Greenville’s New Book Banning Policy Sparks Debate

Greenville Discusses New Book Banning Policy

On Tuesday evening, leaders from the Greenville County School District gathered to talk about a proposed new policy concerning book bans and what is considered inappropriate material in schools. The meeting was led by committee chair Doug Webb, who emphasized the importance of transparency in the decision-making process.

The new policy suggests that all library materials should be displayed on the school district’s website. This means that parents will be more aware of what their children can access. Additionally, faculty members will be expected to share a list of the materials they use for teaching with parents and guardians. “We are creating a panel to listen to parents and address their concerns seriously,” Webb explained.

The proposed panel will include three parents, a media specialist, an administrator, a teacher, and a representative from an academic department. If a parent submits a complaint, the panel will have 21 days to review the content in question and respond. The state education board will also have a say in this process and can send the complaint back to the local board if needed.

However, not everyone is in favor of this panel. Board member Jeff Cochran expressed his concerns about placing too much responsibility on teachers and media specialists. Anne Pressley, another board member, highlighted the significant burden this could create for individuals trying to judge the educational value of various materials.

Questions also arose about how the policy would impact classic literature. Michelle Goodwin-Calwile noted the potential issues that could arise when defining what is age inappropriate and how that might affect access to timeless works. Webb assured the committee that even classics would be evaluated under the new guidelines.

As discussions continued, the board decided to table the conversation until the next “committee of the whole” meeting, scheduled for the following Tuesday, to dive deeper into the details of the policy.