Right to Read Defense Committee v. School Committee

OPINION

TAURO, District Judge.

At issue is the decision by a majority of the Chelsea School Committee (Committee) to bar from the High School Library an anthology of writings by adolescents entitled “Male and Female Under 18” (Male & Female). The Committee’s action was prompted by a Chelsea parent’s objection to the language in one selection, “The City to a Young Girl” (City), a poem written by a fifteen year old New York City high school student. 1

Plaintiffs 2 commenced this action against the Committee and the School Superintendent 3 on August 3, 1977 under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 4 seeking an…