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'That was too extreme': Outrage after Texas eighth-grade teacher is fired for using illustrated version of Anne Frank's diary

'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' includes mentions of the writer's exploration of her sexuality and her experiences related to puberty

BEAUMONT, TEXAS: A Texas teacher was fired for assigning an unauthorized illustrated version of 'The Diary of Anne Frank' to her eighth-grade students.

'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' apparently includes details of her exploration of her own body and experiences related to her sexuality and puberty, which were a part of the original diary. 

"As you may be aware, following concerns regarding curricular selections in your student's reading class, a substitute teacher has been facilitating the class since Wednesday, September 13, 2023," read a district statement sent to parents obtained by KFDM.

It added, "The district is currently in the process of posting to secure a high-quality, full-time teacher as quickly as possible."

What's 'The Diary of Anne Frank' about? 

Anne Frank was a Jewish teenager who wrote about her experiences of hiding during the Holocaust, and it was later published as 'The Diary of Anne Frank' in 1947, just two years after she died in a concentration camp.

The widely read book has been translated into more than 70 languages and is used in schools to teach about the period.

A 2018 graphic novel adaptation, created by Ari Folman and David Polonsky, titled 'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' apparently includes content about Frank's exploration of her sexuality that was originally in her diary but often left out in earlier versions of the book.

Notably, Folman's parents are Holocaust survivors, making the project personally significant for him.

The graphic novel adaptation includes references to Frank and other young women experiencing puberty and menstruation. Also, in one part of the book, she expresses a desire to kiss her female friend Jacque and asks if they could show each other their breasts.

There's also a caption that reads, "If only I had a girlfriend," alongside an illustration of Frank skipping through a garden adorned with statues of naked women. 

Parents outraged over 'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' being part of curriculum

Parents expressed their outrage upon discovering that 'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' was part of the curriculum of their eighth-grade children.

They shared their concerns claiming that students were required to read passages out loud in class, further heightening their concerns about the book's content and appropriateness for the grade level.

"It's bad enough she's having them read this for an assignment, but then she also is making them read it aloud," said Amy Manuel, whose sons are in eighth grade.

She stated, "Making a little girl talk about feeling each other's breasts and when she sees a female she goes into ecstasy, that's not ok," referencing the content of the said book, as reported by KFDM. 

Internet finds move to fire a teacher over assigning 'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' 'too extreme' 

Many people found it "absurd" for the teacher to have been fired for assigning 'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' to eighth-grade students and said that the move was "too extreme." They pointed out that Anne Frank was the same age when she wrote down her experiences in her diary.

Political journalist Ed Krassenstein took to X (formerly Twitter) to say, "Is this absurd? A middle school teacher in Jefferson County, Texas has just been fired for assigning the illustrated version of Anne Frank’s Diary to eighth grade students."

He added, "The book, 'Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation,' is a graphical representation of the book that Anne Frank wrote when she was approximately the same age as these teenagers."

"If Anne Frank wrote about it in the 1940s, don’t you think it’s appropriate for 13 year olds today to read it as well? Don’t you think the history in the book greatly outweighs concerns that schools should have? Are people being too extreme with their issues with these books today?" wrote Krassenstein. 

Many agreed with him, with one saying, "It’s absurd. It’s a part of history and shouldn’t be hided."

Another said, "That’s absurd and also it’s just a book. That was too extreme."

"Middle school sounds like it’s the right time for kids to be learning about this stuff. Is school the best place for it? Do parents ever really explain puberty to kids anymore? With the shows and movies out there kids could be mislead if education during this phase of life is ignored by schools or parents," stated a user. 

One expressed, "I haven't read the diary of Anne Frank. If there is content of a sexual nature that parents don't feel appropriate their 13 year old children, they should be able to ask that it not be taught. But, I agree firing the teacher, assuming this is her only issue, is going too far."

"Had they left the genitalia part out, there would be absolutely no issue. Alas, that’s their point, and I don’t necessarily find it absurd. It’s not the history aspect they seem to be protesting," explained a person about the person behind the parents finding the book problematic.