Dear fellow parents, friends, advocates, and stakeholders in the TCA community,  

In recent months, a small group of TCA parents became aware of many disturbing books in TCA’s secondary library (for junior high and high school students): 

• Parents have become aware of over a dozen books in TCA’s secondary library with sexually explicit material and narratives filled with graphic violence, suicidal ideation, and other mature content.
• Parents have also discovered that TCA’s secondary library maintains a list of 140 books that TCA judged to be so mature in content that not even seniors can check these books out without parental permission. 

All of these books were placed on library shelves (except for one so explicit that it was kept behind the librarian’s desk), where students could browse them before, during, and after school.  

In December, a group of parents began bringing their concerns to TCA leadership.  

Parents merely suggested that around a dozen books did not meet TCA’s book selection criteria. According to TCA’s Board, TCA should have a curated library that focuses on “the best of classical literature” and helping “students to grow in wisdom, virtue, and creativity,” all “while honoring age-appropriate innocence.” These parental concerns were met with resistance. 

The recent flood, which damaged the TCA administrative office and the secondary library, intervened before TCA was able to give full consideration to parents’ concerns. TCA has confirmed these books were destroyed by the flood, but has not yet agreed to remove them from the library.   

This flood offers TCA a fresh opportunity to renew its commitment to the library’s stated standards. The hope is that, as it rebuilds its collection, TCA will dedicate its limited funds and shelf space to books that advance TCA’s mission and reflect its commitments to parents and stakeholders.  

If you agree with the following statement, which will be shared with the TCA Administration, please add your voice by submitting your name below:  
 
As a parent, guardian, or grandparent of graduates or students currently enrolled at TCA, by my signature below, request this of the TCA Administration: When evaluating books for our TCA Secondary Library, we call upon TCA staff, administration, and the Board to strictly adhere to TCA’s book selection criteria, which the Board has written to align with TCA’s Core Values and Mission. 

*Please do not donate money after signing. We would appreciate your help in sharing this petition with like-minded TCA parents. Thank you for your help.