Cobb County removes 6 more books from school libraries over content
Cobb County has removed six more books from its schools over what the superintendent said is material not suitable for students.
Cobb County School Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced the removal of the books during a Board of Education meeting on Thursday afternoon.
"After review, it has been determined these books contain sexually explicit and graphic content unsuitable for children to access in public schools," Ragsdale told the board.
Thursday's announcement brings the total number of books removed from school library shelves in Cobb County to 32.
In his statement, Ragsdale pushed back on allegations that removing the books from media centers constituted a "book ban" and the idea that the county was targeting books by gay authors or authors "of certain ethnicities."
"In total, even with the titles I will mention tonight, this is a grand total of 32 books out of more than a million. Those million-plus works are incredibly broad and represent an array of experiences and individuals. However, they do not contain sexually explicit and graphic content inappropriate for children," he said.
Ragdale said that parents should do their own research and decide for themselves whether they want their children to read the books at home.
While some parents have approved the book removal, other students and parents have said the district's actions hurt freedom of expression and identity.