OTSEGO, MI -- A school district’s decision to remove a short story from the eighth-grade curriculum has ignited a debate between parents and teachers.

The controversy centers on the removal of the award-winning dystopian story “Ponies” by Kij Johnson.

Multiple parents criticized the decision at an Oct. 6 school board meeting. Teachers defended the story as a valuable educational tool for exploring complex themes and authoritarianism.

The removal process itself has raised concerns, with teachers arguing that a “small group of passionate parents” bypassed established procedures, setting a “dangerous precedent” for curriculum review.

These are the 4 takeaways from the original article :

1. School district removes story, sparking backlash

Otsego Public Schools removed the short story “

See Full Page