There is an ongoing debate about whether or not to remove books with graphic sexual content from the school library. I believe that if you can’t read it out loud at a School Board Meeting, it probably shouldn’t be in the school library.
If School Board Members are willing to shut parents down for reading the content out loud, then why do they think it’s ok to give this kind of sexual material to children? It sure casts suspicion on those who think grooming and sexualizing children is ok.
I thought it would be a good idea to hear from one of many parents who are explaining how trauma to children can be exacerbated when they are exposed to this kind of reading material.
Parents have every right to purchase books outside the school system if they believe their children are mature enough for the subject matter. But to have some of the books available inside the school, exposes children to subject matter that is not always appropriate for them.
Can we have a little respect for parents who are protecting their children?
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I prayed a long time before I decided to speak out about the reading material at the school. When I did, the last thing I expected was for my phone and messages to blow up with stories from former students, adults and even a couple of strangers. I could do a story a day for the rest of the month but tonight, I’ll only share one story.
She was abused as a baby and young child. Now in elementary school, she lives in a wonderful foster home and intense, long term counseling will be in her future for many years to come. She loves playing outside and reading books. One of her favorite things is to do is curl up with a picture book and totally forget her past pain and trauma. Her vivid imagination takes her to a whole new level and she is happy when reading. This child has proactive, educated parents and tons of supported resources, unlike many of our rural, low income abuse students. Her parents long for her to be safe in school, while also having access to the library. Sadly, they can not risk their child’s mental health or life over access to books, especially these inappropriate books.
Reading a book from the school library about father/daughter rape, and having to relive her trauma is not a risk they are willing to take. Bristow’s new library policy requires parents to either risk exposing their student to obscenity and explicit material OR opt their child out of school libraries. This is grossly unfair to these young students who are just learning the joy of walking into a library of books.
Statistics show that 1 in 5 females and 1 in 9 males will suffer abuse before they turn 18. (And that’s the cases that are reported.) It is time for us to protect the children – we do it online w/ filters; let’s do the same thing with the written material. Let’s go Bristow Public Schools…you have options. Remove the books, not the students!
This is not censorship because parents have the right to purchase any type of book for their children. But when their children are at school and have access to the library, they should be able to trust that what their kids are exposed to, will not cause them this kind of harm.
