Letter from Catherine Lake Ellsworth

School’s Plans for Books Unclear

It is a huge understatement to say that I was appalled when I read on allotsego.com about CCS’s plan to remove thousands of books from the school’s libraries and classrooms [https://www.allotsego.com/lack-of-clarity-about-removal-of-books-at-ccs/]. I cannot imagine what the thinking of such a move might be. However, when I read the list of books to be removed, it does not seem that CCS is trying to ban books, but rather to eliminate library books altogether.

I base this on the fact that “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston is on the list for removal. For those who do not know this book, it is described on Amazon.com as follows:

“One of the most important and enduring books of the twentieth century, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” brings to life a Southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of Zora Neale Hurston. Out of print for almost 30 years—due largely to initial audiences’ rejection of its strong black female protagonist—Hurston’s classic has since its 1978 reissue become perhaps the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature.”

And while there may be individuals who would like to see this book banned, it is most difficult to imagine a library, especially a school library, which would choose to ban this book. Thus, it might seem that the goal of CCS is not to ban books, but to eliminate the books and thus the school libraries. Although this would seem to be a completely radical idea, it has been done in other school districts. For example, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, where I now live, the school district has eliminated the high-school library this year.

Needless to say, there has been much hue and cry from parents. Yet two very important issues prevailed. During the last school year, only 300 books were checked out of the high-school library. Plus, since every student has a school-issued Chromebook, any research a student needs to do can easily be done online.

I have no idea what the intention of CCS might be when it comes to their library program. But it would seem to me that a good place for them to start would be to explain to residents of the district what the school is planning to do and why it is in the best interests of its students. Until that information is made public, it is rather hard to assess exactly what the effect their ultimate plan might be on their students who are, after all, the only reason the school exists.

Catherine Lake Ellsworth
Mount Vernon, Ohio