Censorship Roundup

Hillsborough, FL: School officials removed books on serial murderers from four local high schools in April following a complaint by parent Tony Pawlisz, who says they sensationalize murder. Pawlisz complained to the Durant High School principal after his son brought home The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (Pocket Books, 1997) by Harold Schecter and David Everitt, which includes information on fan clubs for serial killers. That book and The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (Facts On File, 2000) by Michael Newton were pulled from Durant, King, East Bay, and Gaither high schools and are being reviewed by a school committee. Students used the books for their psychology and criminal justice classes.

Russell Springs, KY: A group of local parents and teachers want about 30 titles dealing with witchcraft removed from the Russell County High School library. Roger Cook, the school's principal, says several people—including teachers—attended a February school council meeting to request a special committee to review the books, which include World's Most Famous Ghosts (Turtleback, 1994) by Daniel Cohen and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Thus far, no formal complaint has been submitted. The case is unusual because teachers helped initiate the complaint and the group listed so many titles, says ALA.

Horry County, SC: A book about an Arkansas gay couple's struggle against hate was removed from eight district schools last month following a parent's complaint. The Drowning of Stephan Jones (Bantam, 1991) by Bette Greene promotes homosexuality, wrote Eugene Carroll Craig in a letter to school board members. A panel of educators will review the book to determine its fate, says a school official.

Waukesha, WI: Despite an objection to photos of scantily clad women, a district committee has voted to keep The Guinness Book of World Records in the city's 17 public elementary schools. Banting Elementary School teacher Mel Culver requested the book's removal, saying boys in her school were making frequent trips to the library to view the world's most valuable bikini and similar pictures. But reading specialist Gloria Esser said Guinness's short entries may encourage reluctant readers. "I've seen books like this really hook young readers," Esser told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.