Adaptation of Anne Frank's diary on the hot seat again, this time in Martin County

MARTIN COUNTY — A graphic adaptation of Anne Frank's diary is once again under scrutiny at a Treasure Coast high school. This time it's Martin County High, officials said.

The adaptation currently is the only book under review across the district's public schools, Mary White, district director of curriculum and instruction, told the School Board Tuesday.

Under the board's policy, Principal Cristina Selvidge has until Thursday to respond to a complaint filed about the book, White said.

"Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation" recently was removed from the Vero Beach High School library after a parent group complained it contained illustrations of Frank walking among female nude statues and was not a true adaptation of the Holocaust.

Version of 'Anne Frank' removed from Florida high school library after parent complaint

The book, adapted by Ari Folman — the son of Holocaust survivors — and illustrated by David Polonsky, includes illustrations of the entries from Frank's “Diary of a Young Girl." Frank's diary contains her reflections and thoughts as a 13-year-old Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Should the book-removal policy be changed?

The board Tuesday discussed its policy concerning challenges to school library books after many people objected to books removed from school libraries earlier this year.

Martin County's current policy keeps the bulk of any book-removal decision at the school level. The school principal is required to respond to a complaint within 15 days. The principal's decision can be appealed to the district office, where the curriculum and instruction staff has another 15 days to review it. Ultimately, a decision can be appealed to the School Board. To date, no complaint has gone that far, officials said.

Board member Christia Li Roberts was concerned the timeline might be too overwhelming, especially if multiple books were challenged at one school.

In February, 95 titles were removed from school libraries, and nine were moved from elementary schools to middle schools after complaints were filed, White told the board. School staff was required to read multiple books and make recommendations within two weeks of receiving the complaints, she said.

In March, almost 200 people crowded the School Board meeting to talk about the books. Some applauded removing the books, while opponents demanded the books be returned.

Bring them back or keep them off? Parents mixed on book removals from Martin County schools

Martin County schools remove more than 80 book titles for sexual, racial content after complaints

Can a banned book be brought reinstated?

There currently is no policy in place for the board to reconsider a removed book, something Roberts suggested should be changed.

“I think there is stress on the system," she said. "We are thinking we are through the bulk of (challenges), but the same thing could happen again."

Board members disagreed, saying the board should not override a decision made by a trained media specialist.

“We're going to let someone override what the library media specialist has already deemed inappropriate?" asked board member Amy Pritchett. "That's what you're talking about."

State law prohibits material considered pornographic in public schools, and violators could be charged with a third-degree felony. That puts media specialists and teachers at risk if an inappropriate book is placed in the libraries, board chair Marsha Powers said.

The crowd on Tuesday expressed mixed feelings about whether books should be removed at all.

"One book, one child loses their innocence for life," said Misty Harris, who supported books being removed if not age-appropriate. "Their innocence for their whole entire life is demented, is tortured, is changed." Harris urged the community to come together, even though opinions differ.

But parent Jane Logan said books with diverse characters are needed for students to identify with.

"It is today. It is real," Logan said. "We are making them less by not allowing there to be books on the shelves that they can relate to and feel normalized by."

Colleen Wixon is the education reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Contact her at 772-978-2235 or colleen.wixon@tcpalm.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmWixon.

Version of 'Anne Frank' removed from Vero Beach High School library after complaint

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Graphic adaptation of Anne Frank's diary challenged in Martin County school