Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees to consider removal of three books

Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees to consider three books requested for removal

The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees will meet today at 4 p.m. to discuss three books that have been requested for reconsideration for removal from public school libraries. The special meeting was called after parents Erin Richardson and Beth Halasz appealed a decision by the high school material review committee to allow the books available only in Greenville County high schools. The parents’ appeal had to be filed within 10 days of being notified of the review committee’s decision.

Richardson requested that Ellen Hopkins’s “Perfect” and “Tilt” be reviewed, while Halasz asked for Sarah J. Maas’s “Empire of Storms” to be reconsidered. In the requests for reconsideration form, both parents said they had not read the books.

Parent’s Appeal

The committee, comprised of parents of Greenville County high school students, teachers, a media specialist, a member of the clergy, and non-district employees, met earlier this month. The committee decided against removing the books but did want the complainants made aware that parents can notify the school’s librarian not to allow their students to check out certain books without permission.

In the complaint, Richardson objected to “Perfect” for “obscene and salacious sexual activities, including sexual assault.” Although “Perfect” and “Tilt” do not make Pen America’s 11 most banned books in the first part of the 2022-2023 school year list, two of Hopkin’s books do appear on the list of frequently barred books.

Books in Question

“Perfect” follows four high school seniors as they navigate the last year of high school, exposing “the harsh truths about what it takes to grow up and grow into our own skins, our own selves” according to publisher Simon and Schuster. “Tilt” observes three teens, 18, 16, and 14, their parents, and family relations. The book “has sexually explicit excerpts involving minors,” and “contains sexual assault, underage drinking, and illegal drug abuse,” according to Richardson’s complaint.

“Empire of Storms”, a fantasy book about loyalty, warriors, and quests, is frequently banned across the country. Halasz requested the book be reconsidered for removal because of its “erotic nature” and “inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18.”

Board’s Decision

The Greenville County School Board of Trustees will decide whether to remove the books. Whatever is decided stands, and no public comment will be allowed during the meeting. Public comment will be allowed during the regular meeting at 7 p.m.

In May 2022, the trustees voted to remove “George,” later republished as “Melissa” by Alex Gino, from elementary schools. The book, which follows a transgender girl struggling with her identity, was asked to be removed due to being “too mature.”