A school district in the Texas Panhandle allegedly removed the Bible from its library shelves before quickly reinstating it in response to a new law aimed at restricting sexually explicit material in schools.
The Canyon Independent School District (CISD), which serves over 11,000 students across 21 schools in Amarillo and Canyon counties, reversed its decision to remove the Bible from its library just days after public outcry, according to a report from The Guardian.
The move followed the introduction of House Bill 900 (HB900), which came into effect in September 2023. The law mandates that library materials be reviewed and rated for explicit content, with a particular focus on shielding students from material deemed “sexually explicit” or “obscene.”
In an internal letter, CISD Superintendent Darryl Flusche explained that HB900’s broad language required the district to remove “numerous books,” including the full text of the Bible, until more clarification could be obtained. Flusche then allegedly advised students to obtain Bibles through local churches and encouraged parents to reach out to lawmakers about their concerns over the law.
The controversy reached the ears of state lawmakers, including Senator Kevin Sparks, who condemned the district’s actions on social media. In response to the backlash, the district reinstated the Bible.
However, as of time of publication, the CISD website has released a statement that somewhat denies, or tip-toes around the subject, that the removal of the Bible took place.
“Recent reports claiming Canyon ISD has removed the Bible from our schools don’t tell the whole story. The Bible has always been, and continues to be, available in our schools to support instructional resources and meet all Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills requirements. This longstanding practice has not changed. Additionally, our libraries contain books about the Bible, including Bible stories, which remain available to our students,” the school district wrote.
A legal challenge filed by bookstores and advocacy organizations in Texas further argues that the law’s vague language could lead to the removal of classic literary works like The Canterbury Tales, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and even Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, reported The Guardian.