The national debate over what is or isn’t appropriate reading for school students was front and center at the March 13 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. Community members, administrators, and parents spoke against and in favor of whether books containing sexually explicit language, adult subject matter, and LGBTQ+ themes were appropriate material for Guilford students.

Though the BOE has been under intense criticism by some Guilford parents for the past several years over aspects of the school system’s curriculum and educational doctrines, the issue of access to controversial titles in school libraries appears to be a more nuanced discussion of what is appropriate for Guilford students to have access to. BOE Chair Kathleen Balestracci said she had received 29 emails in the previous two weeks “expressing concern about the banning of books” in the school library.

“Neither the Board of Education nor the Guilford Public Schools administration has received any request to remove any book from any of our school libraries. Per Board of Education policy, the board ‘recognizes the student’s right to free access to many different types of materials’, and the board is disinclined to remove such access. However, should Guilford Public Schools receive any specific request for any reconsideration of any specific text, the board will hear and carefully consider any request and proceed in accordance with any Board of Education policy and procedure.”

Balestracci, in particular, took exception to social media posts regarding the issue and said she was personally offended by the nature of some of the online comments.

“I have personally seen some of these comments on social media, and I must state that I am appalled at the attacks on and insinuation about our school librarians,” Balestracci said at the meeting. “These professional educators conduct their jobs with great care and expertise, and vicious attacks on their character or job performance based on the presence of particular books in our school libraries is unjustified and undeserved.”

Some of the titles that speakers at the meeting cited as being offensive or too mature include Lawn Boy by Jonathan Eviston, a “vibrant coming of age novel” that centers on a Mexican-American boy who is struggling to find his identity while pursuing the American Dream, and an award-winning semi-autobiographical graphic novel called Flamer, which is a tale focusing on a teen grappling with his religious and sexual identity. Several parents at the meeting expressed deep concerns over both titles, as they contain explicit sexual language and depictions.

Resident Gloria Gibney said she took issue with the language in Lawn Boy and was “disillusioned” with the direction that the BOE is taking in providing access to certain titles.

“Instead of being a guidebook with solutions to overcome mixed sexual identity, minority status, struggling family existences, or suggested pathways to overcome lack of educational or vocational training…the book has in it the characters who are addicted to porn, gambling on sports games, doing drugs, bankrupt employers, and language that is vulgar,” said Gibney.

Several speakers said they were not in support of a ban of any specific book, but were seeking “transparency” regarding the availability of certain materials, and their responsibility as parents to be able to monitor what their children have access to. Parent Chris Esposito said he is simply seeking notification of what titles his children check out of the library, so he can monitor and have more direct input into the material his children have access to.

“I do not oppose nor do I want to ban any books…What I do want as a parent is transparency and the opportunity to know when that book is taken out by my daughters so that I can have a controlled conservation with them when they are confused by that subject matter. We have music that has ratings on it. We have video games that have ratings on it. We have movies that have ratings on it for a reason,” said Esposito. “It’s because of the audience and what they can take in and digest as an individual.”

Parent Jennifer Esposito also expressed her concern over the loss of control that parents have when it comes to books or materials that they deem inappropriate for their children.

“It’s not about banning. The thing is, these books—it’s not your place to give it to our kids,” Esposito said. “The parents should be made aware. There’s got to be a way that we can communicate and make it accessible but have the parents aware that these books are being given to their children.”

Paula Pasieka, a library paraprofessional at Baldwin Middle School Library, said that it was crucial for communities to consider any book in its entirety to ensure the context is not lost in the debate.

“It is very easy to select quotes and soundbites that can be taken out of context to intentionally incite and inflame public opinion and to forward personal agendas,” said Pasieka. “It is vitally important that these are examined as complete works and without personal bias toward the content or the context. This is a task that all professional librarians and library media specialists take very seriously.”

According to Balestracci, Guilford’s school system is unlikely to ban any titles in the near future and would not cater to a growing trend in other states and districts that are choosing to remove certain books from circulation in their school libraries.

“The board is committed to providing a high-quality education and a safe, supportive, and welcoming school environment to all students. We are aware that there are other communities across our country where limitations on educational offerings and book access related to the experience of these minority communities have been implemented. These actions stand in stark contrast to this board’s commitment to diversity, equity inclusion, and to our goal of striving for educational excellence,” Balestracci said.