MAHOPAC, N.Y. -- The Mahopac Central School District’s Board of Education voted at its Dec. 22 public meeting to approve two challenged books for inclusion in its school libraries.

“The Hate U Give,” by Angie Thomas, will remain in circulation at the high school library and will be available in the middle school’s “Eighth Grade Reads” section. John Green’s novel, “Looking for Alaska,” remains in circulation at the high school library and is not available at the middle school.

While the meeting also included a video presentation of the high school’s STEM facilities, student athlete awards, a discussion of proposed changes to the veterans exemption, recognition of teachers and staff with 30 years of service, and approval of financial documents, most of the public comments centered on two issues: New York State’s ruling on the use of Native American imagery and nicknames and the approval of challenged books.

SIGNUPSCRIPT

The two books approved at the meeting are among 16 that were challenged in the Mahopac School District in 2022.

For a full list of challenged books and their review status, click HERE.

According to the document, “MCSD Challenged Book Status/Summary,” when books or other library materials are formally challenged, the superintendent convenes the Curriculum Committee to review the challenged works and make a recommendation to the board, which has the power to approve, remove or restrict access. **BULLSEYE

The committee members are expected to read, study and examine the material, consider the objections, and weigh those against the merits and faults of the material as a whole. The committee is also instructed to “consider the best interests of students, curricular programs, and the district,” consider the comments from those submitting the challenges and seek advice from faculty and outside organizations.

After a committee review and her own reading of the two novels, Superintendent Christine Tona recommended that the books remain available while giving parents the option to block their children from accessing them from school libraries.

To do so, parents must write to the building principal or librarian; an alert will then appear on the student’s account notifying the librarian during check-out that the student may not borrow the book. The books are not available electronically. **STANDARD

With six board members present, the vote passed by 5-1. Trustee Jon Schneider, who voted against the resolution, said he had nothing against the specific books, but argued that parents should be able to opt-in by explicitly approving access for their students, instead of having to opt out, as with the current policy.

Board President Ben DiLullo, Vice President Adam Savino, and trustees David Furfaro, Michael Martin, and Fernando Martinez all voted in favor. Trustees Lucy Massafra and Tanner McCracken were absent.

Some board members have expressed support for the opt-in option, which may be on the table if other books on the challenge list come up through the committee. **BULLSEYE

More challenges ahead
“The Hate U Give” tells the story of a 16-year-old African American private school student who witnesses the killing of an unarmed Black friend by a White police officer during a traffic stop. The critically acclaimed novel is rated for ages 14 and older, but has faced challenges at school districts around the country since its 2017 publication.

The American Library Association (ALA) listed it among the 10 most most-challenged books of 2017, 2018 and 2020 for profanity and other offensive language, depictions of drug use, and what some believe as anti-police messaging.

“Looking for Alaska” is a coming of age novel based on Green’s experiences as a high school student in Alabama. Published in 2004, it won the ALA’s award for best young adult novel in 2006. It too has been among the 10 most banned books, according to the ALA, which cited a sexually explicit scene that may “lead a student to ‘sexual experimentation.’”

Board members recognized the controversial nature of the books, but also praised the work of Superintendent Tona and the review committee.

Unusual Order
The vote took place before the public comment segment of the meeting, which several in attendance called “unusual.”

Addressing the school board, Christopher Harrigan said he had expected a general discussion on book policy instead of a vote on the two books.

“I, like many parents, am in favor of a policy that takes parents’ input into consideration before the children can access certain titles in our school catalogs,” Harrigan said. “There are certain books that are or were available in our schools that are erotic or in some cases pornographic in nature. These are not appropriate for a school library.”

Harrigan questioned the influence of the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Libraries on Mahopac Schools and noted the ALA’s interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights for minors (www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/minors) recommends against restricting access based on age or grade level.

Harrigan commended board members who voted against the books and said those voting for “obscene materials meant one of two things. We’re witnessing pure cowardice. That is people may personally disagree with the material but are afraid they will be seen as book banners or anti-diversity. Or two, they purposely want children exposed to this obscene material.”

Kate Bellantoni told the board she had hoped to express her views before the vote and was disappointed “but not the least bit surprised” by the board’s decision to approve the books. She wanted the board to consider moving any books a publisher recommends for ages 14 and above to the high school.

Regarding “The Hate U Give” remaining in the middle school, Bellantoni said “Ten- to young 14-year-olds shouldn’t have access to this book with 90 uses of the F word and chants of F the police.”

She also said the “complex understanding of good cops versus bad cops” will be beyond the understanding of younger readers.

“It’s now in the hands of concerned parents like myself to vet what’s going in the database year after year,” Bellantoni added. “These reviews and challenges have been exhausting for everyone. They’ve taken up way too much time and resources and too much effort. It’s just ridiculous. We can all agree on that.

She said that voting to keep books “recommended for high schoolers in the middle school” would cause more annual challenges. “It’s going to be a never-ending cycle.”