International- A graphic novel version of Anne Frank's diary was pulled from shelves in a Texas school district.
- The move came after a newly elected school board changed it's policy on what books are allowed.
A Texas school district is demanding teachers and librarians remove copies of the graphic novel version of "The Diary of Anne Frank" from classrooms and library shelves.
The graphic novel was part of a list of books previously approved by book committees in Texas' Keller Independent School District last year. However, new school board members elected in May have created new guidelines for acceptable books and have ordered that all previously challenged books come off shelves once again.
Jennifer Price, director of curriculum and instruction at Keller ISD, sent an email to teachers and librarians on Tuesday notifying them that they had a day to remove all the "challenged" books from school shelves.
"By the end of today, I need all books pulled from the library and from classrooms. Please collect these books and store them in a location," the email, obtained by Insider, read.
Price forwarded Insider to Keller ISD's communications department, who provided a statement from the district.
"Right now, Keller ISD's administration is asking our campus staff and librarians to review books that were challenged last year to determine if they meet the requirements of the new policy," the statement said.
Other books on the list include the Bible, "I am Jazz," and "Me Earl and the Dying Girl." The books are required to be pulled off all shelves in the entire district — from elementary to high school.
Laney Hawes, a parent of four students enrolled in Keller Independent School District, told Insider she was on the committee for the Anne Frank graphic novel. Hawes said the book was unanimously passed by the group reviewing it.
"When you take a book that has characters that represent real students and you say, 'This book isn't allowed on shelves because we don't agree with its existence,' … then that's telling students we don't agree with your existence," Hawes told Insider.
Hawes said she has heard from teachers and administrators too afraid to speak out against the policies out of fear of being fired.
"This pains their souls to participate in this," Hawes said. "But they're being forced to by the school board."
Charles Randklev, Keller ISD's school board president, posted about the debate on Facebook, where he said the district is concerned with exposing kids to "graphic, gratuitous, sexually-explicit content," which he said is in some of the books on the list.
"To bring these culture wars into elementary schools is despicable," Hawes said. "This is my children's education."