As a concerned parent with two children attending Magnolia Middle School in Magnolia, DE, USA, I am deeply troubled by the recent decision to ban manga books and discontinue the Anime Club. These valuable resources have played a significant role in my children's education and personal growth while fostering creativity, literary exploration, and building a strong community of friends. We have also experienced community involvement as Hertrich's in Milford awarded $1,000 to the school just last year to expand the library for its students. 

Meanwhile, the school's new principal has said as of 9/19/23, "Because of the age of students we service, I am only comfortable with material being in the building that is not related to curriculum rated E and Y only." So far, we have only heard of the Manga library that will be removed as a part of this new rule.

My children have thrived under the guidance of Mrs. Fox, as I'm sure many others have since the Anime Club started. She has dedicated her time and effort to curating an extensive manga library at our school and encouraged community involvement in the process. The availability of these books has not only encouraged my children to read more but has also sparked their imagination and broadened their understanding of different cultures.

Furthermore, the Anime Club at Magnolia Middle School has been an invaluable platform for students to come together and share their love for anime films. Through this club, my children have had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about various themes depicted in these films while developing critical thinking skills.

It is disheartening that such an essential resource for our students is being taken away without proper consideration of its impact on their educational and social experiences. By banning manga books and discontinuing the Anime Club, we are depriving our students of opportunities for personal growth, cultural appreciation, creativity development, and community building.

I firmly believe that every child deserves access to diverse forms of literature that cater to their interests. Manga books provide a unique medium through which students can explore complex narratives while improving reading comprehension skills. Anime films offer visual storytelling techniques that captivate young minds while promoting literacy and cultural exploration.

To support our cause further with relevant facts:

1) According to a study conducted by the American Library Association (ALA), manga books have shown significant positive effects on reluctant readers by increasing reading motivation.
2) The popularity of anime among teenagers continues to rise steadily across America as reported by Nielsen ratings.
3) The Anime Club at Magnolia Middle School has consistently attracted a large number of students, indicating its relevance and popularity among the student body.

We urge the administration of Magnolia Middle School to reconsider their decision and reinstate the manga book library in Mrs. Fox's classroom while allowing the Anime Club to continue meeting and showing anime films with parental permission (which was already requested for the current school year). By doing so, we can ensure that our children have access to diverse literary materials and maintain an inclusive environment that supports their personal growth.

Sign this petition today to show your support for preserving these valuable resources at Magnolia Middle School. Together, let's advocate for creativity, cultural appreciation, and educational opportunities for our children!

Thank you for supporting our kids.