COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than 100 students at Big Walnut High School walked out in unison on Thursday in protest over a proposed book ban.
Supporters of the book's removal say author John Green's book, "Looking for Alaska" is not appropriate reading for students.
“We are telling the board that we want these books in our school we want them in our libraries we want them being taught to us,” said Isa Belle Carr, a student who led the walk-out.
"Looking for Alaska" is one of the most challenged books across the country for its use of profanity and sexual content, some argue.
Green, a graduate of Kenyon College, also wrote the popular book, "The Fault in Our Stars," which was turned into a movie. Many parents are concerned that if Big Walnut bans this book, others will follow.
“We could have 50 books out of our district tomorrow and that's scary,” said Leanne Carr, mother of Isa Belle.
The call to ban the book, which the district said was an option students could choose from and was not required reading, prompted the school district to form a committee to look into the concern.
“When a book gets challenged, our practice in compliance with board policy is to create a committee to review the book," Superintendent Ryan McLane said in a written statement. "That committee consists of the assistant superintendent, building principal, the district's media specialist, a teacher who teaches the class, a representative of the Sunbury Community Library, and two parents of students currently in the class in which the book is being used.
"That committee then makes a recommendation to me. That recommendation was unanimous to allow Looking for Alaska to remain in our high school library as well as to be a curriculum resource in the high school English class. As a result, that was my recommendation to the board of education in November. As part of our district's policy, that community member had the right to appeal the decision to the board of education."
Mom's for Liberty, the conservative nonprofit with a chapter in Delaware County, advocates for parental rights in schools and has tried to keep books they feel are inappropriate for students out of schools.
“We are mature students who are able to read these books which contain difficult topics, really that's basically all,” said Carr.
Superintendent Ryan McLane released a statement on Thursday:
"Looking for Alaska has been used as a curriculum resource in our high school English class for years. This year it was one of the options students could choose from. It was not required reading for any student. Looking for Alaska was one of over 20 books a member of our community has formally challenged. When a book gets challenged, our practice in compliance with board policy is to create a committee to review the book. That committee consists of the assistant superintendent, building principal, the district's media specialist, a teacher who teaches the class, a representative of the Sunbury Community Library, and two parents of students currently in the class in which the book is being used. That committee then makes a recommendation to me. That recommendation was unanimous to allow Looking for Alaska to remain in our high school library as well as to be a curriculum resource in the high school English class. As a result, that was my recommendation to the board of education in November.
As part of our district's policy, that community member had the right to appeal the decision to the board of education. The board will vote tonight to determine if Looking for Alaska will remain in our school.
A student led walkout did occur this afternoon. The students conducted their protest within the parameters of board policy regarding such demonstrations, and no student was disciplined as a result of their participation. In walking the building, I observed students who chose not to participate in class receiving instruction from their teachers."