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The
Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling were the most often challenged
books in Texas during the 2001-2002 academic year. There were 71
challenges in 21 different districts. In most cases, the challenges
were made to "all Harry Potter books" - Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
The number of challenges was probably inflated by the debut of a movie
based on one of the books - several districts reported that parents
complained after seeing the movie, but admitted they had not read the
book. Overwhelmingly, districts rejected these challenges, but,
although there were no "bannings", the books were severely restricted
in some instances. In the Hondo ISD, the Potter books were "use
restricted" in all schools; officials reported that "The books are
still in our libraries and can be checked out by anyone, but a teacher
is not allowed to read aloud in his/her classroom any part of any Harry
Potter book." In the Fort Stockton ISD Alamo Elementary School, a "Parent
called Principal and requested that Harry Potter books not be read or
discussed in her children's classrooms. Principal notified teachers." In the Florence ISD elementary school, officials reported that "All
of the Harry Potter books were removed by an administrator without
following district procedure. District policy was followed and a formal
request for reconsideration was never initiated. The books were
replaced without restriction." The reason given for the challenge in virtually every case was "mysticism/paganism".
The single most often banned booked this year was Taming the Star Runner,
by S. E. Hinton. The book was banned in school libraries in the Lamar
CISD (Rosenberg), the Ector County ISD (Odessa), and the Cherokee ISD.
The book, a story about a city kid who goes to live on a ranch and
encounters a wild horse named "Star Runner", was challenged for
"profanity/inappropriate language." The author, who lives in Oklahoma,
was contacted but had no comment on the bannings.
The Vidor ISD banned Harry Blackmun (Supreme Court Justices)
at its Pine Forest Elementary School because a parent complained that
"... discussion of Roe vs. Wade and the abortion issue was
inappropriate for elementary grade level."
Vidor
ISD banned more books than any other district in the state - 6 in all.
Included in the list of books banned in this district was the acclaimed
novel about Japanese internment during WW II - Snow Falling on Cedars.
This book was also challenged in the Richardson ISD Lake Highlands High
School where it was used in the classroom. The report by the district
stated that: "student's parent complained; however, student read book anyway even though an alternate book was on the list and allowed."
Note:
This book was banned 2 years ago in the Boerne ISD. It was reinstated
in the library after a public outcry, but removed from use in the
classroom.
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