Wilson County high school closes library, reevaluates content due to controversial law (original) (raw)

Wilson County high school closes library, reevaluates content due to controversial law (WCIV)

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Wilson County Law Library School Green Hill High School Books Controversial Ban

WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Wilson County high school is warning teachers to skip classroom libraries and closed the school library over concerns surrounding a new state law.

Under the law, any brief mention of sex, nudity or excess violence can lead to a book ban.

The Wilson County Director of Schools says they are temporarily closing the library atGreen Hill High School to sort through books to make sure they get rid of the those that are required to be banned.

Senator Mark Pody, who supports this law, says they're not looking to get school systems in trouble, but instead they want to protect them.

What makes this law different than a previous law is the context of the material does not matter.

FOX 17 News spoke with parents at the Green Hill High School pick up line.

“But to think about taking Shakespeare or the Bible...Things or scenes out of those,"Laura Thompson, a Green Hill parent, said. "I mean that’s just crazy. It’s ridiculous."

FOX 17 News reached out to Wilson County Schools, and their spokesperson says they will comply with state legislation, but they will also not instill fear among valued administrators and staff members who work very hard to practice district guidelines and policies each day.

The Green Hill High School principal also requested teachers not to have classroom libraries.

“It’s exactly what we said could happen if this poorly written law passed and it did and now, we’re seeing the ramifications of it, which students are the one suffering,” Eric Welch, Williamson County School Board Member, emphasized.

FOX 17 News reached out to Senator Mark Pody who supports this bill and he said “We are not trying to look for ways to come down on school systems. We’re looking for ways to help protect them, but I think a lot of common sense can be used.”

Senator Pody explains they are trying to protect children from pornography which they've found in the past to be available in public schools.

However, Welch argues this law has gone too far and says it’s in violation of the U.S. Constitution and First Amendment rights.

Wilson County Schools say Chromebook and textbook distribution is their main priority right now, adding the Green Hill School library will open.

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