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'Friday Night Lights' book banned by Iowa School District
08-18-2023, 08:17 AM
Article from Midland Reporter-Telegram
Friday Night Lights," the bestselling 1990 book about the 1988 Odessa Permian football team, showed America what a prominent role high school football plays in society and examined the intense pressure that comes with playing for a powerhouse program. Author H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger took a critical look at the social problems in a football-obsessed town, and he delved into racial divisions and racism.
It inspired a movie and a hit TV series by the same name, and notable coaches have said that the book is what led them to get into coaching in Texas.
The book has now been banned from schools in Mason City, Iowa. The decision was made by artificial intelligence software.
The Gazette reported that Iowa Senate File 496, passed this year, requires every book available to students be "age-appropriate" and free of any "descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act." Mason City Community School District Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Bridgette Ex-man said it was "simply not feasible to read every book and filter for these new requirements," so the district used ChatGPT to help provide textual analysis of each title.
The decision did not sit well with Bissinger, whose book was one of 19 removed from school shelves in Mason City.
"This use of AI is ridiculous," Bissinger told The Gazette. "There's no sex at all. I've never depicted a sex act. I don't know what the (expletive) they're talking about. I purposely stayed away from that.
"My book is being falsely depicted. The tragedy is, this is a great book for kids. It is a great book for teenage males because they don't like to read anything. But they devour this book, and I know because I've had over 30 years of emails telling me that."
There is no record of the book being banned in Texas, but starting Sept. 1 there will be regulations in the state on what books children can read or be denied at schools. The READER Act by Frisco GOP Rep. Jared Patterson will require vendors to assign a rating to books with sexual content before selling them to school districts, and it was signed into law in June by Gov. Greg Abbott.
"Why don't you read the book first and then make up your mind?" Bissinger said. "Instead, you rely on AI? ... This is what happens when you're actually too lazy to do what you need to do.
"It's also symbolic of how we don't read anymore. Let's go to AI. Pathetic. Yeah, absolutely pathetic, and infuriating and dangerous. Because who knows what other school districts will do in Iowa or around the country."
The 1988 Odessa Permian team overcame an injury to star running back Boobie Miles to reach the state semifinals, where it lost to a talent-rich Carter team that featured future NFL players Jessie Arm-stead, Le'Shai Maston and Clifton Abraham. Some considered that Carter squad to be the best team in state history, but a disputed algebra grade for star running back/cornerback Gary Edwards led to a lengthy legal battle and ultimately led to the UIL stripping Carter of its state title.
Bissinger said his book has sold 2 million copies.
"There are now elements of our society who believe that it's in their interest to shield kids and to shield readers from anything that puts a certain perspective on the United States," Bissinger told The Gazette. "So unless it's totally glowing, unless the problems of this country are absolutely put under the rug and not acknowledged, it's going to be banned.
"Kids are supposed to learn. Not just learn the classics, but they're supposed to learn about elements of our society. And by the way, the book is not all negative. The book does celebrate the beauty of high school football. And that's part of the reason for the success of the book. It's magical."
'Friday Night Lights' book banned by Iowa School District
08-18-2023, 08:17 AM
Article from Midland Reporter-Telegram
Friday Night Lights," the bestselling 1990 book about the 1988 Odessa Permian football team, showed America what a prominent role high school football plays in society and examined the intense pressure that comes with playing for a powerhouse program. Author H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger took a critical look at the social problems in a football-obsessed town, and he delved into racial divisions and racism.
It inspired a movie and a hit TV series by the same name, and notable coaches have said that the book is what led them to get into coaching in Texas.
The book has now been banned from schools in Mason City, Iowa. The decision was made by artificial intelligence software.
The Gazette reported that Iowa Senate File 496, passed this year, requires every book available to students be "age-appropriate" and free of any "descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act." Mason City Community School District Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Bridgette Ex-man said it was "simply not feasible to read every book and filter for these new requirements," so the district used ChatGPT to help provide textual analysis of each title.
The decision did not sit well with Bissinger, whose book was one of 19 removed from school shelves in Mason City.
"This use of AI is ridiculous," Bissinger told The Gazette. "There's no sex at all. I've never depicted a sex act. I don't know what the (expletive) they're talking about. I purposely stayed away from that.
"My book is being falsely depicted. The tragedy is, this is a great book for kids. It is a great book for teenage males because they don't like to read anything. But they devour this book, and I know because I've had over 30 years of emails telling me that."
There is no record of the book being banned in Texas, but starting Sept. 1 there will be regulations in the state on what books children can read or be denied at schools. The READER Act by Frisco GOP Rep. Jared Patterson will require vendors to assign a rating to books with sexual content before selling them to school districts, and it was signed into law in June by Gov. Greg Abbott.
"Why don't you read the book first and then make up your mind?" Bissinger said. "Instead, you rely on AI? ... This is what happens when you're actually too lazy to do what you need to do.
"It's also symbolic of how we don't read anymore. Let's go to AI. Pathetic. Yeah, absolutely pathetic, and infuriating and dangerous. Because who knows what other school districts will do in Iowa or around the country."
The 1988 Odessa Permian team overcame an injury to star running back Boobie Miles to reach the state semifinals, where it lost to a talent-rich Carter team that featured future NFL players Jessie Arm-stead, Le'Shai Maston and Clifton Abraham. Some considered that Carter squad to be the best team in state history, but a disputed algebra grade for star running back/cornerback Gary Edwards led to a lengthy legal battle and ultimately led to the UIL stripping Carter of its state title.
Bissinger said his book has sold 2 million copies.
"There are now elements of our society who believe that it's in their interest to shield kids and to shield readers from anything that puts a certain perspective on the United States," Bissinger told The Gazette. "So unless it's totally glowing, unless the problems of this country are absolutely put under the rug and not acknowledged, it's going to be banned.
"Kids are supposed to learn. Not just learn the classics, but they're supposed to learn about elements of our society. And by the way, the book is not all negative. The book does celebrate the beauty of high school football. And that's part of the reason for the success of the book. It's magical."
