Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Harford County board removes graphic novel 'Flamer'; dozens of parents, librarians and students urge reinstatement
Summary
After the Board of Education voted to remove Flamer from school libraries, 88 speakers flooded the meeting with opposing views: some called the book vulgar and inappropriate for middle school, while librarians, teachers and LGBTQ advocates said the reconsideration committee followed policy and the book offers life‑saving representation.
The Harford County Board of Education voted at its Aug. 18 business meeting to remove the graphic novel Flamer from school libraries, prompting more than an hour of public testimony from residents, librarians and students. Dozens of speakers urged the board to reverse the decision; others defended the removal as a matter of age appropriateness.
Supporters of reinstatement told the board the district’s review committee had read Flamer in full and found literary and educational value. Caitlin Hurley, a HCPS librarian and member of the reconsideration committee, said the panel "followed legal precedent, district policy, and the Maryland Right to Read Act and found that Flamer has clear literary…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
