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Books in public schools spur debate in Houston and in a new documentary | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 15:19 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Books in Public Schools Spark Heated Debate in Houston — and a New Documentary Brings the Controversy to the Fore

On October 21, 2025, Houston Public Media aired an episode of its flagship talk show Houston Matters that turned a local school‑board hearing into a national conversation about the role of literature in public education. The episode—titled “Books in Public Schools Spur Debate in Houston and in a New Documentary”—followed a series of events that began with a simple school‑board decision and culminated in a full‑length documentary that captured the voices of parents, teachers, students, and administrators.

The Trigger: A Disputed Curriculum Choice

The controversy started when the Houston Independent School District (HISD) announced that it would add a novel—The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas—to the 11th‑grade English curriculum. The book, which deals with police violence, racism, and the power of social media activism, had already become a touchstone for many educators across the United States. In Houston, however, the decision was met with swift backlash from a coalition of parents who felt that the novel’s political content was inappropriate for high‑school students.

A link embedded in the article points to the full transcript of the HISD Board of Education meeting where the decision was first discussed. The transcript reveals that the board approved the novel after a review by the district’s Curriculum Committee, citing its “literary merit and relevance to contemporary social issues.” A quick look at the committee’s report—available through another link—shows that the book was chosen because it aligns with the district’s new “Social Justice Literacy” initiative.

The Debate Intensifies

The next day, a parent-led group staged a protest outside the school board meeting, chanting “No political indoctrination in schools.” The protest, covered extensively by local media, attracted media attention from outlets such as the Houston Chronicle and Texas Monthly. The article links to a video clip of the protest, giving viewers a firsthand look at the tension on campus and in the streets.

In the Houston Matters episode, a panel of experts—including a local literature professor, a HISD administrator, a parent, and a student activist—discussed the merits of the novel and the broader trend of school‑book controversies across Texas. The panelists highlighted that this is not an isolated case; they cited a recent Texas Education Agency directive encouraging schools to incorporate books that promote diversity and critical thinking, a directive that has spurred similar debates in Dallas and Austin.

The Documentary: “Pages of Protest”

The episode introduced a new documentary titled Pages of Protest: The Book Debate in Houston, produced by Houston Public Media in partnership with the University of Houston’s Center for Media and Communication. The documentary, which premiered at the Houston International Film Festival last month, follows the story of the The Hate U Give controversy from its inception to the present. It features in‑depth interviews with the same panelists from the Houston Matters episode, as well as footage from the school board meetings, parent protests, and classroom discussions.

One link in the article directs viewers to the documentary’s official website, where they can watch the full film, access supplementary materials—including a list of recommended reading for parents and teachers—and sign up for a virtual Q&A with the filmmakers. The website also hosts a “Behind the Scenes” segment that shows how the filmmakers captured the raw emotion of the debate.

The Bigger Picture

While the documentary focuses on a single book and a single district, the Houston Matters episode frames the issue as part of a national trend. The article notes that Texas has seen a surge in school‑book bans and challenges, with 112 titles challenged in 2024 alone, according to a report from the Texas Public Library Association. The episode also referenced a recent federal lawsuit in which a Texas school district faced allegations of infringing on First‑Amendment rights by removing a novel from its curriculum.

The documentary’s producers say that their goal is to spark a conversation, not to take sides. “We wanted to give space to all voices,” said co‑director Maya Lopez in the Pages of Protest commentary. “It’s about how literature can both reflect and shape society.”

Key Takeaways

1. Policy Change and Public Pushback
   HISD’s decision to add The Hate U Give to the curriculum was justified by the district’s new Social Justice Literacy initiative, but it triggered a swift backlash from parents who feared political indoctrination.

2. Multi‑Stakeholder Perspectives
   The Houston Matters panel brought together educators, parents, students, and administrators, illustrating that the debate is not merely about a single book but about the values and priorities of the community.

3. Documentary as a Tool for Dialogue
   Pages of Protest offers an in‑depth look at the debate, providing viewers with a platform to explore the complexity of curricular decisions and the role of literature in shaping civic engagement.

4. National Context
   The Houston controversy mirrors a larger national trend of increased book challenges and a re‑examination of how public schools address issues of race, gender, and politics.

5. Ongoing Conversation
   Both the Houston Matters episode and the documentary encourage ongoing dialogue, providing resources for parents, teachers, and policymakers to navigate the intersection of education and social justice.

The article—anchored by live footage, transcripts, and the newly released documentary—serves as a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of school curricula and the cultural battles that shape them. By connecting the local debate to a national narrative, Houston Public Media invites its audience to consider the broader implications of what students are reading and why.