New Mexico Librarian Forces Principal to Adhere to Book Challenge Rules

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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 03/15/2006

Principal Dan Padilla of Socorro High School in New Mexico has reversed a recent decision to remove copies of "3x3 Eyes" (or "Sazan Eyes," in Japanese) from the school library following a parent's complaint about nudity, violence, and sex in the popular manga series, says Socorro High School Media Specialist Marian Royal. Padilla has since apologized and now says he'll follow the district's formal book challenge policy.

Royal was proctoring a ninth-grade exam in another room on March 2, when Padilla walked into her library and demanded that Royal's aide hand over copies of "3x3 Eyes." "I had to go to the principal to find out why and to discover that some of the books had been taken to central office where some administrators looked at them and deemed them unacceptable," Royal says. "This has never happened to me before anywhere, and I was frankly terribly shocked."

After threatening to take her matter to the American Library Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the National Council of Teachers of English, all books were eventually returned to Royal. The complainant has since checked out copies of the series that he wishes to challenge, and he's required to fill out a formal written book challenge form detailing the exact pages and contents to which he objects, Royal says.

"I would willingly have sacrificed my job if necessary," adds Royal. "However, since I was only defending board-approved policy, I hope that wouldn't have been the final outcome."