Republicans, Moms for Liberty push to give parents more power over what books their kids can read

Groups that call themselves advocates for parental rights are attempting to have several novels they deem unfit banned from school curriculums and libraries in Tennessee. It’s part of a nationwide push and it’s getting the backing of Republican leaders in the state.

Controversy over the banning of “Maus,” a nonfiction graphic novel about the stories of a Holocaust survivor, has gotten the most attention. But the McMinn County School Board isn’t alone. In Metro Nashville there have also been complaints, like at a recent school board meeting:

“Chapter 45, page 275: ‘Do you think we should get in the backseat? She pushed off of him and slid over the backseat. God it was huge. It was glorious, not even a second later Park landed on top of her,’ ” read Cindy Goddard, quoting an excerpt from the young adult novel “Eleanor & Park.”

She’s with Moms for Liberty, a group that’s become known for attempting to remove books that they say have pornographic, violent, or homosexual content.

“There’s a total of 272 sensitive words in the book that’s only 335 pages long,” said Goddard. “And you can find it on the shelves at our high school.”

Last year, Goddard called out “Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington,” a novel that shows historical images of firefighters spraying children during Civil Rights demonstrations.

Moms for Liberty recently succeeded in having “Walk Two Moons,” a 1994 novel that contains a near-death experience during childbirth, removed from the fourth grade curriculum.

Lindsey Kimery, of the Tennessee Association of School Librarians, says that book is commonly found in elementary and middle school libraries.

“The interest level for the book is for grades 5 through 8. I can see the reading level is 4.9 — which is fourth grade, ninth month,” explained Kimery.

She says she used to teach the book to her seventh graders.

In many districts, parents can already challenge materials in a school library. Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) is sponsoring legislation that would create a challenge process within state law.

“We all know that there’s some concepts and, yes, even some words, that I would prefer my children not read. That’s not entirely my decision, I can walk through that with my children,” said Lamberth. “But I should also be walking through that with the school librarian, with their teachers, with their principals, with the school board and make this be a joint decision.”

Some worry the push could be a slippery slope. In other states, books like “Huckleberry Finn,” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” have been banned.

House Speaker Rep. Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) believes that’s nothing to worry about.

“We’re not trying to restrict or ban anything,” said Sexton. “All we’re saying is there needs to be a process that’s laid out that allows some decision-maker to review the books to determine what ages or what schools, or whether or not there should be in schools. We’re not talking about ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ ”

The bill has already started moving through the Senate, and is scheduled to be heard in the House soon.