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Duval County School Board votes 6-1 to remove novel 'Identical' from district libraries
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment and debate, the Duval County School Board voted 6–1 to permanently remove Ellen Hopkins's novel Identical from Duval County Public School libraries and other district materials, citing statutory concerns and community objections.
The Duval County School Board voted 6–1 on April 1 to permanently remove the novel Identical by Ellen Hopkins from district libraries and other district materials following extended public comment and board deliberations.
The decision came after nearly two hours of public testimony in which dozens of residents, parents and faith leaders urged the board to remove the book for what they described as explicit depictions of sexual abuse and other traumatic material. Other speakers and some educators urged the board to retain the book for its literary value or to make it available with parental permission.
The difference in views produced multiple amendments and procedural debate on the floor. The District Material Review Committee had recommended keeping the book available; a subsequent motion offered by Board Member Cindy Pierson (option offered by the committee) to “permanently remove Identical from DCPS school…
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