Instead, the company chose the books based only on reading difficulty and literary value. It is up to the schools to screen to see if the content is too strong for students, depending on their grade level. Bulk ordering from Accelerated Reader lists is risky, said Steve Whatley, Newton County's associate superintendent for instruction. The Cobb controversy was the exception to the rule, because most school systems follow a multi-level series of procedures to screen out offensive material, officials said. For textbooks and required literature, the first watchdogs are the publishing companies or recommending institutions, such as the School Library Journal or the National Council for Teachers of English.
Parents are the last line of defense.
There are some books that some parents would find objectionable. It then becomes the responsiblity of the parent, if they find something objectionable, to inform the school. In Newton County, any book that is the subject of a protest is removed until it has been reviewed by school officials. Protest procedures are similar in the two counties. The entire book is read by members of a media committee at the school, usually four to six people, including the school librarian, teachers and possibly a principal or assistant.