Children's Books discussion
Banned Books: discussions, lists
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Discussion of censorship, equity, and other concerns.
Back to FloridaSchool book rules are drawing challenges
The Florida Education Association teachers union and two other groups said Friday they have filed a challenge against the state Department of Education over new rules related to school books.
The FEA, the Florida Freedom to Read Project and Families for Strong Public Schools argue, in part, that the Department of Education overstepped its legal authority in rules that carry out a 2022 law placing a series of requirements on schools related to books and instruction curriculums.
As an example, the law said that an employee with a "valid educational media specialist certificate" must select books made available in media centers or on recommended or assigned reading lists. But the groups contend that one of the challenged rules improperly carries out that part of the law.
"The breadth of the ... rule's requirement that books available through a library media center must be selected by school staff with educational media specialist certification, combined with the unprecedented definition of 'library media center' that incorporates nearly every book in a school building, effectively prevents classroom teachers from choosing books for their own classrooms and parents from donating books or otherwise
contributing to their children's schools," the challenge said.
"Because the ...rule has the effect of impermissibly enlarging, modifying or contravening the legislative intent that is discernible from a plain reading of the statute, it is invalid."
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/fl...
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"Sign the petition agai..."
So if some brainless dolt thinks that The Very Hungry Caterpillar is obscene and complained librarians could be jailed for just having that book on the shelves, ridiculous and scary.
Librarians fight back against book bans A nice profile of a librarian doing her job
plus a lengthy explanation of the whys of book bannings.
Hidden in the article is crucial information. It took ONE person to stir the pot and he continues to fan the flames with propaganda and lies and openly admits to it.
"Those driving these campaigns and mobilizing parents are remarkably open about their tactics. Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute who is more a creature of Twitter than any think tank, has taken credit for writing their rule book and for the timing of their attack.
Rufo has also admitted that his mission involves deception and propaganda, to associate a term like CRT with any cultural systems and institutions that are “unpopular with Americans.”
Librarians are starting to come up with rules for how a book can be challenged. At the Ferndale library in Michigan, the challenger has to do some work and fill out a three page report. The challenger is asked whether they have read the entire book; what reviews of the book they have read; several questions about their specific objections, such as quotes from the book; and what the impact of removing the book would be, among other questions. In total, the form is over three pages. Once it’s submitted, the library director has 60 days to respond.
So far, Ferndale hasn’t had any book challenges since the change.
“I actually love the fact that it’s a three-page book report; we might have to borrow that,” another panelist commented. “You know, a lot of times people who want to push challenges, they haven’t even read the book.” The goal isn’t to discourage people from asking these questions. “People questioning the way that things work, that’s intellectual freedom,” another panelist chimed in. “But at the same time, we have expertise, and our collections reflect that."
In Rochester Hills, another suburb a bit further north of Detroit, while those pushing book bans have largely failed, at least two library workers faced accompanying homophobic harassment. Since then, there have been at least 13 challenges, targeting 11 titles. (It’s possible there were other informal challenges not captured in public records.) No books were removed, though the library considered weeding out one book due to low circulation. Three of the book challengers were by political candidates and politicos, including one who was present at the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, calling it “great fellowship.”
Ferndale librarians formed a union to protect themselves and their jobs.
https://newrepublic.com/article/17092...
Update on the situation in IdahoHB 314, a bill meant to address 'harmful materials in libraries,' passed the House State Affairs Committee today and now goes to the floor. The bill was rewritten to change the amount public schools and community libraries can be fined, from $10,000 to $2,500.
During the committee meeting, people were able to testify and heard from Republican Rep. Jaron Crane, Sen. Cindy Carlson, and Blaine Conzatti from the Idaho Family Policy Center (IFPC). Crane first referenced an IFPC poll and said this was not a book ban bill.
"This bill requires that public school and community libraries take reasonable steps to restrict access to this material that is considered obscene and harmful to minors," Crane said.
He said the bill states the libraries do not have to remove the material that may be considered offensive, only take reasonable actions to keep it from being accessed by minors, he did not state what those actions might be.
However, the idea of what is obscene has been debated and the Idaho Library Association stated in a press release that Idaho libraries are in compliance with existing law. Further that the association finds it "reprehensible" that librarians are being vilified.
"Libraries are committed to providing access to information and resources that serve the needs and interests of all members of their communities," Lance McGrath, President of the ILA stated. “Public and school libraries are beloved institutions that provide valuable services that are tailored to meet the needs of their communities. Librarians are valued community partners who work collaboratively with others to serve the information needs of their citizens, from young children to seniors, by providing collections that are appropriate for their communities.”
The association states that Idaho libraries both school and public do not provide materials that are harmful to children.
"Certain topics are complex and personal, and libraries respect everyone's personal values," the press release states. "Categorically describing books with any reference to sex as obscene or pornographic, and demanding library restriction via threat of civil penalty as with HO314, is an unlawful imposition of personal morality on an entire community."
A group called "Friends of Boise Public Library" wrote a press release that said HB 314 threatens libraries.
"Idaho’s libraries do not provide materials that are obscene or harmful to minors. This bill unnecessarily restricts library patrons' freedom to read, learn, and think freely. Libraries are for everyone, and librarians should be free to develop and share collections that serve the entire community without fear of being sued," the press release stated.
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/pol...
Arkansas Rep. Stephen Meeks challenged It's Perfectly Normal: A Book about Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health and Sex: A Book for Teens: An Uncensored Guide to Your Body, Sex, and Safety at the Faulkner County Library."He complained that the reconsideration process took too much time and the library director kept the books in circulation. Meeks pointed to this as justification for supporting SB81. He also mentioned that this was the genesis for the Craighead County ballot measure to cut its funding in half, despite Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) insisting that it was purely a financial issue.
Senate Bill 81 would expose librarians to obscenity charges for checking out books that local elected officials considered obscene.
The Arkansas Times discovered that while these books are listed in the “Juvenile Nonfiction Section,” they were not able to confirm that these are easily accessible to young children. The Faulkner County Library, like most libraries, requires children younger than 6 to be supervised at all times, and for children 6-10 to have a parent or guardian in the building.
John McGraw, director of the Faulkner County Library, responded to Meek’s challenge. Here’s a full copy of McGraw’s response: https://arktimes.com/wp-content/uploa...
He also noted that there was no indication in Meek’s challenge forms that he even read the books in their entirety.
McGraw also said that the books explain consent and abuse in a meaningful way that could protect children. He closes with a way to contact the chairman of the library’s Board of Trustees if Meeks objects to the decision and tastefully invites him to continue using the library.
