Review Committee Considers Two Controversial Books At School Board Meeting

Image: Dr. Jennifer Cothran address the school board Image Credit: Wilson County Schools

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Wilson County Schools stakeholders heard the decision on two controversial books that a review committee made at the monthly school board meeting last night in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Dr. Cothran spoke for the committee, that consists of twelve members, made up of parents, teachers, and school media specialists. The appointed committee met to review the material and were scheduled to make a recommendation to the School Board at the meeting on April 4th. 

The committee recommended that The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell should be kept in Wilson County High School libraries and the School Board voted to accept that recommendation. Where the books were available in middle school libraries, the committee recommended that a parent would need to give permission for their student to sign the book out.

Following last night’s meeting, the committee will issue a response in writing to the complainant and the school principal within 10 school days of the recommendation they made last night.

The School Board shall make the final decision on the reconsideration of any instructional materials.

Moms for Liberty – Wilson County has been working to shine a light on books that are available to students through their school libraries and have encouraged parents to contact school librarians and principals with their concerns. Eight books so far have been highlighted by parents for review citing content that some feel is obscene and/or pornographic in content.

Parent, and director of the Wilson County chapter of Moms for Liberty, Amanda Price said, “When Moms for Liberty – Wilson County initially addressed library books at the November school board meeting, two things were made apparent: 

1) No one was aware the extent to which sexually explicit material was available in the schools. 

2) Librarians didn’t have time to read the books selected for distribution.”

Price continued, “Since that time, Wilson County Schools has updated policy to include library books [as] instructional material that enables a formal review of material which may or may not be age-inappropriate. It was also made known that parents have a right to contact their child’s librarian to request their child not have access to sexually explicit material. In the pipeline is a new procedure that will allow parents to choose whether their child should be permitted access to mature content.”

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The Mature Reading List will not be available until the 2022/2023 school year but Dr. Cothran said Wilson County Schools would be working toward that goal. In the meantime, she encouraged parents to reach out the the media specialist at the child’s school if they had questions or concerns.

Four more books are to addressed at the next school board meeting in May. The titles of those books are:

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

“While I understand it is a slow process, I appreciate the time and attention that Dr. Cothron has dedicated to the development of a committee as well as new procedures to address parental concern moving forward. While I may not agree as a parent with the committee’s decision as to what is in the best interest of my children specifically, it is a relief to know that The Bluest Eye and Eleanor & Park have been formally reviewed according to community standards unique to Wilson County,” said Price. “I simply can’t overstate the importance of parents discussing this material with their children moving forward.”

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.