[Libs-Or] PDSAL: Book Removals and Restrictions in the Helix School District
Intellectual Freedom Committee
ifc.chair at olaweb.org
Tue Jul 9 15:53:55 PDT 2024
Sharing on behalf of Parents Defending Schools and Libraries:
18 books were recently challenged in the Helix School District.
<https://www.pdsal.org/?e=0dfe59d05b9634d37e6b31909f61871a&utm_source=pdsal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=helix_press_release&n=1>
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*Press Release*
Book Removals and Restrictions in the Helix School District
9 July 2024
Letter from Parents Defending Schools and Libraries
RE: Book Removals and Restrictions in the Helix School District
To Whom It May Concern:
It was brought to the attention of Parents Defending Schools and Libraries
(PDSAL) that 18 books were recently challenged in the Helix School
District. The complaint was made by one parent of a sixth grader. All 18
books dealt with LGBTQ themes or had LGBTQ characters.
Upon reviewing the district’s responses to a Freedom of Information Act
request about this situation, it is apparent that the district did not
follow best practice or its own policies
<https://www.pdsal.org/r?u=n4kWuClQH74zCqk-rqvaZbMx36fThDe8nPaMGQVMdSUrhk_v2AqlhwmohrcViEuW&e=0dfe59d05b9634d37e6b31909f61871a&utm_source=pdsal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=helix_press_release&n=2>
in addressing these challenges.
The following is according to the Helix policy regarding “Challenged
Instructional Materials
<https://www.pdsal.org/r?u=n4kWuClQH74zCqk-rqvaZbMx36fThDe8nPaMGQVMdSVFc0yZCQiJvOQ4P50XSSj-&e=0dfe59d05b9634d37e6b31909f61871a&utm_source=pdsal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=helix_press_release&n=3>
:”
1. A written complaint must be filed that lists the questioned material,
clearly states the objection and gives the basis for the objection.
2. The superintendent/principal will date the complaint. Complaint will
be presented to a Review Committee composed of the librarian, one teacher
not from the area of involvement, a teacher from the area of involvement
and one parent appointed by the superintendent/principal.
3. The Review Committee will:
- Provide opportunity for complainant to express his opinions;
- Examine materials under consideration;
- Submit a written recommendation of disposition to the
superintendent/principal within 30 calendar days.
-
In email correspondence, Helix Superintendent and Principal Brad Bixler
stated that “the complaint is not in writing” but needed to be treated as
such, contrary to policy requirements for instigating a formal complaint.
Rather than forming a review committee, as specified in policy, the school
council carried out the materials review. This does not meet the review
committee membership requirements as the person responsible for collection
development for the school, the de facto librarian, was not included in the
review process.
The council members divided up review responsibilities with each member
reading and providing commentary on a subset of the challenged books. As a
result, the determination to remove or restrict a book was often made based
on the comments of a single individual.
Written reviews for only two of the 18 books were provided in response to
the FOIA request. Comments on the remaining titles appear to have been
provided to the council verbally. As a result, the only record of review
findings is a spreadsheet with a single sentence stating concerns. Two of
the challenged books appear to have not been reviewed by anyone but were
nevertheless removed.
Eleven of the challenged books were retained but moved to the “High School”
section of the library. This part of the library can only be accessed by
students in grades nine through twelve who have received explicit, written
permission from a parent to do so, restricting access beyond simple age
appropriateness
In addition to PDSAL expressing concern and requesting information about
the book challenges, the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) of the Oregon
Library Association (OLA) reached out to the school district. The IFC
offered to “*help your school system better work through this challenging
issue and better support the intellectual freedom rights of the students
there at Helix*.” The superintendent responded by indicating that the
“policy is outdated” but declined any assistance from OLA and the IFC.
