West Cook News

Concerned parent Laura Tussing said she is mystified that anyone would suggest she is trying to “ban” books at Lyons Township High School.

Tussing spoke out as she and others deemed the books to be “pornographic.” 

For her efforts, Tussing has been branded a “book banner” by others in the district as was the accusation leveled by La Grange Village Board of Trustee Beth Augustine in the Dec. 20 Lyons Township High School District 204 School Board meeting.

“People think that banning books essentially is the way to go,” Augustine said at the meeting. “There are different perspectives and viewpoints from our young people and our adults. While we all may not be comfortable with that content. Where do we start and where do we end if we begin banning books again? There's an internet full of things that our kids can easily get a handle on.”

Tussing said she is only interested in flagging pornography in the school’s library, not banning books.

“I was shocked to be referred to as a book banner. A La Grange Village Board of Trustee, Beth Augustine couldn’t seem to separate violation of federal law - pornography to minors and general book banning,” Tussing told West Cook News. “If it weren’t so comical, I would have tried to enlighten her of the difference. But that’s the narrative that is being put out there. I’m out to ban books. Not protect our kids from pornography. It’s almost too hard to believe this is the take away from the excerpts that were read.”

In comments at the meeting Tussing discussed her path since the Nov. 1 Lyons Township High School District 204 school board meeting in which she read graphic sex scenes aloud from illustrated youth novels showing graphic sex scenes.

In the Dec. 20 school board meeting, she recalled a conversation she had with Superintendent Brian Waterman.  

"What really didn't make sense to me was his inability to call pornographic material pornography or even obscene. I read the school policy that states obscene, vulgar or pornographic material that cannot be used or should, cannot be used, period,” Tussing told the board.

She also questioned why Waterman told her that by reading explicit passages from the books at the board aloud she was being inappropriate.

“He said, and I'm quoting, in fact, 'your comments at the board meeting were out of line.’ So then it is pornography? Why else would I have been out of line? It appears that you're blurring the lines of your own policy or your blurring the lines of the definition of pornography. Whatever the case, there's no need for it in our schools,” Tussing said. 

She suggested those who are concerned read the books themselves instead of taking her or anyone else’s word for it.

“If you haven't read the books I quoted, I highly suggest you do,” she said at the Dec. 20 board meeting. "You can read them both in a day they're a very quick read. Then ask yourself — what's the purpose? There's no hope, growth, moral character or integrity that you would want a student to learn or develop from. With all the classics and the other higher caliber reading material available, why would one of these be on a reading list, much less be critically acclaimed?”

Augustine is a descendant of Franklin D. Cossitt, the founder of La Grange. While in the past she was vocal about he affiliation she has grown quiet about her lineage after it was revealed Cossitt was a slaveowner.  

She is the fifth descendant of Cossitt to serve on the board.

Augustine was also a noted supporter of Evanston socialist Daniel Biss's failed governor campaign. 

See Tussing’s full comments at the Dec. 20 board meeting below:

“The last time I addressed the board, I read passages from two different books that are available to student passages I call pornographic. Dr. Waterman called me to discuss my concerns and began the review process of the reading materials. He noted that the books were both critically acclaimed and received awards and part of the wide variety that is made available to the students that make them acceptable. Critically acclaimed and awarded, I asked by whom and which standards. As to the wide variety exactly how wide is this variety go and what are the limits? The books I shared are only what I have stumbled upon. There might be others.

“When I pointed out that the books were less than well written, Dr. Waterman reluctantly agreed and said that was the problem with teen writers. They write to appeal to teenagers to get them to read. In other words, the standard and quality of the books is lower to get the teens to read. Shouldn't we be raising the standard? It seems we've chosen to move away from the quality works of literature that can address social and emotional learning issues, which could act as a catalyst for conversations that would require the students to think critically. Why not have those books on your summer reading list instead?

“If you haven't read the books I quoted, I highly suggest you do. You can read them both in a day they're a very quick read. Then ask yourself — what's the purpose? There's no hope, growth, moral character or integrity that you would want a student to learn or develop from. With all the classics and the other higher caliber reading material available, why would one of these be on a reading list, much less be critically acclaimed? But what really didn't make sense to me was his inability to call pornographic material pornography or even obscene. I read the school policy that states obscene, vulgar or pornographic material that cannot be used or should, cannot be used, period. He said there are other books with racial slurs and explicit language. Explicit language and pornography are not the same. He explained the school policy, as long as it's not openly discussed or posted at the school, is acceptable. Then, he said, and I'm quoting, in fact, 'your comments at the board meeting were out of line.’ So then it is pornography? Why else would I have been out of line? It appears that you're blurring the lines of your own policy or your blurring the lines of the definition of pornography. Whatever the case, there's no need for it in our schools.

“I don't say this lightly, but disguising pornography, violence and hateful comments that are in these books as literature in education is sure to guarantee an ill-equipped and depressed generation. We owe it to them to change course immediately, and I ask you to do so. Thank you.”