Here’s what poll respondents think of the Beaufort County school book review process
Does the community support pulling 97 books from Beaufort County school libraries for potential adult and racial content, and the review process it unleashed?
According to the 350 participants who responded to The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette poll, the answer is no.
The results showed the majority of respondents believe Superintendent Frank Rodriguez should not have removed the books in the first place, nor with banning two books so far.
The most contentious question was how the community felt about the process overall. That answer was 53% negative, 31% mixed and 16% positive.
Multiple comments expressed concern over the two people who submitted the list of books for review — GOP politician Mike Covert and parent Ivie Szalai — having too much influence in the process.
“I think it’s ridiculous to allow two people to cause the launch of a costly book banning exercise,” one comment said.
“I am concerned that our superintendent makes decisions based on two individuals’ wishes,” another replied.
At the time the books were pulled, the district was receiving dozens of emails from a small group of parents who wanted books off library shelves. Many of which included harassment, intimidation and verbal threats, according to district spokesperson Candace Bruder.
The newspapers reported that by the time the review process is finished in September it will cost taxpayers at least $8,500.
Respondents to the newspapers’ poll were mostly united in their belief that books should stay in schools while they’re being reviewed.
The poll was not meant to be scientific, but offer insight as to what the community is thinking — especially for people who cannot attend school board meetings.
How the community answered
Here are the questions, and how the community responded:
Should Superintendent Frank Rodriquez have removed the books in the first place?
No — 82%
- Yes — 11%
- Not sure — 7%
Should books remain off shelves until they are reviewed, or stay on shelves during the review process?
- Stay on shelves — 86%
- Be removed — 11%
- Not sure — 3%
Do you think the seven-person review committee has a fair makeup?
- Yes — 39%
Not sure — 31%
- No — 30%
Do you think the school board should uphold the review committee decisions or go against them?
- Uphold the decisions — 52%
- Go against them — 25%
- Not sure — 22%
Do you think the two banned books so far — “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult and “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover — should be banned for all grade levels?
Neither banned — 79%
Not sure — 12%
- Both banned — 7%
- Ban Hoover book — 1%
Ban Picoult book — 0%
Do you think it’s worth the $8,500 it will cost to review the books?
No — 85%
- Yes — 12%
- Not sure — 3%
Regardless of how you feel about the books being removed, how do you feel about the review process overall?
- Negative — 53%
- Mixed — 31%
- Positive — 16%