It is important to note that removing books without the benefit of a vote
is in direct violation of the *ODE Guidance to School Districts: Addressing
Challenged Materials in K-12 Education*
<https://www.pdsal.org/r?u=vbdlL2uUa2gUw4f5E8xgTGL0yFZ6sIwa_6vSLVSfQEfMx_cOp23l5Mqwwbopt38UKIJgnDRHPGk32_RHwDOK5K7laJZkXmwyIm-Bks0UH9GP4Rd9lW6xgJqCJMd3rTU9bzfnYZOPhltkLUm8pfg8VLOeCg0A93IzS6VtiF2FN2EpcJVMmvpCol8LDgP9X0vNnULV9s8qHoerMcRRIBGQJH29oPnTXsBUx9S5y49-LdXK8kdyjYjeWE43EYVZtvj1&e=0dfe59d05b9634d37e6b31909f61871a&utm_source=pdsal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=helix_press_release&n=4>,
which recommends that the items must stay in circulation during the
reconsideration process. In addition, withdrawing the books without formal
consideration creates an atmosphere for inappropriate seizure and clearly
amounts to censorship.
PDSAL recognizes and affirms the role of parents and the choices they make
for their children in what they read. We also recognize that right exists
on an individual basis. We do not support the idea of blanket barriers
imposed by government or library officials that are applied to all readers.
These titles are intended for general use within the library collection.
The right to make reading choices for those in their care should be freely
available to parents, guardians, and caregivers. They may determine what
their own children read but should not decide for other families.
Parents Defending Schools and Libraries supports parents' involvement and
guidance in media selections for their own children, but we stand firmly
behind the Library Bill of Rights
<https://www.pdsal.org/r?u=ZL4Kx56eahN-1xrNeBtO9bMobCqdNvgizVad2OVONFHE3cQQdQ2HkZxppqI1V7FW8PkN5QSU3XSWlU_LpCDgyg&e=0dfe59d05b9634d37e6b31909f61871a&utm_source=pdsal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=helix_press_release&n=5>
and the Freedom to Read
<https://www.pdsal.org/r?u=ZL4Kx56eahN-1xrNeBtO9bMobCqdNvgizVad2OVONFE1S_GY7KcADWnFbOMgNMOizbF2zK7g6PSvK0REfX56qw&e=0dfe59d05b9634d37e6b31909f61871a&utm_source=pdsal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=helix_press_release&n=6>
statements of the American Library Association and against parental
overreach actions which violate the First Amendment rights and dignity of
others.
PDSAL supports all readers, regardless of age, background, gender, or race,
and supports the right to access books and information with a full range of
ideas, opinions, concepts, topics, and thoughts. Parents Defending Schools
and Libraries calls upon the Helix School District to follow its own
policies by returning the removed books to the library while a formal
reconsideration process is undertaken. As detailed in the Helix “Challenged
Instructional Materials
<https://www.pdsal.org/r?u=n4kWuClQH74zCqk-rqvaZbMx36fThDe8nPaMGQVMdSVFc0yZCQiJvOQ4P50XSSj-&e=0dfe59d05b9634d37e6b31909f61871a&utm_source=pdsal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=helix_press_release&n=7>”
policy, this requires formal written complaints, the appointing of a review
committee, and written notification of the committee's decision for each
title.
Darin Stewart, Ph.D.
President, PDSAL
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Parents Defending Schools and Libraries is a registered 501c3 non-profit
organization incorporated in Oregon. We serve as an early warning and alert
system for parents, students and their allies nationwide. When a book is
challenged, a classroom disrupted or school board threatened, we provide
the means to alert other parents in the area who want to push back and
protect our education system. We provide support for those who want to
stand up for the Right to Read and the Right to Learn. We promote inclusive
library collections by providing donor supported direct grants to school
libraries.
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Build the Future.
--
Chair - ifc.chair at olaweb.org
Intellectual Freedom Committee https://www.olaweb.org/if-home
Oregon Library Association https://www.olaweb.org/
Disclaimer: all information provided by the IFC is intended for
informational purposes only. This is not to be considered legal advice.
Should you need legal advice, we recommend contacting a practicing attorney
in your jurisdiction.
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