Teacher urges board not to remove approved middle‑school books

A Fort Bragg Unified teacher told the school board that removing previously approved middle‑school literature because it makes some people uncomfortable would undercut established processes and harm students who need the books.

"If we begin replacing established educational guidance with personal opinions about what feels right, we risk creating a system where decisions become inconsistent, unpredictable, and disconnected from the expertise of educators," Michael Lang said during the public‑comment period. Lang, a teacher who described years of service in the district, urged the board to "trust the expertise of the educators" and to center decisions on students' needs rather than personal comfort.

Lang warned that many students in the district "are living with [trauma]" rather than only being exposed to it in books, and that literature can provide both mirrors and windows to help students process experiences. He also called for greater consistency and collaboration with teachers when materials are reviewed.

The board did not take an immediate removal action during public comment; later in the meeting trustees moved to consider a formal core literature selection procedure and separate site book lists, which drew additional public testimony and a later vote to approve the procedure and the presented lists.