AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas lawmaker is targeting the removal of 850 books from school libraries that he suggests make students feel uncomfortable.
Rep. Matt Krause (Republican – Ft. Worth District 93) compiled the list of books stating that the material contained in them “might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex.”
The Texas Tribune first reported the story on October 26, 2021, referencing a letter from Krause sent on October 25, The email letter was sent to the Texas Education Agency
Deputy Commissioner School Programs with blind copies to selected superintendents as an inquiry about school district content.
The letter notes that various school districts in Texas have received objections from “students, parents, and taxpayers” and is opening an investigation. The letter notes that as Chairman of the Texas House Committee on General Investigating his committee is charged with inquiring about any “matter the committee considers necessary for the information of the legislature or for the welfare and protection of state citizens.”
Texas State House Representative Matt Krause [via Facebook]
The letter states,
Please identify any other books or content in your District, specifying the campus location and funds spent on acquisition, that address or contain the following topics: human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), sexually explicit images, graphic presentations of sexual behavior that is in violation of the law, or contain material that might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex or convey that a student, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.
The lawmaker did not describe what consequences might be or the next steps.
The books deal with important topics such as racism and critical race theory, misogyny, reproductive rights, the trans experience and LGBTQ+ issues. Among the books identified by Krause are graphic novels like V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and The Handmaid’s Tale Graphic Novel by Margret Atwood, and the 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron.
Seal of the Texas House of Representatives
The list also includes titles such as The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu that features a gay couple of different magical lineages who are forbidden to be gay or date one another; The Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova the most recent installment of the Brooklyn Brujas series about a young woman and her new powers she doesn’t understand; When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey a story of a group of teens who discover their magical powers and complicated love for each other.
The list was not confined to fiction books. Among non-fiction titles were The Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears by Susan Hamen; Medical Ethics: moral and legal conflicts in health care by Daniel Jussim; How Prevalent Is Racism in Society? by Peggy J. Parks; and the Amnesty International title We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures.
Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina issued a statement in response to Rep. Krause’s letter:
Rep. Krause’s letter demanding that school superintendents provide him with lists of books dealing with certain subjects on their school bookshelves is disturbing and political overreach into the classroom. Nothing in state law, not even in HB3979 or SB3, gives a legislator the authority to conduct this type of witch hunt. This is an obvious attack on diversity and an attempt to score political points at the expense of our children’s education. What will Rep. Krause propose next? Burning books he and a handful of parents find objectionable?
The Democratic Vice Chair of Rep. Krause’s committee, State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado (East Dallas) responded said via Twitter stating “Republicans are whitewashing our history in an era when communities of color fueled explosive population growth in our diverse state.”
Rep. Neave Criado added in a letter on October 27, 2021, “Now more than ever, educators should be empowered to offer students literature and resources to inspire them with the knowledge that they are not alone in the challenges ahead.”
She was joined by the Texas Black Caucus, the Texas LGBTQ Caucus, and Texas Women’s Health Caucus, and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus condemning the investigation.
Yesterday Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked the Texas Association of School Boards on Monday to determine the extent to which “pornography or other inappropriate content” exists in public schools across the state and to remove it if found. Gov. Abbott wrote, “A growing number of parents of Texas students are becoming increasingly alarmed about some of the books and other content found in public school libraries that are extremely inappropriate in the public education system.”
School districts remain split on how to respond. In his letter, Abbot added, “You have an obligation to Texas parents and students to ensure that no child in Texas is exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content while inside a Texas public school.”
Another Texas lawmaker Rep. Jeff Cason (Republican – Bedford) is reportedly outraged by the book “Gender Queer: a Memoir” by Maia Kobabe and asked the current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxson to investigate “the legal ramifications to school districts that approved of these types of books.”
Image credit: Anuj Chawla from Pixabay
Rep. Krause was first elected to Fort Worth District 93, in the Texas House of Representatives in 2013 and has been re-elected since, most recently in 2020.
Rep. Krause is a licensed attorney and says he is the son of a pastor and a schoolteacher. He describes himself on his website as a “proven conservative voice” who has “fought to protect the unborn, restore trust in our election system, defend Second Amendment rights, secure the border, reform skyrocketing property taxes, strengthen Texas families, preserve religious liberties, and support law enforcement.”
Rep. Krause writes that he and his family actively attend the First Baptist Church of Keller where he and his wife help teach 6th grade Sunday School class. His website states that he “has been recognized as a legislative champion for his efforts to help some of the most vulnerable among us — medically fragile children. He has worked to cut bureaucratic red tape and improve the system for these kids and their parents.”
Rep. Krause currently serves on the Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee; Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee and is the chair of the General Investigating Committee that initiated the book investigations.
Rep. Krause is currently running for Texas Attorney General in a crowded field of candidates.
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