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Parents, don't be intimidated!
K-12 School Library BOOK SELECTION IS A-OK!

BOOK "BANNING"
Is removal of books from a school library, “banning?” NO!
by Suzanne Gallagher


First of all, banning would mean restricting publication of only government sanctioned books. In the case of a public school placing restrictions on books based on inappropriate content for minors, no official "ban" occurs, because the controversial books are available via booksellers.

According to a 09/16/22, NEW YORK (AP) report, the American Library Association (ALA) says the wave of attempted book banning and restrictions continues to intensify. Numbers for 2022 already approach last year's totals, which were the highest in decades.

Banned Book Week, sponsored annually by the ALA, is promoted in libraries around the country via table displays, posters, bookmarks, stickers and through readings, essay contests and other events highlighting contested works

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, says “I’ve never seen anything like this... It used to be a parent had learned about a given book and had an issue with it. Now, we see campaigns where organizations are compiling lists of books, without necessarily reading or even looking at them.”

The most targeted books have included Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir about sexual identity, “Gender Queer,” (featured here) and Jonathan Evison’s “Lawn Boy,” a coming-of-age novel narrated by a young gay man. We're seeing that trend continue in 2022, the criticism of books with LGBTQ subject matter,” Caldwell-Jones says, adding that books about racism such as Angie Thomas' novel “The Hate U Give” also are frequently challenged.

Gender Queer Challenged in Orange County

INAPPROPRIATE LIBRARY BOOKS
for Minors are NOT NEW

We have to go back to the mid ‘70s to find out what the Supreme Court said about “book banning” in K-2 local schools.

In a New York Times article titled Book Banning in America, by Colin Campbell, dated Dec. 20, 1981 we learn, in October, 1981 the Supreme Court agreed to review a case stemming from the decision in 1976 by the school board of Island Trees, Long Island, to remove nine books from its libraries and curriculum…According to one of the board's press releases, the books were "anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic (sic) and just plain filthy.”

In 1980 a Federal Court of Appeals declared it was "permissible and appropriate" for local school boards "to make decisions based upon their personal, social, political, and moral views." The court thereby upheld a 1977 ban by the school board in Warsaw, Ind., against five books, including Sylvia Plath's novel "The Bell Jar." 

Significantly, there are no clear Federal laws that specify what rights school boards or local governments have to decide what books will be available in school or public libraries. That is one reason the Supreme Court agreed to review the Island Trees case, as a way of sorting out the conflicting rights of local authorities and readers.

What Does the Law SAY?

The Supreme Court has not ruled on how Boards of Education are to choose books to place in a library. However, once a book is placed in a library, school boards may remove it only under certain circumstances.

The Legal Standard for Banning Books

The Supreme Court set the standard for banning books in 1982 (Island Trees School District v. Pico). In that case, the school board attempted to ban a number of books because they were "anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, and just plain filthy.” 

The Justices were unable to come to a majority agreement and instead issued what is known as a "plurality" opinion, in which some combination of justices signed on to three different opinions in order to render an outcome. The standard from Pico which governs book banning decisions is that school officials may not remove books from the school library simply because they dislike the ideas in the book.

However, school officials may remove a book from a school library if it is inappropriate for the children of the school. 

There is no doubt the stunning increase of complaints about removal of “inappropriate” books from K-12 schools is fueled by a concerted effort to produce complementary literature for three curriculums: Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Social Justice and Race Theory, and Gender Identity, which are taught to students as young as Pre-School/Kindergarten. 

Follow the $$$ and the Agenda
Something more is taking place. The curriculum companies have much to gain if these additional books are available and promoted in the school library for students and school staff to supplement their narrative.

We know their goal is to change the culture, because they tell us. SEICUS new by line is Sex Ed for Social Change. Between breaking down our children’s inhibitions, sexualizing them, and indoctrinating them to embrace gender and race theory pedagogies, the K-12 public school cabal IS accomplishing what they strategized for a century.  

Parents Are NOT Backing Down!
However, they underestimated the resolve and commitment of the nuclear family in America and beyond. We are not about to just take it lying down. The campaign to rid our libraries of anti-family literature in the name of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice is just one initiative to roll back the progressive plan. Parents who have been censored by their school boards are not giving up. We are laying the groundwork for a program to ignite local communities to take their control of school districts back. 

So, Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, is correct. The wave of attempted book banning and restrictions continues to intensify, and that’s just the beginning!

Suzanne Gallagher
PRIE Executive Director

Listen to the Podcast

You are not alone if  you are offended and
want these book out of your students' library.

NOVEMBER is Parents’ Rights In Education Month and it’s more important now than ever!  We encourage parents all across America to challenge their school boards to adopt this Proclamation declaring they support the importance of working with parents to involve them in developing policies for their children’s schools. 

With a show of good faith through the adoption of this Proclamation, parents & guardians will gain confidence in their local school boards, affirming their belief that they DO have a vital role in the collaborative partnership between families, schools, and administrators. 

We invite you, to join our effort to officially recognize November as Parents’ Rights in Education Month.

EMAIL (sample below) YOUR SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS, NOW so, they can pass it at the November Board Meeting.

CLICK HERE! FOR PROCLAMATION and EASY DIRECTIONS

What if my board has a pro-parent minority?

Let's say your board has a 4/3 pro-parent minority. They won't pass the Proclamation. Why? because it promotes "equality," and recognizes parental rights.

Send an email to the three friendly board directors asking them to request a vote on the Proclamation, anyway!

If the board refuses to consider (won't put it on the agenda) or pass the Proclamation, it is time to recruit candidates for the next school board elections!

Introduce it now, so you can use their "NO on Parents' Rights" vote in the races against them. 

CLICK HERE! FOR PROCLAMATION and EASY DIRECTIONS
JOIN US! DO IT NOW!
INTRODUCING A HISTORY OF THE ONE AND ONLY!
CLICK HERE FOR Chapter Affiliation Agreement
SEND STORIES TO US! SO WE CAN ALERT OTHER PARENTS!
CLICK HERE! TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION to the CAUSE!
SHOP the PRIE STORE

Suzanne Gallagher, Executive Director, Parents' Rights In Education

...She met a teacher who wanted to form an organization and encouraged them to call it Parents’ Rights In Education. Later she participated in creating videos which were used to expose the controversial Adolescent Sexuality Conferences held at the Seaside Conference Center.   READ MORE...

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