A project of the National Coalition Against Censorship

CO-SPONSORED BY
American Booksellers for Free Expression
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Association of American Publishers

November 18, 2015

Mr. Alex G. Geordan
Superintendent
Canfield Local School District
AGeordan@canfieldschools.net
Canfield Local School District Board of Education
Phillip W. Bova, President: pbova@canfieldschools.net
E. Craig Olson, Vice President: colson@canfieldschools.net
Lee E. Frey: lfrey@canfieldschools.net
Nancy Lacich: nlacich@canfieldschools.net
Barry Tancer: btancer@canfieldschools.net

Dear Superintendent Geordan and Members of the Canfield Board of Education,

As organizations dedicated to the freedom to read, the integrity of the public education system, and the
application of First Amendment law and principles in public institutions, we are writing to express our concern
regarding the removal of Jonathan Safran Foers Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close from the Canfield High
School Honors English 10 required reading list in violation of district policy.
According to press reports, two parents complained about sexual situations and profanity in Extremely Loud and
Incredibly Close, and Superintendent Geordan decided to pull the book from the required reading list. The book
is reportedly still available in the classroom library and the school library.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was shortlisted for the 2007 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award,
and was on the American Library Associations 2009 list of Outstanding Books for the College Bound. Booklist
says the book, narrated by nine-year-old Oskar Schell, is arrestingly beautiful, and readers wont soon forget
the protagonist through his journey to unlock a mystery after his father dies in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Library Journal highly recommends the book, saying that Foers excellent second novel vibrates with the
details of a current tragedy but successfully explores the universal questions that trauma brings on its floodtide.
Removing a book with recognized literary and pedagogical merit simply because a few parents disapprove of it
not only disserves the educational interests of students but also raises serious constitutional concerns.
Government officials, including public school administrators, may not prohibit the expression of an idea
simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable. Texas v. Johnson (1969); see also Board
of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v. Pico (1982) (local school boards may not
remove books simply because they dislike the ideas contained in these books.)
Removing material in response to objections to content or ideas may make a school district vulnerable to legal
challenge. See, for instance, Monteiro v. Tempe Union High School District (9th Cir. 1998)recognizing the
First Amendment right of students to read books selected for their legitimate educational value even if
offensive to some parents and studentsand Pratt v. Independent School Dist. No. 831 (8th Cir. 1982) and Case
v. Unified School Dist. No. 233 (D. Kan. 1995), in which it was stated that the First Amendment was violated by
removing material because of hostility to content and message.
This action is also in direct violation of Canfield Local School Districts own Policy No. 9130, which

specifically states that no challenged material may be removed solely because it presents ideas that may be
unpopular or offensive to some. The policy also requires that any challenge must be addressed to the principal
of the school in writing, and he or she may, after advising the superintendent and with his approval, appoint a
review committee, which would weigh the challenge against the educational value of the material. Such a
review, undertaken by educators at the building or district level, is consistent with recommendations by the
National Council of Teachers of English. According to the policy, the final decision to remove a book needs to
be made by the board, not singlehandedly by the superintendent.
That the book remains on classroom and school library shelves is irrelevant. The book has been removed from
the required reading list solely because of its content and the messages it contains, inevitably robbing students
of valuable discussions and placing school officials in the role of censors who privilege the ideas and beliefs of
a few parents over the interests of the entire student body.
Decisions about instructional materials should be based on sound educational grounds, not on an individuals or
groups agreement or disagreement with the message or content of a particular book. This approach is
consistent with constitutional and educational principles and will serve the interests of both Canfield High
School and its students. Every community is home to a diversity of opinions on moral and religious questions;
for every parent who objects to an assigned book there will be others who favor it. In practice, the attempt to
alter school curricula in response to individual objections means privileging the moral or religious beliefs of
some families over others. It is precisely this form of viewpoint discrimination by government officials that our
constitutional system is designed to prevent.
We urge you to demonstrate your commitment to recognized constitutional and educational principals, as well
as to the Districts own policy, by restoring Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to the Honors English 10
curriculum, which is designed for the talented and serious academic student who is willing to rise to the
challenge of intense and in-depth work. It is within the discretion of the school to respond to the complaints of
the parents who do not wish for their children to read the book by offering them an alternative assignment.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,

Svetlana Mintcheva, Director of Programs

National Coalition Against Censorship

Chris Finan, Director

American Booksellers for Free Expression

Judy Platt, Director

Free Expression Advocacy
Association of American Publishers

Charles Brownstein, Executive Director

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Millie Davis, Director

Intellectual Freedom Center
National Council of Teachers of English

Fatima Shaik, Chair

Childrens and Young Adult Book Committee
PEN American Center

CC: John Tullio, Director of Curriculum and Instruction: jtullio@canfieldschools.net

Michael Moldovan, Principal, Canfield High School: mmoldovan@canfieldschools.net

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