14-02-2025
School board votes not to ban 'Ready Player One'
PRINCETON, Ind. (WEHT) — A push to ban a book used in freshman English classes prompted a special meeting by the North Gibson School Board. In a four to one vote the board voted in favor of Superintendent Eric Goggins ruling not to ban ready player one after many in the community made their voices heard.
'Teachers are highly trained professionals that care for their students as if they were their own children. So much so that we have seen time and again in our country, they are willing to take a bullet for them. You are obligated and you have sworn an oath to follow your policy and the law. You must vote to retain Ready Player One,' said Uniserve Director for the Indiana State Teachers Association Mark Lichtenberg.
Over 25 people spoke and many more from the Northern Gibson County Community showed up to voice their opinions on the potential banning of Ready Player One.
The book was published in 2011 and follows a young man in a dystopian 2045 as he escapes reality through a virtual world.
Stephanie Miller says she introduced it into her classes to try and help engage her students with many coming to her support.
'Books are meant to enhance our understanding of topics and history. Without these books many wouldn't be able to see the prospective of me: the suicidal eighth grader who was bullied for his weight and public self expression,' says Miller.
But some say it is too obscene, and didn't enjoy the main character's negative view on christianity.
'We do not get to choose to allow this inappropriate material in and then claim we are doing it for their own benefit. We can't do that. They are going to read that and say, 'Well there's no God. My faith is the center of my life. But for the love of God, you can be a Christian and against banning books,' Said a Gibson County resident in support of the ban.
The board sided with superintendent Eric Goggin's original ruling to not ban the book, something that Miller said showed respect for herself and her colleagues.
'As a teacher, we have gone through enough challenges as it is, and I am happy our community and students showed up today to support us. I think it goes a long way in saying that teachers are worthy of respect and that our jobs as professionals are taken as such,' says Miller.
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