Stop the Removal of an AP Literature Book Without Due Process
We are concerned about the South-Orange Maplewood school district's recent decision to stop teaching The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao in the AP Literature course at Columbia High School.

We understand that our community has experienced real loss and that student mental health must always be a priority. Supporting students, however, should not mean quietly removing books or cutting off important classroom conversations.

This book was removed from instruction without any formal due process and not following the spirit of the districts policies and regulations. Those policies exist to make sure curriculum decisions are thoughtful, transparent, and include the voices of educators, parents, and students. That process was not followed here.

This decision matters because it sets a dangerous precedent. If a book can be removed this way once, it can happen again to any book, any subject, or any class. That should concern every family, regardless of what book is involved.

Students themselves have asked for dialogue, support, and choice, not censorship. Other books in the curriculum that address death and suicide remain in use, making this decision confusing and inconsistent.

We believe it is possible to support student well-being while also respecting professional judgment, student voice, and clear rules for making curriculum decisions.

We call on the South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education to:
• Review how this decision was made
• Ensure district policies are followed
• Reaffirm that books will not be removed from instruction without due process
• Commit to transparency and consistency in future curriculum decisions

This petition is not about ignoring student mental health. It is about doing the right thing the right way.

Please sign to support transparency, fairness, and students’ right to learn.