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“I know it when I see it,” the oft-quoted comment from Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart to describe obscene material that he felt should not be available in the public square, is an apt phrase to explain why individual perception is the basis for objections people tend to make when seeking to have certain books pulled from the shelves of school or public libraries.
We all have our own opinions about what books are inappropriate for adolescent children to read when they are going through what is a formative and, for many, tumultuous, period in their young lives. It makes sense to not have books in a middle school library that contain sexually explicit or overly violent content. Where to draw the line on what is and is not appropriate material, however, is not as simple as it sounds.
Two learned individuals in our community with seemingly good intentions each made eloquent, articulate arguments that were diametrically opposed to each other on why and why not a certain book should be available in the Lylburn Downing Middle School library. This disagreement prompted a public discussion on how books are selected for the library and what the process is, or ought to be, for removing books found to be objectionable.
“For the past several weeks, we have been hearing from and listening to input from parents, grandparents, faculty, community members, who have, as you might imagine, a wide variety of input on this particular issue,” Lexington City Schools Superintendent Rebecca Walters told the 20-plus citizens who showed up at the Oct. 3 School Board to express opinions on the subject. “It is important that we have a community that is engaged in our schools, in the work that’s happening in our classrooms, in our buildings, and in our greater community, and we value the input that you have offered to us.”
Walters presented drafts of proposed new policies on the selection of library and instructional materials for the Lexington schools. The proposed new policies, which outline new protocols for responding to complaints about and determining whether to remove any materials, are to be voted on at the next School Board meeting on Nov. 7.
The selection of library materials, under the proposal, would fall primarily to the school’s librarian using the American Library Association’s guidelines. Ten selection criteria are laid out for the division. These include maintaining a “collection based on the academic programs,” having “materials that will allow students to develop as critical thinkers, through presenting multiple perspectives on controversial topics,” and supporting “a culturally responsive environment by including materials that encompass a wide range of cultures, backgrounds and perspectives.”
It is explicitly stated that materials “may not be removed solely for the ideas expressed therein; however, materials may be removed if they are determined not to be age appropriate for the intended audience due to content that is excessively graphic, vulgar, obscene, violent or sexually explicit.”
We believe the proposed new policies represent a reasonable response to the questions that have been raised about how library and instruction materials are selected and how complaints about any of those materials should be handled. It is our sincere hope that the current debate does not devolve into a culture war over what materials are and are not appropriate for a school library. That has happened elsewhere, leading to the banning of books containing content opposed by certain culture warriors.
Well meaning people can disagree over what is and is not appropriate material for a middle school library. Parents can and should take an active role in overseeing what books their children are reading. That parental responsibility, however, does not extend to making such decisions for other parents’ children.
Complexities enter into determining what is and is not age appropriate material. Stewart’s maxim of “I know it when I see it” does not necessarily apply here.
