Board member urges removal of fourth‑grade book; district review committee to examine 'The Hope Chest'

At a meeting of the Public Schools of Robeson County, board member Mr. Britt asked the district to remove the book The Hope Chest from fourth‑grade reading assignments, saying he had examined the text and deemed it inappropriate for 11‑year‑old students.

"This book has no business in the public schools of Robeson County and I'm asking that it stop immediately and find a different book to read," Mr. Britt said during the meeting.

Cindy Humphrey, the district’s media supervisor, responded that the district maintains a review committee for challenged materials and that she would convene the committee to examine the book. Humphrey outlined committee membership she could recall—media supervisor, a couple of principals and a parent representative—and said the committee would review the text and report findings. She also reminded the board that parents wanting to opt a child out of specific materials should contact the school principal.

District staff said they would check whether the book has already been pulled from certain classrooms and promised to follow the review process; several board members suggested the state’s move toward standardized instructional materials should limit local disputes but affirmed the local committee will review specific complaints.

The district did not announce an immediate removal; staff asked teachers and principals to report whether the book is currently in classroom use and to withhold it pending committee review if concerns are confirmed.