Roxbury parents want 'porn' out of library, but school board says few books get challenged

ROXBURY — As torrents of rain and lightning battered Morris County on Monday night, another storm — this one over controversial LGBTQ-themed books in the high school library — continued to rage before the Board of Education.

The stormy weather likely limited attendance for the meeting at the high school compared with recent sessions, which have drawn hundreds of residents and LGBTQ advocates for debates about a list of 11 books identified by some parents as inappropriate or even pornographic.

On Monday, the board informed those in attendance that just two of those books have been reviewed, since no others have been formally challenged by residents. That set off more anger among those who have pushed to keep the materials away from local students.

"What the [expletive] is going on in this place?" Scott Schaefer, a Roxbury parent, demanded of the board during the meeting's public comment section. "A lot of your work is difficult. This is not."

The controversy mirrors disputes that have flared across the nation in which some parents have objected to sex education and LGBTQ-themed lessons and materials. In New Jersey, outcries have multiplied over the past two years as districts implemented new state curriculum standards adopted in 2020.

In Roxbury, the debate was amplified in April, when Roxbury High School librarian Roxana Russo Caivano sued a group of township residents, saying they had made her the target of "a civil conspiracy to defame her character” with allegations online and in public that she has allowed pornography in the library.

What critics say

After a ceremony honoring high-achieving students at the latest meeting, only about 30 people remained for the public comment session. Most identified as parents of current or former Roxbury students, including Janet Hagen, who described some of the book content as "explicit filth."

Hagen and others also objected to being characterized by critics as a "vocal minority."

"We're not a minority; we're a majority of the parents here," said Chris Burke. "Have you surveyed the parents to find out if we're a majority or minority? People are scared to come to these meetings to speak. I didn't want to speak because I thought I was going to get sued. People are being targeted. It's not hyperbole."

"We just want the porn out of schools," Burke said. "We want it gone. That's the only thing that we want."

More: Heated debate over LGBTQ books in Roxbury High goes past midnight. How the board voted

Proponents of the books in question say they address critical issues facing LGBTQ students and are only in the high school library. Critics object to the graphic depiction and description of sexual activity contained in some of the books.

One book, "Let's Talk About It," was reviewed by a library committee and removed from the shelves, the board said. It can be checked out only with parental permission. Another book, "Gender Queer," was left on the library shelf after review.

The review process

"The demands are made by individuals but are also part of a national campaign of censorship," said Mike Gottesman of Wayne, founder of the New Jersey Public Education Coalition. "This agenda is not representative of your community. Ethically, you cannot allow the position of one or several parents to force a book removal. Every parent has the right to evaluate the book for themselves and their child."

Board President Leo Coakley clarified that although a special library committee has been formed to review questionable books, no other books are currently under review because "no one has challenged them."

"Someone actually has to challenge them first," Coakley said, referring to an online form. "Then, the process begins."

Board member Heather Champagne added that any challenges must be made by people familiar with the book and their reasons why it should be reviewed. The sexually graphic images and phrases in some of the books in question, she said, were not "the focus of the entire book."

"I would invite anybody who would like to take something as a whole to educate themselves on the whole body of it versus a page, a conversation, and not judge the entire book on one section," Champagne said. "There have been two books in many years that have been challenged. Not one person has written a challenge and sent it in for those [other] books to be reviewed."

Update on librarian's lawsuit

Caivano also spoke during the meeting, asking about revisions the board is considering regarding meeting protocol, which would prioritize time for Roxbury students, parents and residents to speak during public sessions.

Her lawsuit is currently going through procedural steps in state Superior Court in Morris County. Discovery is not expected until the fall, said her attorney and husband, Anthony Caivano.

"I wonder how you plan to control Roxbury residents speaking first," she said. "I envision the entire audience being made up of quote-unquote Roxbury residents providing fake addresses."

"We can't make people behave," board member Kathy Purcell said.

The board will meet again on July 17.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com 

Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Roxbury NJ LGBTQ school book ban debate: Why it's taking so long