The Perry High School’s “Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Committee” held its third meeting Tuesday afternoon to gather student and public input on the book, “The Hate U Give.”  

The book was placed under reconsideration after a complaint was lodged against it. The Hate U Give is Angie Thomas’s first novel about a teenage girl who grapples with racism, police brutality, and activism after witnessing her black friend murdered by the police. The book became an immediate young adult bestseller and was adapted into a movie shortly after its release.

All students and members of the public who signed up to speak spoke in support of the book remaining in the curriculum. After a discussion that dealt with all aspects of the complaint, the Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Committee recommended to take no removal action.

Superintendent Clark Wicks said this about the process.

“Great job by all of the people involved (including) the complainant, the reconsideration committee, the people that also had a presentation, (Police) Chief (Eric) Vaughn was part of that, the English Department. And I’d like to say too, all the people that attended were very civil, listened, it was a very informative forum, and I couldn’t be more proud of Perry and the Perry Schools, and the people of Perry. They did an awesome, awesome job.”   

Wicks noted that he will report the committee’s decision to the school board and the board does not vote on that decision. However, he added should either party want to appeal that decision, they could do so before the board.