Meeks did not appeal the decision. The new process proposed under SB81 would be identical, up until the appeal process. The difference being that instead of the appeal going to the Board of Trustees, it would now go to the Faulkner County Quorum Court. The same group that approved the Board of Trustees appointments.
The process worked as intended, albeit slower than everybody would like. McGraw said they hadn’t used the process in a long time, and it took time to train employees, solicit board feedback on the process, read the books in their entirety and make a determination."
https://arktimes.com/news/2023/03/17/...
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is considering new proposals for how Oklahoma school can control library content. If the rule is passed through the legislature, it would ban materials that (view spoiler) in both public and school libraries. Some opponents of the new proposed rules argued banning or restricting books for students will limit students from being able to think critically.
“Without the books that we consume, you are going to see a steady decline… How many of these marginalized groups are going to be unequally represented, even more so before we decide to put our foot down and say, ‘no, we’re not doing that anymore,’” said Savannah Wallace, against proposed rules.
Those in favor of the rules said it should be up to the parents to decide if their child should be exposed to such material, and only out of school. "
https://kfor.com/news/local/community...
In a warning to us all about what happens when the government controls access to books, two people in Hong Kong were arrested for "seditious" children's books - comic books that allegedly “incited hatred or contempt” against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments and the judiciary. This case is believed to be the first time that police have detained citizens for merely possessing the books. It was not the first time, however, that arrests have been made in connection with the books. In January, a 24-year-old man was arrested by national security police for posting a link to a download site for the sheep and wolves series. He was charged with being involved in an act “with a seditious intention” and was refused bail, according to online news portal Inmediahk.net.
Johannes Chan, former chair of public law at the University of Hong Kong and visiting professor at University College of London, said the arrests highlight the vagueness of the definition of sedition charges. He said people should not be guilty for merely possessing the publications if they didn’t know they were seditious or didn’t have “seditious intention.”
“Otherwise, if a cartoon in [a newspaper] is considered seditious, every single reader who has kept a copy of the newspaper could be guilty of the possession offense. This could hardly be compatible with the guarantee for free speech in the Basic Law or the Bill of Rights,” he said.
Hong Kong's Basic Law is a mini-constitution that guarantees that its civil freedoms and rights should remain unchanged for 50 years after Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, which happened in 1997."
https://www.voanews.com/a/two-in-hong...
Florida Book Ban Fact Sheet myth vs. reality from Bleeding CoolFact: Neither Gender Queer nor Lawn Boy are on any required school reading lists.
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/ron-d...
One Michigan school district is reenforcing what the other schools have been saying their policy is all along. Parents can opt-OUT of having their kids check certain books out of the library. Also, in other reports, teens say they don't even check books out of the library. They read their phones for information which can be far more harmful than any books carefully curated by trained professionals.https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...
CT continues to try to be true to their Puritan roots.A CT leader’s decision to pull a children’s book about pronouns from library display called ‘censorship’
"Suffield First Selectman Colin Moll was criticized this week by a handful of residents for his decision to remove a children’s book about pronouns from a display at Kent Memorial Library. What Are Your Words?: A Book About Pronouns
In addition to the traditional she, her, he, him pronouns in a the book written for 4- to 8- year-old children, it includes the more recent they, them, their pronouns when referring to individuals whose gender identity is fluid."
Moll said in response to the controversy that he had the book taken off display, but had not banned or removed it from the library shelf, and that was in response to a resident’s complaint.
It wasn’t the material that prompted him to do it, he said, but rather because, “It’s my job to respond to residents.”
“I took a middle ground approach I thought was balanced,” he said.
He read the book after the complaint, slept on it and after a conversation with the librarian, had it taken off display, Moll said."
There's been loads of pushback by citizens furious with this public official for censoring a book.
"Residents also expressed dismay that the decision was made by a first selectman and not a library official. But Moll said that while the library board has a police/system in place for people who request banning of books, there isn’t one for those who want books taken off display.
That is being addressed, he said. He said the charter states that the first selectman is to act as the CEO for the town.
“In the absence of a policy, it is my job to respond,” Moll, a Republican said."
"Healy asked rhetorically whether the fire department should get rid of sirens if a citizen complains they’re too loud or whether the police department should move to horses if someone complains they drive too fast in an emergency.
While it isn’t customary for the board to comment on items said during the public comment portion of a meeting, Healy asked and the residents were given some feedback.
Selectman Jerry Mahoney, a Republican, said the library has “faced challenges presenting points of view to residents,” and are “legally obligated” to present things in a “legal and balanced way.”
The book was on display, but there was “no balance,” he said. He did not elaborate.
Mahoney said not everyone agrees with the age the book is directed at and he also said the child’s parents are never mentioned in the book, so there’s no role for parents."
https://www.courant.com/2023/03/18/a-...
One last one for now. AZ becomes the next state to criminalize "obscene" books. Teachers are stressed to the breaking point fearing they'll go to prison.https://news.yahoo.com/arizona-teache...
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HB 314, a bill meant to address 'harmful materials in libraries,' passed the House State Affairs Committee today and now goes to the floor. The bill was rewritten..."
And, as for the bill to close the Meridian, Idaho library, here's the latest in our news:
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/loc...
Of note:
“We’ve got a growing group of people, the Concerned Citizens of Meridian, and we’d love to get every concerned parent as involved as possible,” members of the group said on former Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s podcast last fall. “We’re not stopping in Meridian, so the rest of the libraries need to take notes. We’re coming to your library next.”
Yet some officials aren’t as concerned about the group’s actions, pointing to high community support as well as several times previously where the group has said it will do something and then not done it. For example, a Facebook post shared by a co-founder promised in November to have high-level elected officials at a library board meeting. No one showed up.
On that same podcast, the members said their next step was to recall the Meridian Library Board, which hasn’t happened.
“They’re an organization that have shown, to me, time and time again, that they’re focusing more on things they are saying and doing very little action,” said Meridian City Councilmember Luke Cavener. “And when action occurs, they’re reliant on so many other people in order for that to happen.”
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HB 314, a bill meant to address 'harmful materials in libraries,' passed the House State Affairs Committee today and now goes to the floor. The..."
Why are many individuals and groups who are against book banning seemingly majorly afraid of very publicly and openly taking a stance and with the involvement of the media and human rights groups naming names, relentlessly shaming the book banners and publicly labelling and calling them the Nazis and Stalinists they are (and yes, that also includes politicians and other authority figures)?. Yes, this could be dangerous, it might well backfire and will likely also infuriate the groups and their supporters (including politicians) in ways that could have serious repercussions. But honestly, if nothing is done and also if nothing is done very universally and publicly, the USA and book banning happy states WILL in my opinion soon end up being like Germany under Hitler and Russia under Stalin (and like China and North Korea); and if that happens, even one's personal liberty and right to freedom of expression and freedom to purchase, read and share books will likely be gone or very much limited (even in one's own home).
