A Texas school district recently canceled a visit from a New York Times bestselling author due to tweets in which she used ‘foul language.’
Emma Straub, author of ‘Very Good Hats,’ was scheduled to read her book to kids at two elementary schools in the Katy Independent School District on January 13 until officials called her the day beforehand to rescind the invitation.
In a tweet sent after the Uvalde school shooting, Straub wrote: ‘F**k guns, f**k people who care more about controlling women’s bodies than protecting all of us from people with guns, f**k! It’s too much. So heartbroken.’
School administrators in an email to families in the district said the author’s language ‘does not align with our school and community’s values.’
Emma Straub, author of ‘Very Good Hats,’ had her invitation to read her book at Texas elementary schools rescinded over ‘foul language’ used in tweets
This is one of the elementary schools Straub was slated to read her book at
The move has sparked backlash from some parents in the district who accused the school of ‘once again’ caving to parents who ‘insist on restricting access and experiences.’
According to Chron, the district canceled an event from an author after parents complained that her books advocated for critical race theory.
The issue was first raised by parents who found Straub’s tweet on social media and called for the district to ‘do better’ when it comes to vetting guests.
Straub was scheduled to speak to kindergarteners and first graders at Robertson and Cimarron Elementary schools, just outside of Houston.
‘As parents we need to be more of who the district and our school is allowing to be around our children,’ the parent wrote in a post shared by another mother.
‘If you don’t stand up for your children, who will? Katy ISD, you MUST do better!’ the parent continued.
The Facebook post from the unidentified parent was shared by Anne Russey, another mom in the districts.
This is the Facebook post from one parent who complained about Straub’s reading
Straub’s tweet was posted after the Uvalde school shooting and said ‘f**k guns’
Russey was outraged by the school’s decision to give in to the other parents and shared her anger in a series of tweets Monday.
‘Once again @katyisd caves to the unrelenting demands of parents who insist on restricting access and experiences for ALL students and not just their own,’ Russey wrote.
In addition to the other parent’s Facebook post, the mother shared several screengrabs of the message sent from the district and a flier for the initial event.
‘It has been brought to our attention that this author has regularly used inappropriate and foul language on her social media platforms — specifically repeated use of the ‘F’ word,’ administrators wrote in the email.
‘This type of language, as you know, does not align with our school and community’s values,’ the letter, sent by a principal, reads.
The school official also apologized for misunderstandings or inconveniences but went on to say: ‘Though, ensuring we are consistently modeling appropriate behaviors and expectations for our students, both in the classroom and via other campus opportunities, is of high priority.’
This is the tweet that caused parents to revolt against her appearance
The school sent out this letter to parents and staff in the district, saying Straub’s language does not ‘align with the school and community’s values’
This is the book that Straub was scheduled to read at the elementary schools
According to the flier posted by Russey, the schools had initially offered parents the option to opt-out of the reading.
‘At least one elementary school has cancelled the author visit for ALL students, rather than referring parents to the Opt Out option available to them,’ Russey wrote.
Russey then pointed to the date of the tweet, May 24, as explanation for the expletives.
‘Do you recall what else happened on May 24? 19 elementary school students and 2 elementary school teachers were murdered by a f*cking teenager with a f*cking gun while the f*cking police waited f*cking forever to help the poor, f*cking dying children,’ the mother wrote.
The mom was referencing the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Straub, who was tagged in the tweets, saw the mother’s Twitter thread and responded apologizing for being unable to come and read her book.
‘Thank you. I was sorry not to be able to read my silly book about hats and imagination to those kids,’ she wrote.
‘The only F words in the presentation: funny, feline, feelings, the author replied.
DailyMail.com reached out to representatives for Straub and the Katy Independent School District but did not hear back by time of publication.
This is Anne Russey who first her outrage over the school’s cancelation of Straub’s appearance
Straub responded in a tweet saying she was ‘sorry’ to be unable to read her ‘silly book’
This wasn’t the first time the school district has faced backlash over claims of ‘censoring.’
In October, the district canceled an event with author and cartoonist Jenny Craft.
Parents had complained the author’s works promoted critical race theory and her books were removed from school libraries.
According to Chron, Katy ISD later rescheduled her appearance and returned the books.
The district in 2021 began removing books parents called ‘pervasively vulgar’ and even opened a submission portal for parents to have a book reviewed for appropriateness.
