One Parent’s Complaint Leads To Book Ban In New Hanover County

Source: NPR/WHQR-FM

Recently, the New Hanover County school board voted to temporarily remove the book “Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, And You” from their district’s classrooms following a complaint made by one parent. The decision came after a five-hour public hearing where Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust and Assistant Superintendent Dawn Brinson argued against Katie Gates, the lone complainant and parent of a former Ashley High School AP Language and Composition student.

Gates claimed that the book had “no place” in the school system’s classrooms due to it supposedly promoting anti-American sentiment and disrespect for the Bible. According to WHQR, prior to bringing her concerns to the NHC school board, Gates had already tried to convince two curriculum committees to remove the book, to no avail. 

Gates is an active member of her county’s local Republican party, and while she may be in step with some of the far right, extreme members of her party, recent polling suggests that half of Republicans oppose book bans

One of the Republicans who does oppose book bans happens to also be on the New Hanover County school board; at the public hearing, Republican Board Member Stephanie Kraybill’s first question to Gates was, “I’m wondering why you believe you have the right to dictate what the whole county can read – and not just what your child can read?”

Kraybill was referencing the fact that following Gates first complaint to her daughter’s teacher, her daughter received an alternative assignment to complete instead. 

The teacher who assigned the book originally, Kelli Kidwell, said felt powerless and that she’s disappointed that one parent can have so much power over her classroom. 

Read more from WHQR

Share:

More Posts

NC House Democrats Stand United Against SB 153

SB 153 is a right-wing bill that would burden local law enforcement, infringe on the rights of local governments, and further empower ICE to perform unconstitutional raids on North Carolina communities. 

Redadas de ICE en Charlotte y Concord: Intensificación de Arrestos de Inmigrantes en Carolina del Norte

En una reunión celebrada el 21 de mayo en la sede de ICE en Washington, el principal asesor del presidente Trump, Stephen Miller, y la secretaría de Seguridad Nacional, Kristi Noem, instruyeron a los oficiales de inmigración a aumentar los arrestos diarios a 3,000, triplicando la cifra alcanzada en los primeros meses del mandato de Trump. Este objetivo forma parte de un esfuerzo por ejecutar la operación de deportación más grande en la historia de Estados Unidos. 

Trump’s FEMA Denies North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene Aid Request, Again

“FEMA’s denial of our appeal will cost North Carolina taxpayers potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up out west,” Stein explained. “The money we have to pay toward debris removal will mean less money toward supporting our small businesses, rebuilding downtown infrastructure, repairing our water and sewer systems, and other critical needs.”

3 Million People Could Lose SNAP Under GOP Plan, Gov. Stein Warns of NC Fallout

“If Congress goes forward with these plans, our state will be forced into perilous budget decisions – should North Carolinians lose access to food, or should we get rid of other essential services?” Gov. Stein wrote. “I urge our members of Congress to reject this budget proposal so that North Carolina families don’t go hungry.”