KathrynThe public hearing on Meridan Library is tonight at 6 PM! The public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the 1st floor Public Hearing Room of the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, 200 W. Front St.
Concerned Citizens of Meridian (CCOM), a self-described group of deeply concerned parents and grandparents, filed the petition. CCOM says they received a report that a minor was able to check out the film 50 Shades of Grey at a community library.
"Gender Queer, Fifty Shades of Grey and It's Perfectly Normal. If someone from an adult bookstore gave one of these to a minor, they would have criminal charges pending," says Jon Eisfelder, Co-founder of CCOM. "Why is the library celebrated rather than being held accountable?"
The group wants to see a newly appointed Meridian Library Board do the following:
Place inappropriate material for minors in a secure location with procedures that only allow parents to check out such materials for their own children.
Require financial transparency from the library board.
Bring back public discourse as indicated in the current bylaws.
Place the library under the oversight of the Ada County Commissioners.
A demonstration to "Save the Meridian Library District" took place at the Ada County Courthouse on Feb. 21.
https://idahonews.com/news/local/publ...
A summary on the assault on LGBTQ books with good quotes from the LGBTQ+ community.The trend troubles Kris Maul, a transgender man who is raising a 12-year-old with his lesbian partner in the Des Moines area and wants school library books to reflect all kinds of families and children. Maul argued that those seeking to remove books take passages out of context and unfairly focus on books about LGBTQ or racial justice issues.
LGBTQ people are more visible than even five years ago, Maul said, and he believes that has led to a backlash from some who hope limiting discussion will return American society to an era that didn’t acknowledge people with different sexualities.
“People are scared because they don’t think LGBTQ people should exist,” Maul said. “They don’t want their own children to be LGBTQ, and they feel if they can limit access to these books and materials, then their children won’t be that way, which is simply not true and is heartbreaking and disgusting.”
School library book bans are seen as targeting LGBTQ content
By SCOTT McFETRIDGE, ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE and SARA CLINE
today
Books are displayed at the Banned Book Library at American Stage in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 18, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
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Books are displayed at the Banned Book Library at American Stage in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 18, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Teri Patrick bristles at the idea she wants to ban books about LGBTQ issues in Iowa schools, arguing her only goal is ridding schools of sexually explicit material.
Sara Hayden Parris says that whatever you want to call it, it’s wrong for some parents to think a book shouldn’t be readily available to any child if it isn’t right for their own child.
The viewpoints of the two mothers from suburban Des Moines underscore a divide over LGBTQ content in books as Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds pushes an especially sweeping crackdown on content in Iowa school libraries. The bill she’s backing could result in the removal of books from school libraries in all of the state’s 327 districts if they’re successfully challenged in any one of them.
School boards and legislatures nationwide also are facing questions about books and considering making it easier to limit access.
“We’re seeing these challenges arise in almost every state of the union,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “It’s a national phenomenon.”
Longstanding disagreements about content in school libraries often focus this year on books with LGBTQ themes as policymakers nationwide also consider limiting or banning gender-affirming care and drag shows, allowing the deadnaming of transgender students or adults in the workplace, and other measures targeting LGBTQ people.
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The trend troubles Kris Maul, a transgender man who is raising a 12-year-old with his lesbian partner in the Des Moines area and wants school library books to reflect all kinds of families and children. Maul argued that those seeking to remove books take passages out of context and unfairly focus on books about LGBTQ or racial justice issues.
LGBTQ people are more visible than even five years ago, Maul said, and he believes that has led to a backlash from some who hope limiting discussion will return American society to an era that didn’t acknowledge people with different sexualities.
“People are scared because they don’t think LGBTQ people should exist,” Maul said. “They don’t want their own children to be LGBTQ, and they feel if they can limit access to these books and materials, then their children won’t be that way, which is simply not true and is heartbreaking and disgusting.”
In Louisiana, activists fear a push by Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry to investigate sexually explicit materials in public libraries — and recently proposed legislation that could restrict children and teens’ access to those books — is being used to target and censor LGBTQ content.
Landry, who is running for governor, launched a statewide tip line in November to field complaints about librarians, teachers, and school and library personnel. Landry released a report in February that listed nine books his office considers “sexually explicit” or inappropriate for children. Seven have LGBTQ storylines.
In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles.
The reviews have drawn widespread attention, with images of empty bookshelves ricocheting across social media, and are often accompanied by criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican expected to run for president.
The state’s training materials direct the reviews to target sexually explicit materials but also say that schools should “err on the side of caution” when selecting reading materials and that principals are responsible for compliance.
Florida’s largest teachers union is challenging the law, arguing its implementation is too broad and leading to unnecessary censorship. An education department spokesperson did not immediately comment.
DeSantis said the state has not instructed schools to empty libraries or cover books. He said 175 books have been removed from 23 school districts, with 87% of the books identified as pornographic, violent or inappropriate for their grade level.
The Iowa legislation comes amid efforts there to keep a closer eye on public school curriculums and make taxpayer money available to parents for private school tuition. Reynolds, the governor, has made such proposals the core of her legislative agenda, telling a conservative parents group that their work was essential to guarding against “indoctrination” by public school educators.
Under a bill backed by Reynolds, the titles and authors of all books available to students in classrooms and libraries would be posted online, and officials would need to specify how parents could request a book’s removal and how decisions to retain books could be appealed. When any district removes a book, the state Education Department would add it to a “removal list,” and all of Iowa’s 326 other districts would have to deny access to the book unless parents gave approval.
At a hearing on Reynolds’ bill, Republican lawmakers, who hold huge majorities in both legislative chambers, said they might change the proposal but were committed to seeing it approved. The bill has passed a Senate committee and is awaiting a floor vote.
“The parents are the governing authority in how their child is educated, period,” said Sen. Amy Sinclair. “Parents are responsible for their child’s upbringing, period.”
Patrick, a mother of two, expressed befuddlement about why anyone would want to make sexually explicit books available to children.
“I have to believe that there are books that cater to the LGBTQ community that don’t have to have such graphic sexual content in them,” said Patrick, a member of a local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a conservative group that has gained national influence for its efforts to influence school curriculum and classroom learning. “There are very few books that have ever been banned and what we’re saying is, in a public school setting, with taxpayer-funding money, should these books really be available to kids?”
Hayden Parris, a mom of two from a suburb only a few miles away, understands the argument but thinks it misses the point.
“A kindergartner is not wandering into the young adults section and picking out a book that is called like, “This Book is Gay,” said Hayden Parris, who is leading a parents group opposed to Iowa’s proposed law. “They’re not picking those books, and the fact that they can pick one out of several thousand books is not a reason to keep it away from everyone.”
