Banned: Books on race and sexuality are disappearing from Texas schools in record numbers

[j brown's body]

"KATY, Texas — From a secluded spot in her high school library, a 17-year-old girl spoke softly into her cellphone, worried that someone might overhear her say the things she’d hidden from her parents for years. They don’t know she’s queer, the student told a reporter, and given their past comments about homosexuality’s being a sin, she’s long feared they would learn her secret if they saw what she reads in the library. That space, with its endless rows of books about characters from all sorts of backgrounds, has been her “safe haven,” she said — one of the few places where she feels completely free to be herself.

But books, including one of her recent favorites, have been vanishing from the shelves of Katy Independent School District libraries the past few months. Some titles were removed after parents formally complained, but others were quietly banned by the district without official reviews.... Her safe haven is now a battleground in an unprecedented effort by parents and conservative politicians in Texas to ban books dealing with race, sexuality and gender from schools, an NBC News investigation has found. Hundreds of titles have been pulled from libraries across the state for review, sometimes over the objections of school librarians, several of whom told NBC News they face increasingly hostile work environments and mounting pressure to pre-emptively pull books that might draw complaints.

...“Why are we sexualizing our precious children?” a Katy parent said at a November school board meeting after she suggested that books about LGBTQ relationships are causing children to improperly question their gender identities and sexual orientations. “Why are our libraries filled with pornography?” Another parent in Katy, a Houston suburb, asked the district to remove a children’s biography of Michelle Obama, arguing that it promotes “reverse racism” against white people, according to the records obtained by NBC News. A parent in the Dallas suburb of Prosper wanted the school district to ban a children’s picture book about the life of Black Olympian Wilma Rudolph, because it mentions racism that Rudolph faced growing up in Tennessee in the 1940s. In the affluent Eanes Independent School District in Austin, a parent proposed replacing four books about racism, including “How to Be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi, with copies of the Bible."

Link

Horrifying and tragic.

 

[Phys251]

"KATY, Texas — From a secluded spot in her high school library, a 17-year-old girl spoke softly into her cellphone, worried that someone might overhear her say the things she’d hidden from her parents for years. They don’t know she’s queer, the student told a reporter, and given their past comments about homosexuality’s being a sin, she’s long feared they would learn her secret if they saw what she reads in the library. That space, with its endless rows of books about characters from all sorts of backgrounds, has been her “safe haven,” she said — one of the few places where she feels completely free to be herself.

But books, including one of her recent favorites, have been vanishing from the shelves of Katy Independent School District libraries the past few months. Some titles were removed after parents formally complained, but others were quietly banned by the district without official reviews.... Her safe haven is now a battleground in an unprecedented effort by parents and conservative politicians in Texas to ban books dealing with race, sexuality and gender from schools, an NBC News investigation has found. Hundreds of titles have been pulled from libraries across the state for review, sometimes over the objections of school librarians, several of whom told NBC News they face increasingly hostile work environments and mounting pressure to pre-emptively pull books that might draw complaints.

...“Why are we sexualizing our precious children?” a Katy parent said at a November school board meeting after she suggested that books about LGBTQ relationships are causing children to improperly question their gender identities and sexual orientations. “Why are our libraries filled with pornography?” Another parent in Katy, a Houston suburb, asked the district to remove a children’s biography of Michelle Obama, arguing that it promotes “reverse racism” against white people, according to the records obtained by NBC News. A parent in the Dallas suburb of Prosper wanted the school district to ban a children’s picture book about the life of Black Olympian Wilma Rudolph, because it mentions racism that Rudolph faced growing up in Tennessee in the 1940s. In the affluent Eanes Independent School District in Austin, a parent proposed replacing four books about racism, including “How to Be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi, with copies of the Bible."

Link

Horrifying and tragic.

Everything righties accuse others of doing, they do or enable themselves. Everything.

For example, this kind of censorship in our schools.

 

[Napoleon]

Everything righties accuse others of doing, they do or enable themselves. Everything.

For example, this kind of censorship in our schools.

There’s plenty of hypocrisy to go around on this topic.

 

[Phys251]

There’s plenty of hypocrisy to go around on this topic.

This censorship is specifically coming from the Right. Do you admit this, or are you going to deflect?

 

[Napoleon]

This censorship is specifically coming from the Right. Do you admit this, or are you going to deflect?

Sure, do you deny the censorship specifically coming from the Left?

 

[OrphanSlug]

The Christian Taliban is as the Christian Taliban does.

 

[Phys251]

This censorship is specifically coming from the Right. Do you admit this, or are you going to deflect?

You are going to deflect.

Sure, do you deny the censorship specifically coming from the Left?

Feel free to start another thread. This thread is all about censorship from the Right.

 

[BlueTex]

Sure, do you deny the censorship specifically coming from the Left?

The real question is should government be censoring...

 

[Lycanthrope]

These sorts should put their kids in private schools or home school. They can censor all they like there without inconveniencing the rest of us.

 

[Napoleon]

The real question is should government be censoring...

There’s a lot of hyperbole. The government isn’t censoring anything. These students are free to buy the books, to borrow the books from their local library, etc. The government does decide what it makes available through its public school curriculum and its school libraries. That has always been the case.

 

[vanceen]

The real question is should government be censoring...

That certainly is a question, whether or not it's "the" question.

A school board making decisions about what's appropriate to have in their own libraries is not "government censorship".

They may be wrong in their decisions for one reason or another. But it's not government censorship.

 

[j brown's body]

That certainly is a question, whether or not it's "the" question.

A school board making decisions about what's appropriate to have in their own libraries is not "government censorship".

They may be wrong in their decisions for one reason or another. But it's not government censorship.

