As debate rages in Texas about what books are appropriate for school classrooms and libraries, a parent has called for a ban on a biography of former first lady Michelle Obama.
According to a report from NBC News, the parent made the request in Katy, Texas, which is located just west of Houston, and concerned the book “Michelle Obama: Political Icon” by Heather E. Schwartz.
The report says the unnamed parent claimed the biography promotes “reverse racism” against white people, is “leftist indoctrination” and depicts former President Donald Trump as a “bully.”
Katy ISD reviewed the book and determined it is appropriate to remain on school shelves.
This all started last year when state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, announced he wants to know what books are in the state’s school libraries and classrooms. He identified 850 books he said could “make students feel uncomfortable.”
Krause’s list identifies books concerning race and sexuality, among other topics. Not all the book identified appear to fall into those categories, however.
Among the many titles are “Everything You Need to Know About Going to the Gynecologist” by Shifra Diamond, “Teen Suicide” by Roleff L. Tamara, “The Black Power Movement and Civil Unrest” by Kerry Hinton and “Harvey Milk: The First Openly Gay Elected Official in the United States” by Barbara Gottfried Hollander.
READ: The 850 books included in Rep. Krause's letter
Krause’s didn’t explain how the books were chosen.
Following that, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he wants the State Board of Education to remove books with “overtly sexual” content from school libraries. He’s also tasked the Education Commissioner, SBOE and Texas State Library and Archives Commission with developing standards for what gets into libraries.
“What is placed in a library is a local decision, as it should be that way. And typically it’s board policy,” Keven Ellis, State Board of Education chairman, told Capital Tonight. “Another question comes out that when a book is identified, when it can be pulled out. And there’s a very formal, transparent grievance process that a book may be pulled out. There’s also settled case law on this. The Supreme Court has said a book may be pulled off the shelf if it is vulgar or obscene, but not necessarily for a thought or an idea.”
North East Independent School District, in San Antonio, last year pulled over 400 books from its libraries for review.
However, according to a report from the San Antonio Express-News, the district says the review process started prior to Krause’s inquiry.
The district further said that not all books reviewed were removed from shelves.