Sam Helmick, president of the Iowa Library Association, said communities should decide what’s in their libraries and that it’s important for children to have access to books that address their lives and questions. Helmick didn’t have that ability as a child, and students shouldn’t return to that time, she said.
“Can we acknowledge that this will have a chilling effect?” Helmick asked. “And when you tell me that books about myself as an asexual, nonbinary person who didn’t have those books in libraries when I was a kid to pick up and flip through, but now publishing has caught up with me and I can see representation of me — those will be behind the desk and that’s not supposed to make me feel less welcome, less seen and less represented in my library?”
https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-book...
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The public hearing on Meridan Library is tonight at 6 PM! The public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the 1st floor Public Hearing Room of the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, 200 W. Front St..."
It was really interesting seeing the process and left me feeling hopeful. I watched along with over 300 other viewers on the livestream and the courthouse was packed with people going to overflow in the jury rooms upstairs. The commissioners said they had not seen that much public turn out in many years. The Concerned Citizens of Meridian had 15 minutes to make their statement, then a representative from the library had 15 minutes, then each citizen of Meridian who wanted to speak was given three minutes to make their statements. I'm happy to say that the vast majority of the citizens testifying delivered intelligent and heartfelt arguments in favor of keeping the library operational. Given this, it seems unlikely the commissioners would see any reason to expend the time and money to put this on the ballot in November but they have ten days to make their decision so we shall see. Even if it does go to the ballot, I cannot imagine it would have a chance of passing given the overwhelming support the library has received throughout this process.
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The public hearing on Meridan Library is tonight at 6 PM! The public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the 1st floor Public Hearing Room of the Ada County Courthouse in Boi..."
I hope you are right about this, but I also hope that the Concerned Citizens of Meridian do not have the kind of political support and clout that groups like Moms for Liberty et al seem to have.
Thanks for the report Kathryn! I was wondering how it went. I found one article from the local news."The hearing ended after four hours; public testimony will continue at another meeting on Wednesday at the Ada County Courthouse. Once public testimony wraps up, Ada County commissioners will have ten days to decide whether to put the issue on the ballot.
During their initial argument, the “Concerned Citizens of Meridian” addressed what they called “myths” other people believe about their petition.
Group spokesperson Michael Hon said their number one priority is to protect children.
He said they do not want to get rid of the library; they merely want to reestablish it with different leadership. If voters decide to dissolve the library, he said they will immediately submit another petition to reestablish the library district with a board that is in line with community standards.
“The Meridian Library District is a critical part of our community; we love it, we need it, he said. “The real problem lies with the trustee board and the library director.”
He pointed out various exhibits containing books with sexual material that are “directly accessible to children without parental consent.” He said these books harm minors and that library leadership continues denying their existence.
Hon also said the petition does not infringe on First Amendment rights and pushed back on claims that it’s the parent’s responsibility to monitor library material.
“We as parents are taking the responsibility; that’s why we’re here today,” he said. “If parents have to follow around their children like a hawk, then it’s no longer a safe space.”
"While rebuking claims made by the “Concerned Citizens of Meridian,” Megan Larsen, library district board of trustee’s chair, said guardians should have the final say on what books their children check out, not the government.
She also said people should not have the ability to choose what books other families deem “appropriate” for their children since all families have different values.
Larsen also said the library district already has numerous tools in place for parents and guardians to monitor what their children read. Parents must consent to their children getting library cards. They can also get emails listing what their children check out.
“If you determine this item should move forward and voters were to approve dissolution, the library will not be reorganized, … it will cease to exist, with every building, every computer and every book disposed of. With the remaining funds deposited to the general fund of Ada County," Larsen said. "
"One dad said he doesn’t have time to read 25 books to ensure his child reads age-appropriate books."
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/loc...
Libraries, bookstores and public spaces are not babysitters! No you can't just let your child wander around yanking books off shelves whenever they feel like it! There's storytimes, toys and children's craft activities to entertain your children while you choose books for them. That's the way it works in my family! My library also had targeted sections: the pink shelf with princess books and girly books and the truck shelf. Then they had books with the covers facing outward and then everything else on the shelves, was as normal with spines facing out. There were tables and chairs for parents to sit and read with their kids, my niece read to her doll but otherwise the very young children want to run around and play not look at books, let alone inappropriate books.
When I took niece #1 to another library that didn't have a pink shelf, she tried choosing books that began with P for pink. I explained that P stands for the author's name. Then she reasoned if she pulled pink books, they must be about girly things. She was mostly right. I looked at them first to make sure she'd like them and have the attention span to sit through me reading them to her.
If you don't know which books are right for your child, ask the librarian! That's what they are there for! They're not there to babysit your kids.
In other newsIn Texas, "As book bans ebb, the battle to criminally charge Texas librarians has started
Behind the scenes of a high-stakes campaign to prosecute librarians who lend books that are considered obscene."
Ghost Boys YA
All Boys Aren't Blue YA memoir
Gender Queer: A Memoir YA memoir
Lawn Boy adult book no kids actually read
The Hate U Give (popular YA)
This Book Is Gay (YA sex ed)
Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Novel (YA)
And Tango Makes Three (picture book banned by adults placing sexual connotations on an innocent pair of penguins)
Drama (MG graphic novel, banned for no good reason except that some kids are queer and questioning)
The Glass Castle (Adult)
"Although none of the Texas investigations has resulted in arrests, legislators have introduced bills this year that, while not always mentioning libraries, would make it easier to criminally prosecute librarians for violating state obscenity laws.
Republican Senators Pete Flores, Mayes Middleton and Bob Hall filed legislation that would remove the legal exception for offensive materials given to minors that had scientific or educational value. Republican Representatives Steve Toth, Matt Schaefer, Matt Shaheen, Jared Patterson, Cole Hefner, Bryan Slaton, Terri Leo-Wilson and Ellen Toxclair filed identical or similar bills in the House.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/poli...
Central York, PA continues to ban books. Push
A Court of Mist and Fury
In his letter posted on the district’s website, Aiken wrote that “Push,” which was later adapted into the Oscar-winning film "Precious," was removed from the library after the committee found it lacked “quality literary structure and standards” and contained (view spoiler) [content] that do not meet the standard of developmental appropriateness for independent reading material in our library.”
He wrote that the committee also reviewed “outside, external reviews” of the book and found that some did not recommend it for high-school-age students.
Challenged but retained
Sold
Aiken’s letter does not address why “Sold” was deemed appropriate or why “Court of Mist and Fury” was not. But Montgomery said “Court of Mist and Fury” was removed from the library because it “lacked literary structure and standards” and contains inappropriate “sexual content.” While “Sold” also contains some violence and sexual content, the novel does have “strong literary merit.”
