book banning in Santa Fe

[heidi tandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 3407

Penny - is this anywhere near you? 

Harry Potter Books Bewitching Santa Fe School District 
Parents Must Sign Permission Slips From Library
Supernatural themes in Harry Potter books prompted the Santa Fe, 
Texas School District to require parental signature before a child 
can check out one of the popular children's books.
The school district said that the rule does not censor children, it 
just makes parents aware.

"This isn't censorship," superintendent Richard Ownby said. "We make 
the books available, we just require the parent's permission."

Many parents agree with the new rule.

"When children are under 18 they need rules," Reginald Levi 
said. "You have to set some kind of limits."

Area librarians are unhappy with the new rule that the district has 
imposed.

"We have a waiting list for the book," Rosie Hollaway said. "Anything 
that encourages children to read is a great thing."

The Texas Library Association is also alarmed with the new rule. They 
released a statement Thursday saying, "We encourage schools and 
parents to allow access to printed materials
we are concerned
about 
this."

Santa Fe was recently in the news when the United States Supreme 
Court barred organized prayer before public school football games as 
a result of a lawsuit filed against the school district