by JAIE AVILA | WOAI Staff – News4 NBC Feb 3, 2022
SAN ANTONIO (WOAI) — As parents nationwide raise concerns about curriculum in schools, one school district in Texas nears a decision on controversial library books. Last month, North East Independent School District (NEISD) pulled more than 400 books from its libraries to review if they were age-appropriate.
Some condemned the district, calling it censorship.
The News 4 Trouble Shooters shared the content of some of those books with parents to get their opinions. Parents were shown four of the books on the list: two teach kids about being transgender, one is an illustrated book on whiteness. A fourth book, which led to the district’s review, graphically describes a sex act between two ten-year-old boys. It was found in two elementary school libraries.
“These books should not be removed from the libraries. They should be put back in circulation. Our students deserve these different voices and different perspectives,” said one parent who spoke at a Dec. 13 school board meeting.
Numerous speakers criticized the district’s review, saying it was an attack on diversity.
However, NEISD Superintendent Dr. Sean Maika denied that, saying his only concern was whether the books were age-appropriate.
“I find it interesting that through all of this, no media ever publicizes the actual content that’s within that book,” Maika said.
So that’s what News 4 did — starting with the book Maika was referring to, called “Lawn Boy.” It was supposed to be only in high school libraries but somehow ended up on the shelves at two elementary schools.
Library books (SBG Photo)
The book describes, in crude terms, oral sex between two ten-year-old boys.
Liza Pratt has two middle school granddaughters within the district.
“I would say it’s teetering on pornography. I wouldn’t want my granddaughters to be reading anything like this at all and not even in middle school,” Pratt said.
Two other parents with a daughter going to NEISD read excerpts of the books, then gave their opinions. However, they worry about backlash if they identify themselves.
“It does actually seem like, porn trying to be disguised as some sort of education,” one parent said.
North East ISD is still reviewing the books, but says it will likely return most of the books to the shelves. (SBG Photo)
“I don’t know what’s educational about that. Why is that in a school? What are we trying to teach the kids?” asked the other parent.
The couple, who are Hispanic and Asian, also take issue with certain statements in the book about whiteness which is in elementary and middle school libraries.
One such statement reads, “Racism is a white person’s problem, and we are all caught up in it.”
The couple fears that might cause white children to feel bad about themselves.
“I don’t know why we would demonize any skin color, whether it’s white or black,” said one parent.
Liza Pratt’s sons are half-black and she had problems with the book as well.
“I don’t necessarily agree with, ‘It’s just a white person’s problem.’ I don’t agree with that,” Pratt told News 4.
North East ISD is still reviewing the books but says it will likely return most of them to their respective shelves; although some will be placed in a section for older students at the high schools. The district says parents will also be able to monitor online what their student is checking out.
Results of the review are pending.
