The removal of books due to graphic content has always been a contentious topic, and recently South Carolina K-12 public schools have faced renewed debate. With a State Board of Education panel recommending the removal of four more books, the discussion surrounding book censorship in educational settings continues to intensify. These books, which include descriptions of masturbation and sex, are being scrutinized in accordance with a state regulation that prohibits public schools from providing materials containing “sexual conduct.”
Board’s Recommendations and Actions
A panel of five members decided to remove these controversial books while choosing to keep two others, “Bronx Masquerade” and “The House on Mango Street,” within the school libraries. The four books facing removal are not part of classroom lessons but are available in certain school libraries. This decision follows the banning of seven other books from school libraries for similar reasons.
Prompted by Ivie Szalai, a Beaufort County parent who has actively appealed various book titles, this marks the first significant test of the book appeal process since the regulation’s implementation. Szalai presented 97 book titles for review to the school board between 2022 and 2023, resulting in the removal of five books, with the current appeal concerning the four remaining titles.
National Context of Challenged Books
On a national level, three of the four contested books ranked among the most frequently challenged titles in 2023 as per the American Library Association. These books include “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky, and “Flamer” by Mike Curato. The fourth book, “PUSH” by Sapphire, narrates the story of an illiterate 16-year-old girl’s struggle and recovery after parental abuse.
The Debate: Protection vs. Representation
Advocates for keeping these books argue that children should have access to literature that mirrors real-life experiences such as sexual abuse, domestic violence, and bullying. Representation of LGBTQ characters and characters of color in literature is critical, as emphasized by Mark Bayer, a nurse leading an LGBTQ youth group.
On the other side, Szalai argues that the explicit content of these books violates state regulations and should therefore be removed from school libraries. She highlights that these books can still be accessed at public libraries or purchased from bookstores.
Evaluation of Specific Titles
The decision not to remove “Bronx Masquerade” and “The House on Mango Street” was based on the finding that they did not breach the regulation. “Bronx Masquerade,” structured as a series of poems, and “The House on Mango Street,” which includes a non-graphic scene of sexual assault, were deemed acceptable. The board maintains that only books containing graphic descriptions of sexual conduct that could be vividly visualized by a reader violate the regulation.
Final Considerations
The controversy over removing books from schools due to graphic content has long been a heated topic, and recently it has resurged in South Carolina’s K-12 public schools. A recent push by a State Board of Education panel has recommended the removal of four additional books, stirring further debate about book censorship in educational environments. These books, which contain depictions of masturbation and sexual acts, are being scrutinized based on a state regulation that bans public schools from offering materials featuring “sexual conduct.” Critics argue that such censorship limits students’ access to diverse perspectives and vital information, affecting their education. Proponents, however, maintain that such measures are necessary to protect young students from inappropriate content. This ongoing debate underscores the enduring tension between protecting students’ innocence and providing comprehensive education. As the discussions continue, the broader implications for freedom of expression and access to literature in schools remain at the forefront of this significant debate.