Meanwhile, the school board is looking at revising its policy of reviewing books available in the library. The board will be considering the revised policy at its next meeting on March 27.
Aiken, in his letter, said the administration is looking at creating a rating system for books – similar to the rating system for movies – that would provide parents with information “to identify those books which may contain material not all families are comfortable with.”
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2023/0...
Slightly better news, Fauquier Co. Virginia school board narrows who can challenge library books"The Fauquier County School Board has voted unanimously to specify that only a student, a parent or a guardian can file a formal challenge to a book or other material in a school library."
NO outside special interest groups.
"“It is recognized that occasional objections to library books and library resources may arise and be challenged by a Fauquier County Public Schools’ student, parent or legal guardian. The same procedures for filing a complaint regarding Instructional or Supplementary materials will be followed for filing a complaint regarding library books or library resources.”"
https://wtop.com/virginia/2023/03/fau...
The Bible is being challenged in Davis County Utah. It's unclear if it's a legitimate challenge or testing the obscenity rule or both. https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/3/2...
Back in Florida, the Escambia County 12th grade English teacher Vicki Baggett is calling for the review of four books:The Bluest Eye
New Kid
Drama
The Nowhere Girls
The school board is considering a request to remove the books from media centers, and limit access to them to older students.
"This is not about book banning," Baggett said. "This is about making sure our books are age and content appropriate.”
Baggett states the books violate Florida law.
"'The Bluest Eye" is definitely a violation of Florida Statute 847.012," Baggett said.
Baggett was notably absent from Friday night's meeting.
Leslie Valardi has a biracial daughter. She thinks the stories could help kids like her feel connected.
"One of the books up for being banned really struck me, because she was often, the only black person in her classroom," Valardi said. "If she had had that opportunity to read that book, 'The New Kid,' she probably would have had insights into what she was feeling in middle school."
It was the youngest voice, a student barely taller than the podium, whose voice spoke the loudest.
"I think it's important to hear from the kids because we're the ones reading the books," the student said. "This books speaks to kindness and respect. I don't think you should ban this book."
https://weartv.com/news/local/escambi...
Up in Alaska, Anchorage Library Advisory Board votes to refer book on teen sexuality to city attorneyLet's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human
The board on Wednesday voted 3-2 to send the book “Let’s Talk About It,” by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan, to the city attorney over concern from a board member that having the book at the library was breaking state statute and city code.
Two Anchorage Assembly members have raised concerns over the board’s actions. One Assembly member, Felix Rivera, called the move unprecedented. The library board’s chair, who voted against referring the book to the city attorney, called skipping over the existing protocol “inappropriate.”
The Library Advisory Board is the planning body for the library’s activities and special projects, makes recommendations to the mayor’s office and the city Assembly and reviews annual budgets. Its members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Assembly.
At Wednesday’s board meeting, Anchorage Public Library director Virginia McClure described to board members the library’s existing process for reconsidering materials. Requests can be made by filling out a form and dropping it at a library location, she said. From there, the library’s collections management coordinator evaluates it, McClure said. A reconsideration committee made up of staff librarians is usually involved, though that committee “fell by the wayside a little bit during COVID,” McClure said.
The requester can then appeal the group’s decision to McClure, who evaluates the request before getting back to the person who wanted the book reviewed. They can further appeal the decision by taking the request to the Library Advisory Board for a final decision, McClure said.
Board member Doug Weimann said he believed that by having “Let’s Talk About It” in its collection and available to those under 18, the library was breaking municipal code and state statute, and made a motion to have the book “reviewed by legal.”
McClure said that normally, the board should go through the existing reconsideration process. She said that if someone made a request based on the points Weimann raised, she would approach the city attorney during that process.
Weimann could not be reached for an interview Friday.
The board members who voted in favor of referring the book to the city attorney were Dennis Dupras, Anchorage First Lady Deb Bronson and Weimann — all appointed by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson. Members Barbara Jacobs and board chair Cristy Willer, appointed by former Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, voted against it, and both said the library should go through the existing process. Two other members, Alice Qannik Glenn and Nancy Hemsath, were not at the meeting.
The three members who voted in favor don’t add up to a majority of the board’s total membership, because it has seven members currently and two additional vacancies. Constant said he’d spoken with the city’s ombudsman and the Assembly’s legal department, and reached out to the municipal attorney over the issue.
Willer said that the board’s developed process is a legitimate way to deal with a community complaint and is a proper first line of response.
“It seemed like jumping that process was an inappropriate thing to do,” she said.
She said the book will stay on the shelves while it’s being reviewed — the book has been on hold for another patron, so it’s not in the library at the moment.
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/ancho...
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The Bluest Eye
New Kid
Drama
The Nowhere Girls
The school board is considerin..."
Why is a reactionary ignoramus like Vicki Baggert even allowed to teach? Honestly, I hope her students make her life a totally living hell!
Vicki Blodgett is allowed to teach yet Summer Boismier, the teacher from Norman, OK who shared the QR code to Brooklyn Library's Unbanned bookshelf was fired and now they want to take away her teaching license for unlawful “violation of standards for teachers in promoting [obscene] material to minors” and “unlawful racist instruction.”"It argues promoting those books "is an act of moral turpitude that fails to protect students from conditions harmful to learning and that fails to fulfill the responsibilities of teaching with honor and integrity."
Even though she's working for the Brooklyn Public Library now, if they revoke her license she'll be banned from teaching in her home state where she was born, raised, has family and it will be extraordinarily difficult for her to find another job. YET YET schools (even here) keep commenting on how there's a teacher shortage!
https://okcfox.com/news/local/summer-...-
Summer Boismer responds on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MsBoismier_ELA/st...
I'm posting this news now, before it happens, but PROBABLY the next book banned in Florida elementary schools, if it isn't already, is... Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret because the next new law proposed is "don't say period." As in NO, NONE, ZERO discussion of menstrual cycles in elementary school. Even though pediatricians and experts say girls as young as 8 are getting their periods- that's third grade. (I was almost 10 in 4th grade). Judy Blume quoted a tweet from writer Carl Hiaasen which read: “Florida bill would ban young girls from discussing periods in school. Here’s Ron DeSantis Universe, with GOP lawmakers nosing into your children’s most private matters. Welcome to ‘free’ Florida, right? What a farce.”
In response, Blume tweeted, “Sorry, Margaret.”
https://twitter.com/judyblume/status/...
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Makes me sick and I really hope that Vicki Baggert will have her students create hell on earth for her.
