School Board
Confusion Over the Book Ban
Keith Leonard says “The Devil’s Arithmetic” is removed only from grades K-6. That differs from how the Oct. 20 vote was described at the meeting, and from what a School Board member wrote a parent afterward.
School Superintendent Keith Leonard says The Devil’s Arithmetic is still available in Escambia County’s middle and high schools. In an Oct. 28 interview, Leonard said the Holocaust novel was removed only from kindergarten through sixth grade.
“It is still available at our middle schools and our high schools.”
The board voted 4-0 on Oct. 20 to remove 256 books without discussion. My Oct. 21 post reported the removal from district media centers, classroom libraries and recommended reading lists, which is how the action was presented at the meeting. Leonard’s explanation adds a detail nobody mentioned in the room.
- When teacher Leigh Anne Eubanks spoke in favor of keeping the young adult, historical fiction novel as part of her state-mandated Holocaust curriculum, no one spoke up and said she didn’t need to worry because it would be available for middle and high school students,
Carissa Bergosh’s Story
District 4 School Board member Carissa Bergosh gave parent Lauren Anzaldo a more elaborate tale of how the school board returned the book to school bookshelves.
- According to Bergosh, the morning after the meeting, a constituent called her cell phone and explained that the book is an account of the Holocaust, not what its title suggests. She then contacted Clay County’s director of academics.
What Bergosh says Clay County told her:
- The book was re-reviewed and found appropriate for middle and high school students
- It was found not appropriate for elementary students because of its mature subject matter
- It was inadvertently placed on Clay’s removed list, and the county will correct it
Bergosh said that she then called Denny Wilson, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. She wrote that he reviewed the book with his staff and agreed it should be “available to our middle and high school students.” She said she is working with the superintendent to get it back on shelves “as soon as possible.”
- However, Superintendent Leonard says it never was pulled from grades 7-12.
Where the Accounts Differ
Three versions of what happened:
- At the meeting: The board approved the removal of 256 titles with no discussion. Teacher Leigh Anne Eubanks told members the district owns 203 copies and that the state list gave no reason for banning the book. No one mentioned grade bands.
- Board member Carissa Bergosh, Oct. 22: She wrote that after reviewing the book, district staff agreed it “should be available to our middle and high school students,” and that it “will be placed back into our libraries.” That language suggests it had been taken out.
- Leonard, Oct. 28: The book never left middle and high schools.
