The South Carolina Board of Education will decide on March 13 whether to remove 10 books from schools. This is part of a review of 17 books that have been challenged.
The challenge is based on a new regulation from the South Carolina Department of Education.
What is the board regulation?
The regulation lets the board remove books that include “sexual conduct.” Books that describe sex in any way could be taken out of schools.
Books under board’s review
Here are some books that could be removed:
- Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
- Identical by Ellen Hopkins
- Collateral by Ellen Hopkins
- Lucky by Alice Sebold
- Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
- Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
- Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
- Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
Critics speak out
Some people think the regulation is too vague. They say the rule could remove important books that aren’t graphic but still talk about sex.
Patrick Kelly is the director of government affairs for the Palmetto Teachers Association. He said the rule could apply to many books that mention sex, even if it’s not in a graphic way.
He said, “My concern is that this section of state law broadly defines sexual conduct as a simple description of sexual intercourse.”
Kelly warned that even educational books could be taken away under this rule. He added, “The Bible describes sexual conduct, and so do works by Shakespeare.”
Possible impact on schools and students
The Department of Education says this is not book banning. They explain that the regulation helps decide which books the government should buy for schools.
If the board decides to remove the books, it could have a big impact on students and teachers. Some believe removing books like these could limit access to diverse ideas and educational materials.
Critics argue that while the intention is to protect students, it could also lead to censorship. Teachers may be forced to avoid important topics, leaving students with fewer resources for learning and understanding different viewpoints.
On the other hand, supporters of the regulation argue that it’s important to protect younger students from content they believe is inappropriate. They say that schools should be careful about what they teach students, especially in the younger grades.
This ongoing debate highlights the balance between freedom of expression and the desire to protect young minds. As the Board of Education meets in March, it will be crucial to see how the situation unfolds.