In Martin County Florida opinions are divided over the removal of books.About 200 people, many of them parents and grandparents, crowded the School Board meeting Tuesday to demand that more than 80 titles be returned to library shelves. The books were removed last month from school media centers after parent Julie Marshall filed challenges, complaining the books were inappropriate for children because they contained sexual content or racist themes.
Several of the more than 40 speakers requested a committee be created to read the books and reconsider their removal.
Marshall said Tuesday she had worked with parent groups to compile the list of books to challenge. It wasn't just her alone, she stressed.
"Persecute me for standing on morality," she said. "I really don't care."
Parents addressing the School Board Tuesday complained that Marshall didn't speak for them. One person or group, they said, should not decide what books are available to their children.
"Judy Blume helped me through adolescence," said Karen Janson. "Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye' helped me understand that I have privileges that my Black peers do not enjoy. Jodi Picoult continues to educate me on social issues that I do not fully comprehend. In order to be a united community, we must understand one another."
Fear of knowledge is the reason books are banned or burned, said 100-year-old Grace Linn, who noted her husband died in World War II defending freedom.
"Fear is not freedom. Fear is not liberty. Fear is control," she said. "My husband died as a father of freedom. I am a mother of liberty. Banned books need to be proudly displayed and protected from School Board choices."
The freedom to read, Linn said, is an essential right and duty of our democracy, "even though it is continually under attack."
Those who supported returning books to the libraries wore yellow stickers, which former School Board member Victoria Defenthaler said symbolized yellow school buses."
https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/edu...
Breaking national news A NEW US HOUSE RESOLUTION WILL FURTHER IGNITE BOOK BANS
Kelly Jensen Mar 22, 2023
HR 5 protects parental rights to the children’s education. The bill has five key elements:
Parents have the right to know what their children are taught
Parents have the right to be heard
Parents have the right to see the school budget and spending
Parents have the right to protect their children’s privacy
Parents have the right to keep their kids safe.
Nowhere does the bill specify or codify the rights children have to their education. It also does not articulate the ways these “parental rights” infringe on the First Amendment Rights of their children, educators, or young people more broadly.
The Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley praised the bill, stating that, “Children belong to their parents and it’s essential to codify these undeniable rights.”
it blatantly overlooks the fact parents have always had rights when it comes to their children’s education. “Parental rights” have been a popular talking point among right wing politicians and “grassroots” groups like Moms For Liberty and No Left Turn in Education. This purposeful misnomer suggests parents have not been allowed to have a say in what their children learn or where they learn; however, parents have always had rights and until the beginning of the pandemic, some chose not to exercise them. Moms For Liberty has been caught in a blatant lie about “parental rights,” sharing misinformation about where and how parents can make a call on what materials their children have access to in school.
Each of the five “common sense principles” Letlow articulates are already granted to parents: syllabi and the ability to talk to each and every educator with whom their child engages; school board meetings; budget meetings; regular removal of library borrowing records.
“Parental rights” bills like this one throw open the door to widespread panic and put a target on the backs of those who work in schools and in libraries. Public educators are already leaving the field in droves, and bills like this work to not only continue this trend of educator burnout but they work toward the ultimate goal of creating policies where parents have the “right” to send their children to private schools, parochial schools, and costly homeschool programs on the taxpayers’ dime. We’re already seeing this in several states, and HR 5 would expedite the process.
And when public tax money goes to fund children’s private education–education that is often built on white supremacist and Christian nationalist ideologies–the worse public schools become. Textbooks become outdated, educators are not up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques, and the result is that the most marginalized receive poorer quality education, further fueling panic on the part of parents who pull their (white) kids from the system, diverting more public funds from public resources.
Write your House Representatives. You can borrow from the template here on writing your legislators, and highlight where and how HR 5 is a dangerous bill. Find out if your representative is one of the supporters of this bill and work toward removing them from their office. Continue to speak up and out, spreading the news about this resolution and the dangerous precedent it will set."
https://bookriot.com/us-house-resolut...
Good news as Kathryn has noted, most people in Ada County, Idaho support the public library. "Out of the first 137 pages of emails (of a total of almost 1500 e-mails) in one document, those in favor of keeping the library outnumbered those against the library, 52-3."
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/loc...
In Texas, they continue to debate school library rules purposefully taking passages from books out of context to suit their own agenda.Gender Queer: A Memoir
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness
"More than 80 speakers signed up to testify on the bill as some feared it could lead to many books being banned, especially those with LGBTQ characters.
Rep. Jared Patterson’s READER Act would require book vendors to “rate” titles with sexual content before selling them to school districts. The Frisco Republican said the legislation is an attempt to rid school libraries of books inappropriate for children.
But those opposed to his legislation said they fear its definitions could lead to swaths of books getting removed from libraries, specifically those about LGBTQ characters.
Books deemed “sexually explicit” couldn’t be sold to districts under the bill. The proposal would also require schools to get parental permission before a child could access “sexually relevant material” in the library.
...
Some authors have argued that, amid this uproar, their works are being reduced to sensationalized snippets, rather than considered in their entirety.
Speakers against the bill pushed the committee to recognize that challenging books can help children learn to make sense of the world around them.
Critics also said the bill’s language and definitions are too broad. Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, questioned Patterson on how books might be swept away.
“We’re casting a big net, and it’s going to catch a lot of classic books that we think should be in libraries,” Talarico said.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/educa...
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"Out of the first 137 pages of emails (of a total of almost 1500 e-mails) in one document, those in fa..."
I'm really cheered by this. That echoes the representation that was at the meeting on Monday evening. I'm hoping the commissioners will see that there is little point to waste the time and money putting this measure on the ballot. Thank you for sharing.
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A NEW US HOUSE RESOLUTION WILL FURTHER IGNITE BOOK BANS
Kelly Jensen Mar 22, 2023
HR 5 protects parental rights to the children’s education. The bill has five key elements..."
So parents have rights, children are the property of parents and basically have no rights if their desires (including for a suitable education) goes against their parents, yes, all pretty Taliban like.
Yes what bothers me is that children are being treated like pawns and not autonomous beings with brains capable of handling much more than these censors realize. It's all an excuse for lazy parenting and to divert money to private schools and home schools that support the agenda of these special interest groups. They don't actually care about the books. If they did, they'd bother to read said books.
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Yes, all of that, and most children are very good at self monitoring (I know that I was) and much better and much more intelligent regarding books and what is appropriate and inappropriate for them.
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"'The public library is a public place. It is intended for adults, for kids, for all kinds of people to use. Not every material in the library is appropriate for every reader. The expectation is that parents will accompany their children and monitor what they are reading. We are not a childcare center. We are not dedicated exclusively for children,' said Megan Larsen, chair of the board of trustees."
