WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Four books deemed inappropriate by a group of Vicksburg Community Schools parents will remain on library shelves following a procedural review and recommendation by a district committee.
During a recent special meeting, Vicksburg Community Schools Board of Education members voted in favor of supporting the recommendation related to the fate of:
The Glass Castle
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
A Stolen Life: A Memoir
A Court of Mist and Fury
The four novels were referenced by name as a few of what the parents say are 85 questionable books in the high school media center. They cited the website takebacktheclassroom.com as their source for identifying books with content questionable for teenagers.
Per district policy, a five-person committee was assembled and the review process commenced following the board’s June 9 meeting. Committee members, whose identities are not disclosed by the district, were unanimous in their recommendation.
Once before board of education members at their late-July special meeting, a vote to not reverse the committee’s recommendation passed, 5-2.
District officials said the books in question – some of which have been available in the middle and/or high school library for more than a decade – are not required reading.
Following the July 30 meeting, parent Stephanie Orr said parents/guardians who wish to restrict their child’s access to any book may contact their school librarian to request the book be blocked from their student’s library account.
