Texas School District Reinstates Bible in Libraries Following Controversial Book Ban Law
A school district in the Texas panhandle faced backlash after temporarily removing the Bible from its libraries in response to a new state law banning sexually explicit materials in schools. The Canyon independent school district, serving 11,000 students across 21 schools in Amarillo and Canyon counties, took the drastic step to comply with House Bill 900, also known as the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources (Reader) Act. The law, which came into effect in September 2023, requires library vendors to rate materials for explicit content, inform parents of potentially explicit books, and recall materials already in circulation as needed. Moreover, it mandates that library content align with state educational standards.
Backlash and Reinstatement
Superintendent Darryl Flusche, in a leaked email with unknown date and recipients, explained that HB900 prohibited various books, including the full text of the Bible, from being available in school libraries. This decision sparked controversy, with some parents and elected officials expressing outrage over the removal of the religious text. Canyon ISD parent Regina Kiehne voiced her concerns at a school board meeting, stating, “It seems absurd to me that the Good Book was thrown out with the bad books.” She emphasized the importance of having the Bible in school libraries, describing it as historically accurate, scientifically sound, and life-changing.
State senator Kevin Sparks also criticized the district’s actions, calling the Bible ban “misguided” and emphasizing the vital moral framework it provides to students seeking guidance. Following mounting pressure and public outcry, the district ultimately reinstated the Bible in its libraries. In a statement on 19 December, Canyon ISD announced that after receiving clarification from Representative Patterson regarding library content guidelines, they were pleased to have the Bible available in all their libraries once again.
Legal Challenges and National Impact
The incident in Canyon reflects a broader trend of conservative efforts to increase parental control over school curriculum, a movement that has faced legal challenges and opposition. While Texas adopted library standards inclusive of HB900, the fifth circuit recently blocked the part of the law requiring vendors to rate materials. However, most of the legislation remains intact, prompting legal action from various organizations, including bookshops, the American Booksellers Association, and the Authors Guild.
Critics argue that the expansive language of HB900 could lead to the banning or restriction of access to classic literary works, including Shakespearean plays and even the Bible itself. They warn against a return to a time when the government imposed censorship on public information dissemination. As legal battles unfold in court, the debate over educational freedom versus content regulation continues to stir controversy nationwide.