Marietta City Schools is pulling nearly two dozen books from their libraries, citing "sexual or inappropriate content". The school board cast their votes on Tuesday night, landing at a supermajority of 6 to 1 in favor of the removal. Superintendent Dr. Grant Rivera oversaw the extensive review process, which led to the ultimate decision to ban the 23 books from a pool of 20,000 available in the school system. "I have no hesitation whatsoever," Rivera stated, as reported by FOX5 Atlanta.
Standards were at the center of the night's heated debate. Caught in the controversy are J.K. Rowling's "The Casual Vacancy" and Sarah J. Maas's "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series. During the meeting, which was broadcast live, dozens of parents and students came out to voice their opinions. "I think we need to be careful about what our children are reading," Donna Lewis, a grandparent in the district, told reporters, capturing the sentiment of those in agreement. Elizabeth Rawlins from Channel 2, while at the meeting, relayed the opposing perspectives stating, "We're teenagers. We're about to go to college and prepare to be the future, and we need to be ready to face the realities to be able to see and be able to develop as not just students, but humans," shared Marietta High School Junior, Bella Gant, lamenting her favorite book's inclusion on the list.
Recent removals prior to this vote included the graphic novel "Flamer" and "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," both sparking controversy for content deemed inappropriate. Superintendent Rivera expressed remorse to the community, "I'm sorry to this community whether you agree or disagree," in a sentiment of accountability captured by WSBTV.
While some parents hailed the ban as a step towards upholding standards, others have labeled it censorship. "I'm grateful for the superintendent and the school board," Becky Simmons, a parent in favor of the removals, shared her relief. This sweeping decision has removed titles such as "Thirteen Reasons Why," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and "It Ends with Us," from the shelves, which, according to the district's top official, lacked enough educational value to justify their place among the stacks. "I'm sad for the students. Obviously, the students are losing a lot of books that they love and care about," said parent Kayla Sargent, explaining the impact of this decision in an interview with FOX5 Atlanta.
