Harford County community members protested on Monday the school board’s decision to ban the illustrated novel “Flamer,” by Mike Curato, from its libraries.
The community members held signs outside of the Harford County Board of Education ahead of a meeting in Bel Air.
Members of the advocacy group “Together We Will Harford County” organized the protest after the school board voted to ban the illustrated novel from school libraries in June.
The controversial novel is about a teenage boy who, as he “navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can’t stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance,” according to the author.
“I feel that the school board is buckling under political pressure from a small group of citizens that have an agenda,” said Gary, a protester.
The book ban was not on the agenda for Monday’s board meeting, but people who oppose the decision as well as people who support it spoke during the school board meeting’s public comment.
Against the book ban
The book, “Flamer,” by Mike Curato, was previously approved by district committees. However, after an appeal from a parent, the board voted 5-3 in June to remove it, making it the first book pulled under a new review policy.
This was the first book to be removed by the district, after it created a process to review books flagged by concerned parents.
Protesters say the book ban threatens students’ rights.
“In the school system, parents can opt out of any book that they want for their child. There is already plenty of support or protection for any parent who doesn’t want their child to read a book,” said Delane Lewis, president of Together We Will. “What we have is the Board of Education stepping in front of parents and telling them what they should or shouldn’t have their children read.”
Support for book ban
Parents and community members who support the Harford County book ban argue that the book is not appropriate for children and students.
“We want to protect the innocence of children,” Will Martino said. “We want books that have appropriate language and material for them and these books don’t serve any educational purpose whatsoever.”