Keller schools say challenged books not ‘banned.’ They’re in ‘Parental Consent Area.’
Keller school district Superintendent Rick Westfall anticipates that the Bible and a graphic novel adaptation of Anne Frank’s diary “will be on (Keller school library) shelves very soon” after being temporarily removed as the titles are reviewed to ensure compliance with new standards.
The comments Thursday follow national coverage of an email sent to Keller principals earlier this week asking for all currently and previously challenged books to be removed from shelves.
The move generated backlash from several organizations, including PEN America, a free speech and literary organization that protects free expression in the United States and worldwide.
The books were to be removed by the end of Tuesday before the start of classes on Wednesday, according to the email.
Some of the titles included all versions of the Bible and “Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation.”
Westfall noted that more than 50 copies of “The Diary of Anne Frank” have remained in circulation, with only the graphic adaptation being challenged.
The district’s curriculum director, Jennifer Price, sent an email that said in part, “Please collect these books and store them in a location (book room, office etc.) More information will be sent regarding action for these books.”
In the statement released Thursday, the superintendent said the removals were not permanent.
“I want to assure you that Keller ISD is not banning the Bible or the Diary of Anne Frank, as has been suggested in some headlines and shared on social media, but I want to explain where this miscommunication came from,” he said. “Regardless of headlines or social media stories, none of the books under re-evaluation were banned.”
Guidance requires books to be moved while reviewed
The guidance to principals, Westfall said, follows the adoption of new policies by the school board “related to the acquisition and review of instructional materials and library books.”
Under the new policies, books that have been challenged by community members as being inappropriate for schools are required to be held in a “Parental Consent Area” until the challenge process is complete, the superintendent said.
A Keller school district spokesperson said that “a Parental Consent Area is simply going to be a designated area in the library that is separate from the general circulation.”
“The idea is newly established by this policy, but the titles that are kept there will only be available with a parent’s consent,” the spokesperson added. “As of now, parents can provide written consent, but we plan to have a more streamlined process in place soon.”
Previously challenged books are also being moved to a “Parental Consent Area” to determine if those books meet the new standards in the policy and the guidelines that will soon be considered by the board, Westfall said in his statement.
Westfall reiterated that the challenges came from the community and parents — not teachers or district employees.
The district leaders said employees were being attacked on social media and by phone and email “because some have perceived these employees as having developed this list.”
“Every Keller ISD employee works every day to ensure that students’ educational needs are met, and these kinds of attacks on employees are unfair, uncalled for, and do nothing but distract from those efforts to serve our students,” he said.
All of the books on the list were challenged by parents and community members for various reasons, and district officials considered these concerns through the previous review process, Westfall said, adding that with a new policy and new guidelines in place, the titles will once again be reviewed through the lens of this new policy.
Parents and community members can keep track of the review process on the district website.
Anna Eisen, who lives in the Keller school district and travels to educate people about the Holocaust, said she was pleased that “Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation” is likely to be back on the shelves, but was concerned about the district’s process of removing books.
“My concern is that this book was already reviewed and found appropriate,” she said.
The graphic adaptation contains material that was left out of the version of the book that was published years after Frank’s original diary was found. It includes discussions about the teenager’s relationship with her mother and “intimate” conversations with friends.
Eisen founded Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, where the hostage standoff took place in January, and her parents were Holocaust survivors.
“We have become so divided as a community and as a nation on so many topics,” she said. “I just have concerns that there will be parents who don’t feel the Holocaust should be taught in school. We’re Jewish, we read books about other faiths, other belief systems. We are able to respect that,” she said.
“I think the curriculum should be designed by educators, and not by parents with their biased beliefs.”
Elizabeth Campbell contributed to this article, which contains information from the Star-Telegram’s archives.
This story was originally published August 18, 2022 at 2:33 PM.
