Canyon Independent School District reversed its decision to remove the Bible from its libraries after a state lawmaker intervened. The district had initially banned the Bible under House Bill 900, which prohibits “sexually explicit” material in school libraries.
Superintendent Dr. Darryl Flusche explained to parents in an email that the Bible was removed due to passages mentioning sexual activity. He suggested students seek copies from local churches, while “Bible stories” remained in school libraries.
The TX legislature passed a law banning books with sexually explicit material, so the district decided to use that as an opportunity to ban the Bible. I have no idea which Biblical stories they claimed were explicit material.
— George (@BehizyTweets) December 30, 2024
The removal sparked outrage among parents and community members. “It seems absurd that the Bible, a book of wisdom and guidance, is being treated like inappropriate content,” said parent Regina Kiehne during a heated school board meeting.
Texas Rep. Jared Patterson, the bill’s sponsor, clarified that religious texts like the Bible are protected under the law. “The decision to ban the Bible is not only a misinterpretation of HB 900 but also likely illegal,” Patterson wrote in a letter to the district.
After Patterson’s clarification, Canyon ISD announced that the Bible would be reinstated. The district emphasized its intention to adhere to state guidelines while maintaining access to important literary and historical works.
This controversy comes amid rising Bible sales, which increased 22% through October 2024 compared to the same period last year.
