- Board prior to banning decision faced a complaint on book by public comment speaker who disrupted December meeting
- Board backs committee process on book decision
- City school board member touts how the elected officials follow the committee book review process while not all school districts are following a similar process on the book issues
- 2 board members wrestle with book banning issue
The gender identity book that led to a complaint and disputed December meeting will be banned from Murfreesboro City Schools, officials decided Tuesday.
The removed picture book, “It Feels Good to Be Yourself,” by writer Theresa Thorn and illustrator Noah Grigni “introduces the concept of gender identity to the youngest reader,” according to a description from an Amazon website.
The five present Murfreesboro City School Board members followed the recommendation of a Bradley Academy materials review committee, the elementary school’s Principal Jeremy Lewis and district Director Trey Duke to prevent the book, “It Feels Good to Be Yourself,” from returning to circulation in campus libraries.
Board member Barbara Long asked for the book to be reviewed by the committee after “a lot of prayer and thought.”
“It was a hard decision,” said Long, an elected Republican serving with six fellow board members elected as independents.
More:Speaker complaint on transgender book disrupts Murfreesboro school board meeting
First Amendment issue:Speaker complaint on transgender book disrupts Murfreesboro school board meeting
Board Chairman Butch Campbell and Jimmy Richardson III were absent from Tuesday’s meeting. Both had been present during the December meeting with a disruption when the board took a recess after facing challenges about the book from John Amanchukwu, a visiting public comment speaker.
Amanchukwu had signed up to talk about “October revenue” as an agenda issue as the board requires for public comment but complained in a loud voice about money spent on the book about “transgenderism.” The chairman gaveled the December speaker for being out of order prior to the elected school officials voting to take a meeting recess while Amanchukwu continued to speak.
The December speaker came with a group of applauding audience members. Tuesday’s meeting had no public comment speaker with supporters on the book issue.
Long acknowledged during Tuesday’s meeting that “our guest speaker” brought the book issue “to our attention.”
“I don’t appreciate the way it was brought to our attention, but I was glad that we found out about this,” Long said.
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Board backs committee process on book decision
Long mentioned the book in question has been on the shelf at Bradley Academy since 2022 without being checked out.
“My concern was a kindergartner coming in (library) checking out that particular book, and then it causing confusion in his or her little mind,” Long said. “I just think we as board members are responsible for protecting kids and allowing parents to do their job.”
After the book challenge, the Bradley Academy principal convened the materials review committee to examine the book. The five-member committee consisted of a district librarian, classroom teacher, parent from Bradley Academy and two district instructional staff members, Director Duke told the board.
Four committee members recommended removal of the book while one member voted to retain the book, Duke said.
The school’s principal presented a recommendation to the district director to affirm the majority decision of the committee. Duke also agreed and recommended the board’s decision to prevent the book from returning to circulation at Bradley Academy or Murfreesboro district’s other 12 elementary schools.
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City school board member: ‘We actually follow the process’
Prior to the elected school officials’ unanimous vote, board member David Settles praised staff for following the district’s process established in policies in reviewing book challenges.
“We actually follow our process,” said Settles, who suggested that not all school districts are following a process to examine book challenges.
The Murfreesboro district wants students to be in the best and safest environment to learn, Settles said.
“It’s all about the kids,” Settles said.
Fellow board chairwoman Karen Dodd said the school officials did not take the book issue lightly.
“We have taken all this very seriously,” Dodd said.
Free speech and press rights:Rutherford schools removal of 160 more books draws opposition from 1st Amendment advocates
2 board members wrestle with book banning issue
Fellow board member Jeanette Price said she wrestled with what to do prior to the decision because she’s against “banning books.”
Price said she talked to a lot of people about the book reaching the intended audience “to help children who might be dealing with these issues” before voting with majority to remove the book.
“I believe the librarians are skilled and are experts in their craft,” and make sure that reading materials are appropriate for school children, Price said.
Price also said she’s glad the district had a committee review the book in question and provide a recommendation to the school officials.
Other local book banning:Rutherford school board pulls Pulitzer Prize winning novel, ‘Beloved,’ and five other books from campuses
Board Vice Chairwoman Amanda Moore said she also wrestled with the book issue in part because she’s always concerned when “there’s a push to demonize a marginalized population.”
“Murfreesboro City Schools is very diverse,” Moore said. “We have kids who come from homes that don’t look like everybody else’s home.”
Moore said she also has concerns about district families feeling unwelcome or not valued.
The vice chairwoman said she, too, “trusts our librarians” and was eager to hear what the recommendation was going to be from the book review committee.
Moore also questioned the motivation of the December speaker who made a “show” of speaking with a “personal promotion” effort in advance for weeks without contacting board members or staff about the book issue.
Free speech scholar Nadine Strossen:Rutherford school board violates law by removing books
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