Officials at Princeton ISD have removed more than 100 library books deemed “inappropriate” for review.
The move came after the nonprofit Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) conducted an audit that found “148 inappropriate books in the school’s libraries,” according to a press release from the organization.
“For decades, districts and parents have relied on these institutions to recommend quality educational material. Most people don’t realize those same institutions have dramatically shifted against the values of most parents,” said Shannon Ayres, CDF education division lead.
According to Ayres, “[I]nappropriate books are promoted by influential entities like the American Library Association (ALA) and Scholastic.”
School officials took immediate action after being notified by CDF.
“Scholastic, once renowned for its promotion of wholesome classics like ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ and ‘Charlotte’s Web,’ now promotes sexually explicit material and harmful ideologies,” CDF claimed. “One such book, ‘Melissa,’ by Alex Gino, introduces the concept of transitioning children, including the use of androgen blockers and sex change surgeries, while omitting the risks associated with such procedures. Another book, ‘Welcome to St. Hell’ by Lewis Hancox, depicts the author’s experiences with transitioning using testosterone injections, binding, and packers.”
Some officials at the district celebrated CDF’s audit of its school libraries.
“We are so grateful to have Citizens Defending Freedom conduct such thorough research, providing us with the understanding and tools necessary to prioritize our students’ health and safety,” said Cyndi Darland, Princeton ISD school board president.
More library books were challenged in Texas last year than in any other state in the nation, as previously reported by DX.
Texas saw 93 challenges covering more than 2,000 different titles, according to a study by the ALA.
“Books are not the sole target of attacks orchestrated by conservative parent groups and right-wing media,” ALA alleged. “Both school and public librarians are increasingly in the crosshairs of conservative groups during book challenges and subject to defamatory name-calling, online harassment, social media attacks, and doxxing, as well as direct threats to their safety, their employment, and their very liberty.”
The appropriateness of content in taxpayer-funded schools has spurred protests from concerned parents and community members. Dallas ISD, for example, prompted an outcry after keeping the book Jack of Hearts (and other parts) by Lev A.C. Rosen on library shelves for months after some of the sexually explicit content in the book was spotlighted by activists, as previously reported by DX.