STILLWATER, MN (WNN) – The Stillwater Area School District (ISD834) removed two books from general circulation at school media centers. The books will still be available, but only with parental permission.
The books were recently donated after a community member funded the purchase of more than 30 books for elementary media centers across the school district.
School District leaders say as the books were being unpacked, district staff reported that one of the books contained an adult image that may be inappropriate for elementary school students.
Staff also raised concerns about two other donated books. Upon hearing the concern, district administration pulled those books for review.
After review, administration determined the book Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate had adult images and is inappropriate for elementary school students.
A second book, Call Me Max by Kyle Lukoff, also raised concerns to the administration.
The administration said in a statement “the age and maturity of the intended audience” was the issue.
Those two books will only be made available to students with parental permission. In a statement the district said, “This approach allows for informed decision-making while ensuring continued availability… Stillwater Area Public Schools is committed to providing students with access to a diverse selection of literature while also considering the age-appropriateness of potentially sensitive topics for the media center’s intended audience.”
Upon learning about his book needing parental permission for review at elementary schools Lukoff called the move censorship. In an open letter Lukoff wrote his book, ‘promotes critical thinking in areas of general importance to members of society.”
Later this year the school board plans to consider a new policy that specifically addresses media center resources and includes standards for determining the selection of materials for the media center and for determining when materials should be removed from the media center.
