“So Called” Book Banning

In “so called” book banning, Florida leads the country – according to the news media and on the front page of our county's daily local newspaper. The problem is there is a misinterpretation of what local school boards are charged with. That is government schools are set up to educate the children sent to them by parents. Government schools are to instruct children in reading, writing (including script), mathematics and science – not to indoctrinate them in fanciful theories such as multiple genders (in humans only), CRT, 1619 Theory, and so forth.

If parents so choose, those topics can be discussed at home, in any given belief systems/establishments with which the family is involved. Ultimately, it is the parents right and responsibility to educate their children. During the forced closure of government schools nationwide parents surmised – even saw on live video what and how instruction was taking place. And they did not like it. Public Libraries are always open to parents and their children as are book stores for books not in schools.

Parents searched for alternative instruction for their children: charter schools, religious schools, private schools and even homeschooling. Since Florida is a School Choice state, the portion of tax money which was going to government schools now goes to the other choices, including home schooling.

And government schools do not have a limitless budget for books. Choices must occur in life. Age appropriateness must be recognized. Just as Medical Schools do not give third year medical students the same texts as to first year students. As in elementary schools books written on an eighth grade level are not and should not be issued to 3rd, 4th, even 5th graders.

When we talk of book banning – as in Nazi Germany – we mean books to be taken and burned; not assigned to children above their age/grade levels of reading capacity and understanding.

School Boards must use appropriate discretion, including budgetary, in purchasing books.

Audrey Taggart

This is an editorial and not the official postion of the Martin County Republican Executive Committee