Tennessee principal advises teachers to not use classroom libraries because of new state law

WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. ( WKRN ) — A Wilson County principal has advised teachers to not utilize classroom libraries in order to avoid breaking a new Tennessee law .

The law bans schools from having books with sexual content, excess violence and some forms of abuse.

Critics have argued the law is so broad that even the Bible or a book about the Holocaust might have to be removed from Tennessee school libraries.

“A lot of concerns from librarians, a lot of concerns from principals, and my job is to protect people,” said Jeff Luttrell, who serves as the director of Wilson County Schools.

For years, the book debate has been a focal point during Wilson County board of education meetings. Now, a state law clarifies what can’t be on the shelves.

“It’s not up for discussion anymore,” Luttrell said. “It’s not up for debate. It must be removed.”

“The goal of this law is to keep sexually explicit materials out of the hands of minors,” said state Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet).

Lynn sponsored the bill. She said she’s spoken to the director of schools in the past regarding the number of books that will need to be pulled from school library shelves.

“The fact that there are so many, that this is so difficult, just totally validates what we’ve heard from parents,” Lynn said.

During Monday night’s school board meeting, Luttrell said librarians and staff are now on high alert because they can be held liable.

“This is a tremendous amount of pressure on them,” Luttrell said.

So much so the Green Hill High School principal has “advised his teachers to not utilize classroom libraries and keep the school’s main library as the central and sole hub as the school continues to work through and comply with new legislation,” according to Bart Barker, Wilson County Schools spokesperson.

“The fact that we had to clarify this law so many times is just as disturbing as the fact that the Green Hill High School principal had to give teachers such a warning,” Lynn said.

But when asked if the books removed from the shelves can be donated to the public library, Luttrell responded, “No, we’re going to bring those books here and we’re going to store them. … I do think everybody I’ve talked to in the legal world feels that this law will be challenged at some point.”

Luttrell clarified that no school library in Wilson County is closed because of this law. However, some libraries may not be checking out books during this time as they work to distribute Chrome books and textbooks.

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