For those focusing on 50 Shades of Grey in the schools, this is likely another red herring. The American Library Association’s lists of frequently banned books include attempts to ban books from libraries as well as schools, and the highly publicized controversies about banning 50 Shades of Grey involved banning it from public libraries.
https://journals.ala.org/index.php/nif/issue/download/436/245
I know what it is like to have a school controlled by parents- careful what you wish for. D1 went to 2 different public elementary schools- one a diverse Title 1 school the other an affluent, great testing school or in the words of the principal- “the best school in the county, if not the state and probably the country”.
After hearing that speech at Kindergarten orientation, and looking around and seeing 2 kids that were minorities, I applied for a different public school, that was also Title 1. Great experience at the Title 1. Teachers really pushed the basics. After 1st grade, D had to return to the closer “best” school. It was a disaster- the lack of discipline or just simple rules. I would watch kids get up in the middle of the teacher teaching a lesson and just wonder around, eat, play with toys. I got chastised for taking a toy away from a kid so he would do his work. I was told that parents would have a fit that I took the toy away. My D would come home every day with a headache because of all the noise and craziness. Anytime I would bring up the classroom behavior I was told- they are all on level, they still produce work. Well my kid was above level and if she’s just at level, then something is wrong. The parents donated a lot of money to the school and the PTA was clearly in charge. If a kid wasn’t on level, a parent got a tutor- the school really didn’t have to work that hard to test well.
I continued to volunteer at the old school in the classroom with my daughter’s former classmates. The difference was astounding- kids did their work, they sat in their seats and their teacher wanted to get them to the highest level she could.
I begged the principal of the Title 1 school to help move me back- she did, and I am forever grateful.
The lesson I learned, the more power parents have, the more fear teachers have to discipline.
I seriously doubt the majority of these parents complaining have ever spent time in their kid’s class or media center/library. They got a hold of a list from FB and started freaking out. They probably haven’t read any of the books- well I’ll make a bet most of those moms have read 50 Shades. 
Before I would ask to remove anything, I would at the very least read the book and ask questions of where and how the book is used in a school setting.
I think I have read almost all the listed books, with the exception of the picture books. No great loss either way, with the exception of Kite Runner and Beloved, which really do qualify as solid literature. Too bad those cant be required, but I can understand unease among some if it were due to the sexual violence.
It is unfortunate that some dismiss objections to books as “red herrings”. If they are listed, I expect they were indeed purchased for a school library ( or in the case of the Purim book, donated).
Good that you could choose the school based on your needs. I think choice is very important.
It is a red herring because 50 Shades of Grey is not a staple of childhood literature, is not regularly included in school libraries, and few if any reasonable people would argue it is appropriate classroom material for young kids. In other words, there would be no issue to discuss if the discussion solely about keeping 50 Shades of Grey out of school libraries.
Yet the book has been repeatedly referenced in this discussion, and the focus distracts from the fact that many childhood staples have been banned for their supposedly offensive content, such as the whimsical picture book, “Everywhere Babies,” and “The Purim Superhero,” another picture book about a Jewish boy who happens to have two fathers.
Outlander is a staple of children’s literature? Since when? It and 50 Shades were popular best sellers and likely chosen then as a result, perhaps even the subject of requests by teens. None of the books listed qualify as staples of children’s literature; most wouldnt really qualify as literature at all.
It’s important to note it was choice inside the public school system- and it was based on calendar choice. I was not asking taxpayers to fund my different choice and when I went back to the first school I provided my own transportation. Our school system actually provides several choices and yet parents complain.
UMMM what is the problem here? The 2 guys with the tan and gray coats? They could be brothers??? Is it the 2 women with the stroller- I think they are friends going out with their kids. I don’t understand.
No idea. Looking at the WaPo article I linked above, the author has no idea either, but thinks it’s probably one of the couples you pointed out.
Or maybe the man leaning on the post is reading 50 Shades of Grey? 
No idea what the board’s problem with the book was.
Florida was only able to offer 4 pages of problematic math texts. The publishers’ permission was required, and apparently they refused.
Choice within the public school system is good, but not enough. Parental choice should allow them to choose between public schools of all stripes (traditional, magnate, charter) as well as private options. Right now, for many, all private options are off the table because public school money cannot be used for them. I think it should.
We sent our kids to private school for elementary and middle school. Their private school tuition was $500 more a school year than what the state pays public schools for each butt-in-the-seat. And the education they received was much, much, better than our public school option. Now, our experience may not be what others experience, but having the option simply makes sense.
The list in the original post was for a school library in Ft. Waldon. Maybe the picture books are just inappropriate for the age group using a school library? We have a lot of picture books at our school, but we have 3 year old pre-k kids too. I don’t think we’d have these board books intended for 1-2 year olds.
The list of the math books were just programs not chosen for the curriculum. I have no problem with school districts picking the program they think would best teach math even if it doesn’t incorporate social issues. Other subjects can teach those skills.
To me there is a difference between a school or district banning the books (not allowing them in the school at all) and choosing other books for the school library shelves, or to buy in bulk for whole classes to read as part of the curriculum.
my word for the year is . . . . . . . discernment.
it started last march; when i took my 80 yr mom in for her first vax; my 80 yr old dad came too but was adamant about not getting one. he doesnt do email or internet. And randomly asked if he could get a vax; and the lady in charge used discernment; she by-passed the online registration system weeks out and hard to get to; and said “follow me, sir. right this way, right now.” Discernment.
six years ago, my D23 came home with a school library book; left it at her above grandparents house. My dad went to the school after looking through the book; the cover had a girl blowing a bubble-gum bubble; it looked a little sassy. Yet inside, it had graphic descriptions of oral sex. My daughter was 10. Again, discernment was needed.
schools don’t allow PG-13 movies for middle schoolers barely; let alone rated R movies. Why would they allow for these books? the kids aren’t ready for some of the themes. they will be in time. . . . . but discernment is needed. So I guess that’s my stance. Use discernment.
Actually the publishers were never told what the issues were.
For textbook choices, The process provides publishers with a 21 day period to appeal and submit revisions ( at least one publisher is doing so) so I expect they have been told what to revise.
I hope it stays that way. I’ve no problem at all with private schools, but if one wants them, they should pay for it themselves or get scholarships.
Many private schools have agendas and they aren’t all about education. I prefer tax dollars used for the masses. If folks don’t like what the masses have (for whatever reason), then they can opt to pay for private options or homeschool.
They should - it should be education - without favoring (or excluding) any particular religion.
The year I lived in FL my dad saw to it that I went to a private school. He didn’t feel their ps education was up to the level of my public school in NY. He and my grandma said I got a scholarship, but to this day I still wonder if one of grandma’s friends paid for it. Either way, they didn’t expect FL taxpayers to fund my education at a private school. That only takes away funds for public school use, giving the masses less.
Public schools have to teach every child that shows up at their door. No matter their level of learning, ability, color, sex… They don’t get to pick and choose who they let in. Sometimes they do it well and sometimes they don’t. I found the more your child was from the “average” the more you might not be as happy about their education. With that, i think educators have tried all kinds of things to help kids succeed. I don’t think they walk in to make kids fail. It’s impossible to give every kid exactly what they need all the time.
Through the pandemic I kept hearing how important it was for kids to be in school for their mental well being. This also falls on schools to try to help every kid feel welcome, accepted and included. Not at all an easy task. Some would like to confuse acceptance and inclusion with indoctrination. It is not the same.
