“My daughter is in the fourth grade and a couple of weeks ago she brought home this book, “People of Pride, 25 Great LGBTQ Americans,” she began.
LGBTQ stands for “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.”
Kellen continued, “She does not know what LGBTQ means, she’s in fourth grade. She picked it out because it was on display, it was beautiful, rainbow colored. When she brought it home I was sad – sad that the school took away the opportunity for me the parent to have the conversation with her that I feel was a very sensitive conversation, sad because in a world where this is plastered everywhere, I felt like the school library would be a safe place for her.
“I think she’s too young to have this conversation. You might disagree and that’s okay. I will respect that, but I am asking that you remove this book from the library along with all other books related to sexual orientation.”
La Grange superintendent Bill Wagner said the book is approved for school library use for 4th-6th graders.
Kellen said this is not the first issue she’s had with the elementary library. And she had a meeting with the librarian and administration recently but was urging the school board to get involved.
“Last year (my daughter) came home with a book that was art history and in this book it had full nude paintings of women. She was in third grade at the time. I talked to the school and we got it taken care of I guess. In my book I would classify this as pornography, I found out at my meeting last week that this book was moved from the elementary school library to the high school, which is still not appropriate. I’m sure the high school boys are loving it though.”
Wagner said he believes these instances are the first time in his career at the school that he can remember books being asked to be removed from the library.
During her speech Monday Kellen said, “I’ve been contacted since this has come up by other parents and I have learned that an eight-year-old brought home a book from the library last month where the character kills himself by jumping out of a window, ironically that happened during suicide awareness month.
“You wonder why our kids are having issues with mental health? Let’s look at these books? What are we letting them read? I am strongly encouraging you the school board to get involved. I have read your policies for the library and I don’t think they are being implemented ...
“...Let me be clear, I am not here to condemn or judge the moral issues at hand. I am here on behalf of my four children. I am the parent and their advocate in a world that is so dangerous, please help me to keep them safe. I send them to school so they can learn reading, writing, science and math, not for you to teach them about sexual orientation...
“... I have been told by several people that speaking at this meeting would be a waste of time that this is how the world is and that if I don’t like it I should home school or I should send my kids to a private school because it’s not going to change. I don’t believe that. I believe that parents should have the final say when it comes to our kids’ education and I believe you guys can help change it.
“So what am I recommending?
“1. Remove all books about sexual orientation in the elementary library.
“2. Complete an audit of the library so you know what’s in there.
“3. Set up a coding system so we know what is mature content and what is not.
“Lastly I would like the board to go on record and let me know where you stand on this issue.”
The members of the school board typically don’t respond to public comment made at meetings, but after Kellen’s comments superintendent Wagner told Kellen, “You were given the procedures so please follow those procedures and we’ll take it from there.”
Challenging Library Content
When asked about those procedures after the meeting Wagner cited the district’s stated policies regarding Instructional Resources:
The district’s legal policy related to library materials reads:
“A district possesses significant discretion to determine the content of its school libraries. A district must, however, exercise its discretion in a manner consistent with the First Amendment. Students’ First Amendment rights are implicated by the removal of books from the shelves of a school library. A district shall not remove materials from a library for the purpose of denying students access to ideas with which the district disagrees. A district may remove materials because they are pervasively vulgar or based solely upon the educational suitability of the books in question.
The district’s policy also provides a format for “challenged resources:”
A parent of a District student, any employee, or any District resident may formally challenge an instructional resource used in the District’s educational program on the basis of appropriateness.
The school receiving a complaint about the appropriateness of an instructional resource shall try to resolve the matter informally using the following procedure:
1. The principal or designee shall explain the school’s selection process, the criteria for selection, and the qualifications of the professional staff who selected the questioned resource.
2. The principal or designee shall explain the intended educational purpose of the resource and any additional information regarding its use.
3. If appropriate,the principal or designee may offer a concerned parent an alternative instructional resource to be used by that parent’s child in place of the challenged resource.
4. If the complainant wishes to make a formal challenge, the principal or designee shall provide the complainant a copy of this policy and a form to request a formal reconsideration of the resource.
A complainant shall make any formal objection to an instructional resource on the form provided by the District and shall submit the completed and signed form to the principal. Upon receipt of the form, the principal shall appoint a reconsideration committee.
The reconsideration com mittee shall include at least one member of the instructional staff who has experience using the challenged resource with students or is familiar with the challenged resource’s content. Other members of the committee may include District-level staff, library staff, secondary-level students, parents, and any other appropriate individuals.
All members of the committee shall review the challenged resource in its entirety. As soon as reasonably possible, the committee shall meet and determine whether the challenged resource conforms to the principles of selection set out in this policy. The committee shall prepare a written report of its findings and provide copies to the principal, the Superintendent or designee, and the complainant.
The complainant may appeal the decision of the reconsideration committee in accordance with appropriate complaint policies, starting with the appropriate administrator.
The following principles shall guide the Board and staff in responding to challenges of instructional resources:
1. A complainant may raise an objection to an instructional resource used in a school’s educational program, despite the fact that the professional staff selecting the resources were qualified to make the selection, followed the proper procedure, and adhered to the objectives and criteria for instructional resources set out in this policy.
2. A parent’s ability to exercise control over reading, listening, or viewing matter extends only to his or her own child.
3. Access to a challenged resource shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process, except the District may deny access to a child if requested by the child’s parent.
The major criterion for the final decision on challenged resources is the appropriateness of the resource for its intended educational use. No challenged instructional resource shall be removed solely because of the ideas expressed therein.
Coaching
Four parents spoke at the meeting with complaints about head football coach and athletic director Matt Kates.
Three – Shelia Bage, Mark Bage and Karen Robbins – cited instances they said point to coaching ineffectiveness and an inability to properly utilize players – especially seniors. Another, Quenten Gonzalez, spoke about the importance of school spirit and said he was upset to see Kates quiet down a group of football players at a recent volleyball game.
Poster Winners
In other action at Monday’s meeting
A trio of students were honored for placing at the state level in the National School Bus Safety Week poster contest.
In Division 4 Jude Lira placed second at state and won a $100 scholarship.
In Division 2 Journi Polk placed first and won a $250 scholarship.
In Division 1 Jagger Makowsky placed first and won a $250 scholarship.
Former LGISD student Eleanor Stingo also placed at the state level but has since moved.
Football Field
Architect Tony Nielson from the company overseeing the Leopard Stadium construction said the drainage of the new artificial turf field “performed beau tifully” amidst last week’s eightplus inches of rain in three hours event. Subvarsity games were able to be held on the field the afternoon following the storm.
Principals from all three campuses gave updates to the board on activities and initiatives at their respective campuses.
Personnel
The school district accepted the resignation of Spanish teacher Juliana Hodge and cafeteria worker Maria Garcia and hired transportation worker Dolly Samuels.