Education Committee addressing inappropriate books in Conroe and Willis ISDs
January 19, 2023 | Montgomery County, TX
The mission of the Montgomery County Republican Party (MCRP) Education Committee, in cooperation with the principles set forth in the Texas GOP Party Platform, is to hold our legislators and public education establishments accountable to the platform and American values.
Inappropriate books in Conroe & Willis ISDs
The Education Committee has education activists addressing the inclusion of inappropriate books in the libraries of both Conroe and Willis Independent School Districts. To date, the committee is unaware of either district taking steps to remove any of the 35 books identified as harmful and obscene from the districts’ libraries or classrooms. As parents and activists continue to monitor additions to these libraries, more books may be added to the list.
Reconsideration Hearing held by CISD board
Some progress has been made in removing a particular book from Conroe ISD’s classroom libraries. The parents of a Conroe ISD student, who was required to read the book and write a paper, filed a reconsideration request pertaining to The Perks of Being a Wallflower. According to the American Library Association, a reconsideration request is a formal complaint about the content of a book. Both public and school libraries have procedures for handling reconsideration requests.
A Level 3 Reconsideration Hearing between the parents’ attorney, Jonathan Hullihan, and a taxpayer-funded Conroe ISD lawyer was held by the CISD Board of Trustees on Jan. 17 regarding the book, which includes but is not limited to topics such as oral sex, abuse, rape, assault, teen pregnancy, and abortion. Although it has had two previous reconsideration requests filed and reviewed, Conroe ISD has refused to remove it.
After many hours of debate and discussion, the CISD Board did not end with a vote to remove the book from library shelves; however, there were some positive developments according to Hullihan. The board approved the following:
A decision to remove the book from assignments, meaning teachers may no longer assign the book as required reading for a grade.
The book will be removed from all classroom libraries.
The request for consideration at a later date and a vote on an opt-in policy for all potential obscene materials in school libraries, meaning that a parent must be notified and give their approval if a child wants to check out the material.
Hullihan described the meeting as a win even though the board did not vote to remove the book from the district’s libraries. Hullihan stated, “For this one, we did not get a touchdown, but we at least got the field goal.”
Parents are urged to monitor their child’s reading material and to report any books they feel are inappropriate due to pornographic or explicit material or pictures. Parents may find complaint forms and procedures for Conroe ISD here. For other area school districts, please contact your local district office for instructions.
Addressing local & state-wide educational issues
The MCRP Education Committee is in the process of contacting Senator Brandon Creighton, chair of the Texas Senate Education Committee, with the goal of working together to address educational issues facing Texas and local communities that run counter to conservative American principles and values.
Take Action
Contact Senator Creighton and ask him to file legislation to protect children from pornographic or explicit materials in school books.