Battle over book-banning grows Another sex-education book in library at center of storm

CONROE -- A second children's sex-education book is caught in a book-banning battle that is expected to change the Montgomery County library system's selection process.

A crowd of about 200 people spilled into the hallways at Commissioners Court on Monday to hear the debate on a proposed ban on It's Perfectly Normal, by Robie H. Harris. Critics of the book asked that a second book by Harris, It's So Amazing, which addresses sex education for younger children, also be removed because of what they called its pro-homosexual stance.

County Judge Alan B. Sadler said he had received hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of comments from residents and the sentiment appears to be about evenly split on the issue.

"It frankly does not sway my feelings on wanting more control on what is on the shelves that is accessible to children in Montgomery County," Sadler said.

"We have to draw a line in the sand," said Jim German, a Republican precinct chairman. "We are fed up with the liberals shoving immoral views down our throats."

After complaints about It's Perfectly Normal were raised two weeks ago, the county referred the book to a library review panel, which will make a recommendation to Library Director Jerilynn Williams. The formal complaint beginning the process was delivered to Williams during Monday's court session.

It's So Amazing is not on the list of popular books facing bans in libraries throughout the county, although It's Perfectly Normal ranks as the 13th-most-challenged book since 1990, said to Beverley Becker, assistant director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association.

"From our perspective, the notion of a library is to protect access to books," Becker said, adding that the organization believes individual families should decide which books are appropriate.

Most of the speakers -- many of them members of the Republican Leadership Council, the Christian Coalition of Montgomery County and area Christian churches -- called for Williams to be fired, for the creation of a citizen review panel and for the county's withdrawal from the American Library Association.

Some even attacked the county's $10 million bond proposal, scheduled for a November election, to build three libraries. They said the money would help to purchase unwanted books.

"It shows a gross lack of good judgment and accountability," said the Rev. Bill C. Craft, executive director of Christian Life Ministries of Conroe. "Those promoting these liberal attitudes have the audacity to promote a `yes' vote on a $10 million library bond issue."

A small group, led by the Northwoods Unitarian Universal Church of The Woodlands, asked commissioners to keep the books on library shelves.

"What is at issue is the attempt by certain individuals to impose their views on the rest of the county," said K.E.S Palmisano of The Woodlands, reading a statement from the church. "It is contrary to the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, press and religion. We are free to decide for ourselves what to read and review."

Sadler has vowed to change the policy for selecting children's books within 30 days, probably adding citizen members to a local library panel that examines books for purchase.

Also Monday, Frank P. Williamson of west Montgomery County complained that the library refused to display a poster featuring an American flag and the motto "In God We Trust" until it was approved by the library board.

"Here we are celebrating Sept. 11 and we can't post it in the library," Williamson said.

Cincy, if you have noticed any of my replies ( which are few ) on the "Gay Wars" posts, you know I'm not particularly against gays... at least not as far as consenting adults go.

But this stuff with trying to convert children has got to be stopped. It's just too far over the line of decency.

The nanny state needs to be hog tied.

"Roped, Rolled, & Branded..."
( from Rawhide )

I just don't think the government needs to be, or should be, in the business of teaching our children about sex, except perhaps for the basic biology of it. It just reeks of indoctrination and outright propaganda to me.

Agreed. There's a huge difference between tolerating homosexuality and teaching kids that it's 'perfectly normal.' I do not want my kids taught that things like anal intercourse are 'perfectly normal.' It's not.

The 1st amendment gurarantees you the right to say what you want. It does NOT in any way guarantee that a library should have every book you want, in violation of the desires of the community. It's the community's choice to decide what's in its library. My library doesn't carry Penthouse Magazine - that's not a 1st amendment violation. Let the Unitarian Church stock itself with pro-homosexuality material, if it wants.

Since homosexual's and lesbian's are unable to biologically reproduce and have apparently shorter life spans (as a group) than heterosexual people they then must attempt to recruit others into their lurid and self-destructive lifestyles and where better to recruit than at the elementary and kindergarten school level and do it with the governments approval.

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