One parent testified that her four-year-old child took out an inappropriate children's book from the children's shelf in the children's section when she, the mother, was standing right there--thus not even the children's section is "safe" for children. The petitioners stated they had a "a backpack full" of the offending materials yet, at least while I was tuned-in, I did not hear any specific titles mentioned. They claimed that many of these books were aimed at 4-10 year olds and the constant statement was that the library needed to be a safe space for all children. I honestly cannot understand what in a picture book aimed at a four year old could be considered so explicit that it needed to be moved to a restricted section!? (Unless, of course, they are considering any book that has anything LGBTQ+ in it as needing to be locked up...) Of course, none of these parents voiced concern about other types of books (such as books about genocide, war, environmental destruction -- issues which I think would be disturbing for many young children -- I know as a young child I would have thought nothing of an illustration of two guys sitting in bed together but I would have been upset to see forests burning or dead animals or soldiers splaying one another with bayonets). Not saying, of course, that those books should be locked away, either, I'm just pointing out that their concern seems exclusively focused on sexual content -- which, again, speaks to the points made in your comments that the books are just a scapegoat for other agendas.
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Exactly, and if EVERYTHING in a public library would need to be appropriate for ALL adults and ALL children, you would end of either with nothing at all or with only a bunch of really simplistic board books.
And it is amazing how many parents seem to think that librarians, teachers etc. should be doing "parenting" and "child care" jobs.
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Yes, and how would a child in a LGBTQ+ family feel if they had to request books depicting their family make-up from a "restricted" section. The definition of what a "safe space" means is not one-size-fits-all. One wonders if these petitioners ever even walk into a bookstore or, frankly, any store at all anymore. It's not as if the library is the only place where children will see a variety of lifestyles presented yet that's what they are targeting. They insist that they love the library and simply want to see it reinstated with a board that is more responsive to the community's requests -- yet they seem to forget that the board is ELECTED (at least, in this district) and thus already representing the citizens. In fact, two trustees positions are up on the May ballot. The leader of the petition ran (unsuccessfully) for city council in '21 so I guess he is trying to find another way to influence with this library petition.
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All of that and frankly, I also wonder if many of the petitioners and book banners even read at all.
And of course for book banners and for those silly politicians who support book banners, what THEY want should be foisted on EVERYONE (and it sure is strange that collectivism is so popular with both extremist right and extremist left wingers).
The backpack full of offensive comment strikes me as disingenuous. They went looking for those books on purpose. I'd also like to know which book the 4 year old found that was so offensive. Perhaps it was misplaced or put there on purpose by a would-be censor to prove a point. It's all political gesturing at this point. They also consider any book with nudity including art and babies "obscene" and any kind of sex ed book that accurately labels and shows body parts. The offenders in this case areSex Is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU
It's Perfectly Normal: A Book about Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health
(both tween self-help non-fiction books NOT in a section of picture books for 4 year olds)
Gender Queer: A Memoir (YA/adult memoir also not in children's section for 4 year olds)
"While rebuking claims made by the Concerned Citizens of Meridian, Megan Larsen, library district board of trustee's chair, said guardians should have the final say on what books their children check out, not the government.
She also said library staff have sat down with the group and heard their concerns. They've reviewed more than 50 controversial books, some of which are not in the children's section.
If a library card holder has an issue with a book, there is a reconsideration process. Larsen said it's out of the library board's jurisdiction to decide which books are appropriate; that's up to staff since the board focuses on policy issues.
Larsen also said she has not read any books in their children's catalog that depict sex. Children under eight in the library must also always be supervised by their parent or guardian.
"Some parents are comfortable with giving kids the information to properly name body parts, to be OK with talking about bodies," she said. "That's a style of parenting that some parents want to pursue, not everyone."
Some of the commissioners expressed disapproval that this issue passed the library district level. They urged both sides to have a conversation with Meridian's mayor about possible compromises.
The commissioners will announce their decision within the next 10 days at another meeting. The "Concerned Citizens of Meridian" and the library district both have a few more days to submit additional evidence to the county. "
They're trying to work with the mayor on a compromise. I see no compromise. I see giving in and censorship.
"At the end of the day, the voters will have the final say on this issue, whether it's on a dissolution ballot, whether it's an election for trustees, election for new legislators who can create new policies; it truly is the people getting involved in all different levels of government that drives policy," Davidson said.
Kathryn brings up a good point about LGBTQ+ families having to request books that represent them from a restricted section. That feels like video stores with their X rated back rooms! I've read many of the picture books on the list and have yet to see anything remotely resembling obscene you know what. There's a HUGE difference in books for 4 year olds and books for 10 year olds. A 10 year old is certainly ready for a sex ed book. By then I had my first period and my mom had told me where babies come from (with a BOOK that had ILLUSTRATIONS- ew gross).
The would-be censors in Ada County, Idaho don't want to close the library forever- just restructure so they can place their right-wing Conservative special interest group members on the board to ensure the library is run the way THEY want it to.
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/loc...
There's good news amidst the bad though."WEST LINN, Ore. (KPTV) - Despite a push to ban a list of books that were deemed inappropriate by some parents, the West Linn-Wilsonville School District has voted to keep the books.
Some parents were calling for nine books to be pulled from school shelves throughout the district, saying they’re inappropriate...
The efforts to ban the books started a year ago, but at this week’s school board meeting, students spoke up in favor of keeping them and ultimately a committee voted for the books to stay.
Here are the books that were under review:
“The Sun & Her Flowers” by Rupi Kaur
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews
“Beyond Magenta” by Susan Kuklin
“Heartstopper, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2″ by Alice Oseman
“Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur
“Lawn Boy”by Jonathan Evison
“Flamer” by Mike Curato
“Crank” by Ellen Hopkins
Most of the books were either written by or about LGBTQ+ people or people of color.
During the school board meeting, very few of the books got any votes in favor of removal. The committee did add one restriction. Two of the books, “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” and “Crank,” will now be restricted to high schools only."
https://www.kptv.com/2023/03/22/west-...
Wow! A Centennarian whose husband died in WWII is speaking out against censorship in Martin County, Florida pointing out book banning is Nazi behavior.Her speech:
"Good afternoon folks. I am Grace Lynn. I am a hundred years young. I'm here to protest our school district's book-banning policy. My husband Robert Nichol, was killed in action in World War II, at a very young age, he was only 26, defending our democracy, constitution, and freedoms. One of the freedoms that the Nazis crushed was the freedom to read the books they banned. They stopped the free press, banned and burned books. The freedom to read, which is protected by the First Amendment, is our essential right and duty of our democracy. Even so, it is continually under attack by both the public and private groups who think they hold the truth.
