The National Coalition Against Censorship has written to the Board of Trustees of the Nampa School District in Idaho after the School Board voted to permanently remove 22 books from the District’s libraries for allegedly containing “pornography.”
The books on the list, were described by one board member as “hav[ing] no good,” and included The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison; The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood; and Looking for Alaska, by John Green. After being challenged by one parent back in January, committees of staff and parents were formed to evaluate the titles, per the existing guidelines and per NCAC’s best practices. However, the vote by the School Board appears to have permanently removed the books from shelves before the process could be completed, with (according to Idaho Press) the Board Vice Chair expressing concern that the books remaining accessible during the review could have “traumatized or caused mental destruction.”
NCAC is particularly concerned with the District’s plans to draft new book challenge procedures, and has offered our expertise and resources to help ensure that Nampa students’ First Amendment rights are protected.
Read our full letter to the Board below. Click here for a full screen view: