The Maryland State Board of Education has overturned a decision made by the Harford County Board of Education to remove the book “Flamer” from school libraries.
The Maryland State Board of Education’s decision came Tuesday. In it, MSDE recommends that Harford’s school board revise its book evaluation procedures to “ensure transparency, provide notice and opportunity for community participation and future reconsideration matters.”
Community members had criticized the Harford school board for its June 26 decision to remove the book “behind closed doors.” The Harford school system had previously approved the book for middle and high-school libraries.
This was the Harford school board’s first such move since the county school system launched a Library Material Reconsideration committee in early 2024.
Harford school board president Aaron Poynton said Wednesday that he will discuss the decision with fellow board members and figure out what to do next.
“I respect the [state’s] decision but I disagree with it,” Poynton said. “I think that the [Harford] board made a decision that was consistent with the procedure. I still hold firm that if content is designed for a particular age group that only parents and the school system should decide what’s appropriate for children.”
Poynton said revisions to the school system’s book reconsideration process will be made “in the coming weeks”
“The board has two options right now: to either do nothing and just modify the procedure or challenge the decision which would then elevate it to the next appeal level which would be the circuit court,” Poynton said.
The “Flamer” removal sparked outrage among Harford community members who expressed their discontent at school board meetings following the decision. The local chapter of Together We Will, a national group supporting grassroots progressive activism, spearheaded the effort pushing residents to use their voices to oppose the book removal.
“Flamer” is a 2020 semi-autobiographical graphic novel by Mike Curato about a teen boy who struggles with his sexuality. The novel has been the target of nationwide debates about what is appropriate in school libraries.
Poynton defended the book removal in a lengthy statement this summer, in which he listed sexually explicit expletives in “Flamer” and acknowledged varying opinions on the book.
“This was the first formal appeal under the newly finalized book review procedure — a process nearly two years in the making, developed with input from staff, board members, and members of the public. The decision we made will likely set precedent for future challenges, and we recognize the importance of clarity,” Poynton wrote in the statement.
Poynton also wrote a letter to the editor of The Aegis in August, saying the book removal decision was not about “silencing voices or removing diverse perspectives.
“I oppose censorship. It is about applying standards consistently and restoring trust in public education. Confidence in K-12 schools is already at historic lows. Ignoring our own rules erodes that trust even further,” Poynton wrote.
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