First Amendment groups urge Highland Park ISD leaders to choose books “solely on sound educational grounds”
A group of First Amendment organizations sent a letter Monday to Highland Park ISD leaders urging them to choose books and instructional materials “solely on sound educational grounds.”
The group, led by New York-based National Coalition Against Censorship, warned the school district against making curriculum decisions based on “some notion of ‘decency’ or ‘community standards,’ terms that are inherently vague and subjective.”
Highland Park ISD officials and parents have been embroiled in debate for the past few months after some parents said the content of some high school books was too mature for teens. They raised objections about sex scenes and references to rape, abortion and abuse.
Highland Park ISD Superintendent Dawson Orr suspended seven books — and then reversed the decision — in September. Since then, parents and community members have packed board meetings. Two local groups have launched Facebook pages and websites with opposing views.
In the letter sent Monday, the First Amendment organizations cited Highland Park ISD’s policy and said the school district already offers a way for parents to request alternate material for their child. Parents can also choose to send their child to private school or homeschool them, it says.
“Prolonging a contentious debate among members of the community with conflicting views and values will serve no legitimate purpose and will only harm students,” the letter says. “The only response that is practical as well as legally and educationally sound is to adopt policies and procedures that make it clear that curricular decisions will be based solely on educational grounds, not on the opinions or preferences of any individual or group.”
The letter is signed by by leaders of the National Coalition Against Censorship, American Booksellers Foundation For Free Expression, the Association of American Publishers, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the National Council of Teachers of English, PEN American Center and the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. They sent another letter to school district leaders in October.
One challenged book, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, is being reviewed by a committee of parents, staff and students.
The next school board meeting will be held Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the McCulloch Intermediate School assembly room.
Read the full letter below: