'Filthy material' or 'a chance to grow': Debate over books rages at Wallenpaupack

At Wallenpaupack School Board meetings, a topic recently has spurred an increase in public discourse: Whether certain high school library books should be taken from the shelves because of what some consider inappropriate content for young readers.

Jasmine Ruiz, who was running in spring primary for Wallenpaupack School Board and is listed as vice-chair on the website for the Pike County chapter of Moms for Liberty, raised concerns over certain books at the February meeting. At the May 8 meeting, and then again June 12, several people addressed the school board about restricting availability of certain books for students.

Also attending was Maria Rotella, who was on the same ballot for school board (she and Ruiz were unsuccessful in their election efforts.)

Several others at the May meeting shared another perspective.

Ruiz filed complaints about two books, and other residents did so about three others.

The books in question

The titles in question, along with the number of copies at the high school library, were

• "Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky (1999), three copies;

• "On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God" by Louise Rennison (2001), one copy;

• "We are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson (2016), one copy;

• "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini (2003), two copies; and

• "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez (2015), e-book.

"It is worth noting that most of these books have been in our libraries for many years," Superintendent Keith Gunuskey told reporters.

'A show of force'

Jasmine Ruiz read Facebook posts that she described as being from parents who were asked to post by a school board member.

One of the posts read "for a show a force so we can take the wind out of their sails and let them know that Wallenpaupack Area is not going to vote for them and we're not going to put up with their crazy agenda."

Ruiz criticized the unidentified school board member for asking several parents to come and share comments at the meeting in what she called "an effort to silence, undermine and demoralize certain other concerned parents and taxpayers, some of whom are running for school board."

"Neutrality doesn't exist if a person in a position of power is needed to bully another parent," Ruiz continued.

At the June meeting, Ruiz took issue with the board, saying she had learned from another parent that one of the public comment registrants at the May meeting had requested to speak before Ruiz.

"This is the same person who had made a public threat against me on Facebook as I informed the board of, at the last school board meeting," Ruiz said. "This is the same person who stated on Facebook that board members asked her to organize in numbers in order to demoralize me and other taxpayers who ran for office in the recent primary election."

"The board has therefore shown preference to a left-wing activist," Ruiz said.

She noted that the school board decided to extend the 3-minute speaking limit to 5 minutes in May and did so again in June.

Ruiz gave her opinion that the board did so to accommodate "left-wing activists."

She said this was especially clear to her because earlier in the school year she had asked to speak when there was no one registered to speak but was "aggressively declined that opportunity."

In her June comments, Ruiz said these opponents claimed that removing inappropriate and sexually explicit books from the school library was "offensive to free speech" and the board believes that the present library policy is sufficient and declines to remove "filthy material."

She referenced books like "George" and "I am Jaz." Gunuskey, the superintendent, stated later that these two books are available only at the Wallenpaupack North Intermediate School (grades 3-5).

Carolynn Burkholder, who has four grandchildren at Wallenpaupack, said she started reading some of the school library books that she characterized as "pure pornography."

"I am not an extremist," she said. "So, I'd like to ask what purpose are these books in the library? If parents think their children can read these kinds of books, they can order them online or go to the public library."

Burkholder, at the June meeting, said she had printed out information from the books in question and handed copies to each school board member.

Martha Tashino, Burkholder’s sister, said she read part of "We Are the Ants" online.

"It's full of disgusting, explicit sexual acts," Tashino said. "I think you can find this stuff anywhere, but I don't see why they should be in public school." She said the very first page has this content.

Tashino said it was sad students would be exposed to this material.

"All I am asking is if these books are going to be kept here, there be a list put out to all parents in the beginning of the school year of sexual-content books," she suggested. "I think it's a reasonable thing to ask."

Tashino said at the June meeting she is so serious about this issue because she is concerned that exposure to sexual content at an early age could lead to addiction.

The American Bar Association published an article in 2014, "How Pornography Harms Children: The Advocate's Role," by Allison Baxter. "Exposure to pornography harms children and youth by normalizing sexual violence, creating unrealistic expectations for intimate partners and relationships, and increasing the risk of addiction."

Tashino emphasized: "I am not a book banner by any means. I'd like to exclude them from the Wallenpaupack School District because you can get them at the regular library or many other places.

"If anyone can tell me the benefit of having this material educational-wise or anywise ... in the school, maybe I'd understand it different, but I just can't believe that it's helpful," Tashino said.

The board made no comment at either the May or the June meetings.

Opposition alleges 'endgame' is to 'combine church and state'

Widely diverse opinions were shared about the appropriateness of certain books in school libraries.

Alexandra Allison, a parent in the district, told the school board, "Various … extremist groups" are "trying to force you to change school polices and values." Allison continued, "It's not about books ― it's not about many things that they would like to nit-pick and stir up. They read books out of context and a false narrative of certain books that are offered to young students in order to cause chaos within the district. The books that they target are about the marginalized community. ..."

Allison suggested the "endgame of these groups" is to "dismantle the public school system and combine church and state."

Tammy McCloud, also a parent in the district, cautioned that some are aligning with groups that argue against "evidence-based education and standards for students" and actively challenge Wallenpaupack school policies.

"These attacks rely on a playbook used by groups of disgruntled actors to offer a solution in search of a problem," McCloud said, saying they use inflammatory language to instill fear in the community and divide parents between "those who support children and those who support moral decay and indoctrination."

McCloud cautioned of using school board meetings to "promote an agenda of fear and exclusion at the expense of our kids." She advised parents to enforce their values in their own homes rather than forcing their values on an entire community.

Adam Basile, a Wallenpaupack Class of 2023 senior, cautioned that banning books, like alcohol during Prohibition, is both useless and counterproductive. He said the high school experience is a time for the "free flow of thought" and asked if it was not better for a child to come home and ask for guidance with these thoughts rather than wait for college.

"By banning books … you're making it a forbidden fruit," Basile said. "Suppressing ideas during an important time in our lives. It is important that our minds have a chance to grow and develop with us." He said banning ideas is a first step towards "1984," the vision of a totalitarian future set out in George Orwell’s novel.

Related: Monroe County Moms for Liberty chairperson convicted in harassment case

Of interest: Poconos NAACP leader talks 'Moms for Liberty' as local harassment case moves forward

Regional and nationwide debate

It is a topic that has gained momentum nationwide in recent years.

In March 2022, several parents in the Delaware Valley School District in Pike County addressed their school board, asking for the removal of several books they deemed inappropriate from district libraries.

According to PEN America, in fall 2021, a list of books related to diversity and equity were banned from use in classrooms of the Central York school district. The ban was later rescinded after a wave of complaints from students, teachers and community members.

This helped spur parents and community members nationwide to raise questions about library selections in their respective districts.

Gunuskey said the district has not had these types of requests before. He said they do have a system in place for parents and guardians to exercise control over what their child can take out from school libraries.

Board Policy 109 allows for a committee to review complaints about instructional materials, which presents their determination to the complainant.

Gunuskey said their library management system can block the loaning of books to specific students.

Parents or guardians should email the building principal if they feel they do not want their child to borrow a specific book, Gunuskey said. Restrictions can be made based on title, author or subject.

Related: Community debates book bans at school meeting in Pike County

Books for 'diverse community'

Requests to ban certain books are not limited to school libraries.

Tracy Schwartz, system administrator at the Wayne Library Authority, shared concerns some patrons have had about materials in their public libraries, as well as the viewpoint of the authority board and how they respond to concerns.

"We have had patrons who have questioned why we have certain materials in our collection," Schwarz said. "Mostly it's about books in the youth section, most often over materials referencing sex, LGBTQ or gender issues, but also interracial families, racially and religiously diverse books."

"We have had negative comments about our Banned Books and Pride Month displays. Mostly verbal comments where people express their opinions to staff members. In the adult section we have had patrons object to biographical, LGBTQ, political, religious and history books that they personally felt were offensive," she said.

Schwartz said that so far these comments and questions have come from individual patrons, not organized groups.

"Most people will tell us what they don't like or what they do like, but thankfully ... they have seen the Pandora's box that could be opened if they ask us to restrict what is in the library based on any individual, group or faction's beliefs," she stated.

Schwartz further commented: "They appear to appreciate that we keep things well rounded and neutral. We feel very strongly about having a well-rounded collection that contains materials that appeal to a diverse community."

The Wayne Library Alliance includes seven public libraries in Honesdale, Hawley, Newfoundland, Hamlin, Pleasant Mount, Lakewood and Bethany.

"We do not support book bans and fully support the Pennsylvania Library Association's decision to partner with the Unite Against Book Bans national initiative, which empowers readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship," Schwartz said.

"We listen to their concerns. We discuss that, while this may not be something they would personally like to read, it does not give them the right to say others can't. That is the best part about the public library: You can check out whatever you would like.

"We also ask patrons for suggestions of topics or authors they would like to see more of at the library. We want the collection to be inclusive." She continued. "When we say the library is for everyone, we mean it."

She said that, if needed, the patron can ask the library for a Request for Reconsideration of a Library Resource form, The form can be filled out and turned in to the library director for review. According to Schwarz, it rarely gets that far.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Opposing views clash over books in this Poconos school district