New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa has rejected an appeal to remove certain books from Clyde-Savannah Junior-Senior High School’s library, affirming the local school board’s decision to keep them.
According to the Finger Lakes Times, the appeal, led by Reverend Jacob Marchitell and supported by Wayne County Moms for Liberty, challenged the inclusion of five books they claimed contained inappropriate content for students.
Rosa’s nine-page decision emphasized that removal of books based solely on disagreement with their ideas is not permissible under school policy.
The books in question, including titles like “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson and “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover, were reviewed by a school committee which recommended they remain available in the library, categorizing some as young adult or adult content.
This recommendation was initially overturned by the board under external pressure but was reinstated before the latest appeal.
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