In Beaufort, South Carolina, a recent controversy over the content of certain books in schools has culminated in a decision to return most of the books to shelves after an attempt to ban 97 of them. A recent episode of CBS' 60 Minutes highlighted the complexities surrounding educational materials in Beaufort and the ongoing debate on what is deemed suitable for students.

The dispute began when two individuals called for the prohibition of 97 books, citing concerns about explicit content and focusing on those featuring characters from diverse backgrounds, including minorities, LGBTQ+, and transgender individuals. Beaufort County, known for its literary history and dedication to education, grappled with the clash of opinions over the appropriateness of these literary works.

What Caused the Removal of Books

During a Beaufort County School Board meeting in October 2022, Joseph Castagnino read a sex scene from the book "Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins, prompting the removal of "Tricks" and 96 other books from all Beaufort County schools. The list included classics like "The Handmaid's Tale" and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," as well as titles like "grl2grl" and "Foul is Fair."

The removal followed a community member submitting a list of 97 books with perceived 'adult-rated content.' Castagnino and other parents compiled the list by cross-referencing adult-rated books with the Beaufort County School Library catalog, using a book rating system similar to that of movies. The specific rating system used was not disclosed.

Despite established procedures that grant parents the authority to influence their children's reading choices, the situation escalated as a few activists, fueled by conspiracy theories, targeted librarians and board members with extreme accusations. This heated environment prompted Superintendent Frank Rodriguez to remove the contested books temporarily to prevent potential violence and further tensions.

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Influence of Conservative Groups

Investigations revealed that book bans, not just in Beaufort but across the country, often traced back to the influence of conservative groups, such as Moms for Liberty. This group is known for opposing teacher's unions and supporting restrictive laws. The members claim to represent parental concerns about explicit content in school materials.

Ivie Szalai, a Moms for Liberty member in Beaufort County, was the community member who sent the school district the list of the 97 books. The submitted Google document contained BookLooks.org reviews as evidence.

BookLooks is a book review website created by a Florida nurse two years ago. Volunteers write the book reviews following BookLooks' standards. Some book bans nationwide are influenced by BookLooks' amateur reviews, often supported by Moms for Liberty.

Beaufort County's Response to Book Challenges

In response to the book challenges, Beaufort responded with civility and knowledge. Volunteers were asked to read the contested books, engaging in book club-like meetings over a year. A total of 146 community volunteers, along with teachers and librarians, discussed, deliberated, and voted.

Ruth-Naomi James, a combat veteran and school employee, reviewed the books and found none unsuitable for the school system. In December 2023, the final votes resulted in five books deemed too graphic, but 92 were returned to the schools. The process emphasized the importance of diversity, understanding, and avoiding judgments without knowing others' stories.

After extensive review involving thousands of pages and numerous volunteers, Beaufort County concludes its material review process by banning a fifth book from schools, "Beautiful" by Amy Reed.

The banned books constitute around 5% of the 97 titles removed from school libraries in October 2022. The last book to be banned from shelves is "Beautiful" by Amy Reed, which was flagged for sexual activities, drug abuse, alcohol use by minors, profanity, and self-harm based on Booklooks.org analysis. The other four banned books are "The Haters" by Jesse Andrews, "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult, "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover, and "Forever for a Year" by B.T. Gottfried.

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