After objection from district parents, Midland Independent School District says a sexually explicit library book, titled Push, is no longer shelved in its school libraries.
“MISD has collected the books of concern that were brought to the attention of the school board to expedite the review process and will follow the legal framework and board policy EF (LOCAL) to review them,” Midland ISD Chief Communications Officer Lyndsey White told Texas Scorecard.
“The book Push by Sapphire was not found in any of the campus libraries even though the district’s online catalog indicates there is one copy at Midland Freshman High School and a lost copy at Legacy High School,” White continued.
This statement followed outrage from parents, who blasted Midland ISD school board trustees for providing students with access to sexually explicit books on its library shelves.
On Tuesday, Pastor John K. Amanchukwu publicly read an excerpt from Push out loud at a Midland school board meeting and called for its removal from the libraries. His microphone was cut and he was subsequently removed from the meeting.
Push features instances of pedophilia, rape, molestation, and abuse.
Amanchukwu asserted that the six men present on the school board were either “punks” or “perverts” if Push were to remain on Midland library shelves.
Following Amanchukwu’s removal from the meeting, one of the school board members met him outside and said “I’m no punk and I’m no pervert,” making clear his intentions to see Push removed. Amanchukwu led a round of applause for the board member.
White told Texas Scorecard that “MISD takes this very seriously and will take appropriate action upon review of the books. The district adheres to the law and EF (LOCAL) for the process by which a school library acquires, maintains, and withdraws materials and follows this policy when books are challenged.”
She also encouraged Midland ISD residents to “bring their concerns to the attention of administrators in accordance with board policy” should they find other books objectionable.
Texas’ new law—House Bill 900—prohibits books that are deemed educationally unsuitable or explicit from being present in school libraries.
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