1.7K views Jan 2009
A Texas parent challenges a high school's assignment of Fahrenheit 451 over its language and religious content, while students petition to keep the book in the curriculum.
0:00 A Montgomery County family wants the few simple 0:03 Gaston. First word of a possible book ban, and tonight some students are actually working to show support for the book. 0:09 Eyewitness News reporter Deborah Wrigley joins us now live from Conroe. 0:12 Deborah? 0:13 Harry Potter books have been the basis of complaints before, but now a book that's been on literary list for years is suddenly being thrust into a debate over what's appropriate reading material for students at this Conroe school. 0:28 It's got all this stuff in it. 0:29 It was first published 53 years ago, Fahrenheit 451, said to be named for the temperature at which paper burns. 0:36 In this world, no free thought was allowed, and books were destroyed by fire. 0:41 Well, uh, 0:44 what sort were these then, Montag? 0:46 I didn't really look, sir, a little bit of everything. Novels, biographies, adventure stories. 0:51 Two weeks ago at Caney Creek High School, a 10th grade English class was given Fahrenheit 451 as a reading assignment, but Diana Verme stopped after a few pages. 1:03 Okay. What do you find objectionable about it? 1:05 The cussing in it and then the burning of the Bible. 1:08 But the burning of a lot of other books too. 1:11 Right. 1:12 She complained to her father. She was given an alternate reading assignment, but her dad is pushing the issue. 1:18 It is ironic in the true sense of the word that a fictional book on book banning is now the target of a request to remove it from school curriculum. 1:28 With God's name in vain being in there, that's number one reason, and then there's no reason for it being read. 1:34 The school has appointed a committee to review his objections, but students are now circulating a petition in support of the book. 1:42 Friday, they say they'll be wearing t-shirts voicing their opinions. 1:46 This was probably one of the greatest eye openers that we've had in our school curriculum. 1:51 A lot of the people who did sign said that of all the books they had to read, this is the one they enjoyed. 1:58 It really makes you, you know, think about your situation. 2:02 And under the heading of timing is everything, it is coincidental perhaps that this book assignment was made during what we are told it was National Banned Book Week. 2:14 A committee will investigate the basis of the parents' complaints. 2:18 In Conroe, Deborah Wrigley, 13 Eyewitness News. 2:22 And we have just received a copy of the complaint filed against the school by Alton Verme. 2:26 In the report, he listed each objected item line by line, complete with individual page numbers. 2:33 Besides bad language and violence, Verme lists downgrading Christians and talking about our firemen as reasons this book should be banned. 2:41 The school committee is expected to meet about the book, and we'll let you know what happens. 
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