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In the Fort Bend ISD (Sugar Land), 4 related books were challenged in the George H. Bush High School library: Beyond Gay or Straight, Gay Rights, Homophobia, A History, and Homosexuality. After due consideration by the administration, all 4 books were retained without restriction.
In the East Central ISD in San Antonio, a mother challenged Are You There God? - It's me, Margaret by Judy Blume after listening to an audiotape of the book with her 5th grade child. The district reported that "... When Playboy magazine was mentioned student asked what it was. Mother thought child was too young to know."
Mother wanted book and cassette removed. School officials rejected this
challenge. Books by Judy Blume are often challenged in Texas schools.
Her book Forever was banned this year in the Cranfills Gap ISD Middle School for sexual content.
Phyllis
Reynolds Naylor, who writes a series of books about "Alice" - a
teenaged girl coping with "growing up" problems - had several books
challenged this year, as in past years. Alice on the Outside
was banned in the Culbertson County - Allamore ISD Van Horn Junior High
School, and was restricted in the Lumberton ISD Middle School:
"students must bring a note signed by parents to check out the book." Alice in Rapture, Sort Of
was restricted in the Mansfield ISD Tarver-Rendon Elementary School:
"parent must approve before student can check the book out."
A
parent in the Booker ISD wrote 2 lengthy letters to the district
Superintendent challenging 3 textbooks used by her 9th grade child. Algebra I was deemed offensive because the text talks about the BIG BANG and carbon 14 dating relating to the age of the earth, and "...Your
agenda of promoting global warming is dubious. Then each chapter has a
time line of important events which is dominated by women and blacks
and latinos..." The science text, Exploring Physical Science (Texas Edition), was said to be wrongly subjecting students to a discussion of evolution: "...you
start the book by telling the student that they are no different from
pond scum, you LIE to them saying the scientific evidence supports this
position, ...Thus it must be the goal of the authorities that be, to
take every opportunity to convince the student that he or she is
NOTHING BUT AN ANIMAL..." Elements of Literature (Third Course)
was challenged by the same parent because of violence in the lead story
which talks about kids with guns, and, again, a story that talks about
evolution: "This is where you tell them that their lives are
hopeless, they evolved from an ape, and that they are insignificant.
You tell them this in the grand name of science, yet science clearly
supports the concept of Intelligent Design, that there is a creator of
the universe..." In his letter responding to the parent, the Superintendent strongly rejected the challenges, but stated that: "...The teachers pull from the text what is relevant and what they feel needs to be covered..."
Other well known challenged titles were To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, Webster's Dictionary, The Bible, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Night by Elie Wiesel, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
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