Parents throughout Texas (and around the country) are very concerned about the type of library books being found in their children’s local public school libraries, and these parents are determined to take positive action.

Hearing these desperate parents who are trying to protect their children’s vulnerable, young minds, Gov. Greg Abbott requested Texas Comm. of Education Mike Morath to prepare specific guidance about library materials.

This is the link on the Texas Education Agency’s webpage that contains Comm. Morath’s response to Gov. Abbott: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/school-boards/recommended-policies

This is the link to the Texas Education Agency’s recommended statewide standards to guide school districts in establishing policies for selecting or removing library books: https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/efb-local-library-materials.pdf

BRIEF EXCERPTS FROM THE TEA’S DOCUMENT

AVOIDING INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL AS DEFINED IN THE TEA’S RECOMMENDATIONS

{In addition to the above criteria for selection, all material should be appropriate for students. Texas Penal Code §43.24(a)(2) describes harmful material as material whose dominant theme taken as a whole: (1) appeals to the prurient interest of a minor, in sex, nudity, or excretion; (2) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable for minors; and (3) is utterly without redeeming social value for minors.

It is an offense in Texas to distribute this material in violation of Texas Penal Code §43.24(b). No library material shall be used if it contains content that can meet the harmful material standard.

Finally, collection development policies must demonstrate a commitment to compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) as specified in 47 U.S.C. §254(h)(5), including technology protection measures.}

TEA’S CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

To ensure parental engagement, the District shall make the selection process of library materials readily available for parental review, with a list of all library materials posted on-line on the district’s website, and the content of all materials available for direct review during reasonable hours specified for such review.

Each item selected shall:

1. Support and enrich the curriculum and/or students’ personal interests and learning;
2. Meet high standards in literary, artistic, and aesthetic quality; technical aspects; and physical format;
3. Be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, intellectual development, and ability level of the students for whom the materials are selected;
4. For non-fiction resources, incorporate accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative sources;
5. Earn favorable reviews in standard reviewing sources and/or favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel;
6. Balance cost with need.

In addition to the above criteria, fiction, narrative nonfiction (memoirs and biographies), and graphic novels must each meet the following selection criteria, with the District determining that such materials:

1. Are integral to the instructional program.
2. Reflect the interests and needs of the students and faculty.
3. Are appropriate for the reading levels and understanding of students.
4. Are included because of their literary or artistic value and merit.
5. If narrative nonfiction, present information with the greatest degree of accuracy and clarity.

Texas school districts are not required to adopt the TEA’s recommendations; but this document gives sensible guidance and procedures to parents and school leaders to remove and prevent obscene content from landing in our Texas public school libraries.

Two specific books that aroused parents’ ire around the state are “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” by Maia Kobabe. This book depicts in graphic details the author’s “journey” in discovering “her, their” sexual orientation and gender identity. Graphic and explicit details depicting oral sex are contained in this book.

“Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Pérez is another book found in public school libraries in Texas. This book presents many references to anal sex and mixes that with issues about LGBTQ and race.

No one can deny that these perverse books are being used by the LGBTQ community to indoctrinate young people to enter the LGBTQ lifestyle.

Here is Tex. Rep. Krause’s initial inquiry letter sent to the Texas Education Agency dated 10.25.21:
https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/965725d7f01b8a25ca44b6fde2f5519b/krauseletter.pdf?_ga=2.212475799.2095764280.1666616916-1834867882.1570830938

Here is the list of 850 specific books Rep. Krause included in his letter to Texas public school districts:
https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/94fee7ff93eff9609f141433e41f8ae1/krausebooklist.pdf?_ga=2.40950689.2095764280.1666616916-1834867882.1570830938