A Texas school district has reversed its decision to remove copies of the Bible from its libraries following a backlash from parents and clarification from state officials, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Canyon Independent School District (ISD) initially pulled the Bible from its libraries to comply with House Bill 900, a new state law banning books with “sexually explicit” material.
The district expressed concerns about alleged sexual content in the Bible, leading to its removal. However, after receiving clarification from state representative Jared Patterson, who authored the law, the Bible has now been returned to the shelves.
In a leaked email to the public, Canyon ISD Superintendent Dr Darryl Flusche explained that the full text of the Bible would no longer be available in schools due to these new regulations. He added that some books containing Bible stories or portions of the Bible would remain accessible, and students could request a Bible through donations from local churches.
The district’s decision sparked strong reactions from parents. At a school board meeting in December, one parent called the removal of the Bible “absurd,” while another, Regina Kiehne, a parent with children in the district, argued that the Bible should be valued for its wisdom and importance. “The Bible holds great value. It should be valued in our Texas school system,” Kiehne was quoted as saying to the Daily Mail.
State senator Kevin Sparks also criticised the move, saying that the Bible is not “sexually explicit” and should not have been removed. “At a time when students seek guidance, the Bible provides a vital moral framework,” he said on social media.
Amid the public outcry, Canyon ISD conducted a review of the new law and sought further clarification from Patterson. He reassured the district that the Bible should not be removed under the new guidelines.
Following this clarification, the district decided to return the Bible to its libraries, confirming that the decision was made after a thorough review of the law to ensure a “legally compliant educational environment.”
“We are pleased to have the Bible available in each of our Canyon ISD libraries,” the district said in a statement.
