In fear of retaliation, school districts pull library books Florida deems 'pornographic'
In fear of retaliation, school districts pull library books Florida deems 'pornographic'
Florida public school districts pulled dozens of library books state officials described as "pornographic" from shelves amid increased pressure on superintendents.
This comes after the State Board of Education grilled the superintendent from Hillsborough County over keeping "pornographic and inappropriate books" in its schools.
Attorney General James Uthmeier and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. wrote letters to superintendent Van Ayres about the library materials, which mounted the pressure on book removals elsewhere.
A wave of book bans in public schools across Florida and the U.S. has drawn sharp criticism from educators, parents, and free speech advocates who argue the removals often target works by or about marginalized communities.
Critics say the bans lack transparency and may violate students’ First Amendment rights by restricting access to diverse viewpoints and literature. Proponents argue they are protecting children from inappropriate content and ensuring school materials align with community values and age-appropriate standards.
At that June 4 meeting, board members referred to a list from state officials of more than 50 books it identified as unacceptable. This list coincides with a list of books criticized by Citizens Defending Freedom, a conservative advocacy organization.
Yet afterward, school boards across Florida have appeared to review whether schools have the objectionable books listed by the state. Here's where school boards have questioned and reviewed the state education board's move:
Orange County
Orange County's school board ordered 13 books removed in a June 10 meeting, in which the superintendent asked the board to temporarily remove the books so it could undergo review, referring to concerns that the state has been clear in its belief that the books contain "pornographic" material.
But school board members were largely critical of the state education board's criticisms of the Hillsborough County superintendent.
For instance, Angie Gallo said she believed the state's decision was an infringement of First Amendment rights by not allowing these books to undergo "proper processes as dictated by our democracy," and instead remove them from shelves.
"Today it's books, tomorrow it could be something else," Gallo said. "It's just an overreach and its sidelining due process, and whenever we do that it makes me very uncomfortable and very nervous."
General counsel John Palmerini said he didn't see these materials as "pornographic as the law defines it," but said the state made that determination already when they met with the Hillsborough County superintendent.
He warned that not removing the books could lead to Palmerini being brought before the state board, and then it could lead to the state looking into the actions of the school board members.
"While I disagree with their determination ... , the fact that they have given that direction, I think it would be perilous for this board to allow these books to remain on the shelves," Palmerini said.
Osceola County
Osceola County's school district, located in central Florida, removed 14 books based on the list provided by the state, said Dana Schafer, spokesperson for the Osceola School District.
One high school in the county removed "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas, a fantasy romance novel, and "Living Dead Girl" by Elizabeth Scott, a young adult novel following the story of a girl after being kidnapped.
St. Johns County
Officials in St. John's County schools in northeastern Florida removed more than 30 books from the state's list, but it is unclear when the books were removed.
The county has a list of removed books on its website, but this list does not include the date of removal. It only shows the last updated time, which was June 17.
A comment and a public records request is pending from the county on when these books were removed, and if it was in response to the state education board.
Some of these books include "Call Me By Your Name" by André Aciman, a book with LGBTQ+ themes, and "Forever..." by Judy Blume, a novel about a teenager discovering romance and sexuality.
On June 17, school board members placed restrictions on three books, removing two from middle schools and only allowing it into high schools with parental permission. The third book, "There's Someone Inside Your House" by Stephanie Perkins, was restricted to only high school seniors with a parent's permission.
Santa Rosa County
Officials removed six books from Santa Rosa County, located in northwest Florida toward the edge of the Panhandle.
The county updates its list of removed books in a spreadsheet on its website, and it last updated its spreadsheet on June 12 with a note that the six books were removed "per the Florida Board of Education."
The county's response is pending comment on how they obtained the list, and whether these books were removed to comply with an order or for cautionary measures.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.