Georgia district removing books from school libraries after teacher's firing

A school district in Georgia removed two books from its school library, adding to a recent controversy after it fired a teacher for reading a book about gender identity to a fifth-grade class. 

Cobb County School District told parents on Monday that “Flamer” by Mike Curato and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews were removed from 20 school libraries after they were deemed inappropriate. 

"Earlier this week, we learned 20 school libraries contained one or two books (“Flamer” and/or “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”) with highly inappropriate, sexually explicit content,” a district spokesperson said. 

“We removed the books immediately, are in an ongoing investigation, and are committed to ensuring our students are taught with content in line with Georgia standards, Board policy, and the Law,” the spokesperson added.

“Flamer” is a book about a boy figuring out he is gay and navigating that during summer camp.  “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” is about two boys who become friends with a girl who is dying of cancer, though there are discussions of sex in the book.

Cobb County teacher Katie Rinderle was recently fired for reading “My Shadow Is Purple” by Scott Stuart back in March.

Parents complained, and the school said Rinderle violated a school policy about teaching controversial issues. 

B bans have skyrocketed across the country in recent years as more restrictions have been put on educators in Republican-led states regarding the types of content they are able to teach.