In response to the book banning throughout our country and Martin County last year, during the time I was 99, I have created this quilt to remind all of us that these few of so many more books that are banned or targeted need to be proudly displayed and protected and read if you choose to.
"The quilt was shown on national TV as part of Ali Velshi's 'Banned Book Club' segment. Banned books, and burning books, are the same. Both are done for the same reason: fear of knowledge. Fear is not freedom. Fear is not liberty. Fear is control. My husband died as a father of freedom. I am a mother of liberty. Banned books need to be proudly displayed and protected from school boards like this. Thank you very much. Thank you."
https://www.alternet.org/fear-is-not-...
Other folks fighting back against censorship includeLaurie Halse Anderson whose book Shout is a lightly fictionalized memoir of something that happened to her. (I, personally, heard her say in person that Speak was inspired by a dream about her then teenage daughter. All seemed well with her daughter but a mother's concern led to the novel).
She argues that banning sexually explicit books is 'illegal' overreach.
"Our children are already hurt," Anderson added. "They need us to have the courage to talk about the hard things, to make a safe place for them to say what happened to them."
She continued, "'Shout' is a perfect example of why your proposed book bans are not simply anti-constitutional. Your book bans will be an act of educational malpractice. Your book banning will be an act of illegal government overreach. Denying education and information to your students is guaranteeing some of them are going to be broken for life."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/aut...
A Ben & Jerry's franchise in Melbourne, Florida has a banned book nook inside the ice cream shop.Authors are popping banned books in Little Free Libraries.
Teens are signing up for Brooklyn Public Library cards to read banned books. They are also seeking out pirated copies online for free.
Teachers, activists and authors are fighting back and have some amazing stories on the impact these books have on readers.
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/23/116428...
In Montgomery County, Virginia, LGBTQ-friendly books being read to elementary students in spark debate.Uncle Bobby's Wedding (not a gay book per say)
Prince & Knight
As usual, parents have the option to opt-out and didn't bother to read the updated curriculum. standards sent out in January.
"MCPS is committed to ensuring all students and their families see themselves in the curriculum to cultivate an inclusive and welcoming learning environment. These books are on the approved list of supplemental materials schools will have access to that align with our goal of providing more inclusive texts and resources in support of curriculum standards.
As part of MCPS' mission to equity, "instructional materials are chosen to reflect the diversity of our global community, the aspirations, issues and achievements of women, persons with disabilities, persons from diverse, racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as persons of diverse gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation."
Additionally, two goals of the MCPS gender identity guidelines are to reduce stigmatization and foster social integration and cultural inclusiveness of all students and their families in our very diverse community. These policies involved extensive conversation and community input. These books are a way to actualize the policy and guidelines and have undergone a rigorous evaluation process. All the content within them is age and developmentally-appropriate.
a five-person panel of staffers reviews the book. The reviews and book information then get posted online for 30 days, so that parents and/or guardians can also review the material and comment before possible approval."
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/lgbtq-fri...
Finally, food for thought:From Roald Dahl to R.L. Stine, Books Are Being Rewritten: Does It Matter?
https://www.escapistmagazine.com/roal...
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Her speech:
"Good afternoon folks. I am Gra..."
Good for her and good for basically calling Ron DeSantis and anyone supporting his book banning what they are, NAZIS.
Florida plans to extend "Don't Say Gay" to all K-12 grades while Iowa becomes the next state to restrict school books, teaching related to sex, LGBTQ identities. This is blatant homophobia at worst, censorship at best. The Iowa Senate passed a bill Wednesday restricting books and instruction related to LGBTQ identities in Iowa classrooms and libraries.
Lawmakers changed language in Senate File 496 Wednesday, before passing it 34-16. The amendment to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ “parental rights” bill added requirements that school libraries not include materials which depict, visually or textually, any sex act. The final bill also bans instruction and materials related to gender identity and sexual orientation in K-6 classrooms."
The report adds that there's a teacher shortage because no out of state teachers want to teach there because of the political climate.
Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, a special education teacher, said the bill could conflict with teachers’ role ... helping students deal with ... inappropriate situations they may experience. She said the bill would also prevent LGBTQ teachers and students from discussing their identities in the classroom, she said, citing examples of a family with two fathers or a female teacher who wants to mention her wife.
“You are promoting ignorance and intolerance by, not just the parents, but by the students in the schools that will no longer have information — proper information, factual information — about people who are different than themselves,” Donahue said. “You’re undermining academic freedoms, because this restricts freedoms of educators to teach about important social issues, sexuality, even gender identity.”
Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, said opponents of the legislation were using “hyperbole, exaggeration, misrepresentations” to criticize the bill. He said the bill’s provisions address a difference in how some teachers and school staff approach education. He quoted a Facebook post by a Linn-Mar Community School Board member who wrote the purpose of public education is “not teach kids what the parents want. It is to teach them what society needs them to know.” “As long as I’m in this chamber, I will work to rein in those schools that believe the purpose of public education is to teach our children what they think society needs them to know,” Rozenboom said. “We must put parents back in charge of their children’s education.”
Many of the books, which focus on people of color and LGBTQ identities, were kept in school libraries or curriculums after being deemed to have “literary value,” and that the students reading the material were at an age where these topics were relevant and appropriate to consider.
Democrats said the bill could also negatively impact parents with conservative and Christian beliefs. Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, cited sections of the Bible that he said could lead to its ban from school libraries ... under the bill’s definition.
They've already banned
The Bluest Eye
Gender Queer: A Memoir
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/...
Children's Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Out of the Blue (other topics)The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink (other topics)
My Rainbow (other topics)
Butt or Face? Volume 3: Super Gross Butts (other topics)
The Day the Books Disappeared (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jodi Picoult (other topics)Sarah J. Maas (other topics)
Ellen Hopkins (other topics)
Jodi Picoult (other topics)
Scott Stuart (other topics)
More...
The proposed Senate Bill 12 would end protections for school librarians' legal defense if they were accused of providing material harmful to minors.
"This bill impacts books with sexual content in them. We really worry about LGBTQ populations being impacted and their representation because that population is defined by their sexual identity," Heck said.
Heck, with the Indiana Library Federation, said this bill could have a major impact on how they do their jobs.
"The bigger impact of this bill is that librarians will stop collecting materials that don't meet the definition in this bill because they're worried about being prosecuted — books that our kids really need access to. Sex ed materials, for example," Heck said.
"We do support part of the bill that allows a community member to express their concerns, and if they want to challenge material in the library, there's a process for that, and we support that process," Heck said.
He believes every community should have a process to challenge books, but those decisions should be made at the community level rather than the statehouse.
"Libraries need to represent everybody. We can't just take out information just because some communities don't like it," Heck said."
https://www.wthr.com/article/news/loc...