A school board is not a government entity?

 

[BlueTex]

There’s a lot of hyperbole. The government isn’t censoring anything. These students are free to buy the books, to borrow the books from their local library, etc. The government does decide what it makes available through its public school curriculum and its school libraries. That has always been the case.

LMAO... Why were these books okay a year ago when the district bought them?

 

[BlueTex]

That certainly is a question, whether or not it's "the" question.

A school board making decisions about what's appropriate to have in their own libraries is not "government censorship".

They may be wrong in their decisions for one reason or another. But it's not government censorship.

LMAO... The district ALREADY purchased the books... Why are they suddenly being removed? That is the DEFINITION of censorship.. good lord..

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

"KATY, Texas — From a secluded spot in her high school library, a 17-year-old girl spoke softly into her cellphone, worried that someone might overhear her say the things she’d hidden from her parents for years. They don’t know she’s queer, the student told a reporter, and given their past comments about homosexuality’s being a sin, she’s long feared they would learn her secret if they saw what she reads in the library. That space, with its endless rows of books about characters from all sorts of backgrounds, has been her “safe haven,” she said — one of the few places where she feels completely free to be herself.

But books, including one of her recent favorites, have been vanishing from the shelves of Katy Independent School District libraries the past few months. Some titles were removed after parents formally complained, but others were quietly banned by the district without official reviews.... Her safe haven is now a battleground in an unprecedented effort by parents and conservative politicians in Texas to ban books dealing with race, sexuality and gender from schools, an NBC News investigation has found. Hundreds of titles have been pulled from libraries across the state for review, sometimes over the objections of school librarians, several of whom told NBC News they face increasingly hostile work environments and mounting pressure to pre-emptively pull books that might draw complaints.

...“Why are we sexualizing our precious children?” a Katy parent said at a November school board meeting after she suggested that books about LGBTQ relationships are causing children to improperly question their gender identities and sexual orientations. “Why are our libraries filled with pornography?” Another parent in Katy, a Houston suburb, asked the district to remove a children’s biography of Michelle Obama, arguing that it promotes “reverse racism” against white people, according to the records obtained by NBC News. A parent in the Dallas suburb of Prosper wanted the school district to ban a children’s picture book about the life of Black Olympian Wilma Rudolph, because it mentions racism that Rudolph faced growing up in Tennessee in the 1940s. In the affluent Eanes Independent School District in Austin, a parent proposed replacing four books about racism, including “How to Be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi, with copies of the Bible."

Link

Horrifying and tragic.

The basis for "1984"'s "NewSpeak" was "If the people don't have a word for it, they can't talk about it.".

The basis for "Fahrenheit 451"'s "fire departments" was "If people can't read about it, they can't learn about it - and if they can't learn about it, they can't talk about it.".

The basis for the Nazi's book burnings was "If people can't read about it, they can't learn about it - and if they can't learn about it, they can't talk about it.".

In all three cases, the idea was "If people can't talk about it, then they can only talk about the ideas that are officially approved by those in power." AND it is never approved by those in power that they be replaced by anyone else.

 

[j brown's body]

There’s a lot of hyperbole. The government isn’t censoring anything. These students are free to buy the books, to borrow the books from their local library, etc. The government does decide what it makes available through its public school curriculum and its school libraries. That has always been the case.

Banning might be more appropriate, as censor often speaks to banning parts of something.

 

[Napoleon]

LMAO... Why were these books okay a year ago when the district bought them?

Books go in and out of favor all the time.

 

[BlueTex]

Books go in and out of favor all the time.

LMAO... How many other books are routinely removed from these school libraries?

 

[HIP56948]

I'd tell the people who want to ban the books: Sure we'll look at your thoughts on the book, but first, read the entire book and write down a detailed analysis of the problems you seem to have with this book. Your thoughts have to be much more than..I don't like it..it promotes XYZ, The Bible says..etc.
Your thoughts must be at least 3 detailed pages. NEXT..you must explain what the book is about and be able to transfer your thoughts to us in an intelligent way.
That's it! Have a nice day.

 

[Napoleon]

LMAO... How many other books are routinely removed from these school libraries?

Wacky progressives have been trying to erase Of Mice And Men, Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures or Tom Sawyer, To Kill A Mockingbird, etc etc from school curriculums for ages and with varying degrees of success.

 

[Phys251]

Wacky progressives have been trying to erase Of Mice And Men, Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures or Tom Sawyer, To Kill A Mockingbird, etc etc from school curriculums for ages and with varying degrees of success.

^ More deflection from the right.

 

[BlueTex]

Wacky progressives have been trying to erase Of Mice And Men, Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures or Tom Sawyer, To Kill A Mockingbird, etc etc from school curriculums for ages and with varying degrees of success.

Do you disagree with the following?

Petitioners rightly possess significant discretion to determine the content of their school libraries. But that discretion may not be exercised in a narrowly partisan or political manner. If a Democratic school board, motivated by party affiliation, ordered the removal of all books written by or in favor of Republicans, few would doubt that the order violated the constitutional rights of the students denied access to those books. The same conclusion would surely apply if an all-white school board, motivated by racial animus, decided to remove all books authored by blacks or advocating racial equality and integration. Our Constitution does not permit the official suppression of ideas. Thus whether petitioners' removal of books from their school libraries denied respondents their First Amendment rights depends upon the motivation behind petitioners' actions. If petitioners intended by their removal decision to deny respondents access to ideas with which petitioners disagreed, and if this intent was the decisive factor in petitioners' decision, then petitioners have exercised their discretion in violation of the Constitution.

 

[Phys251]

"KATY, Texas — From a secluded spot in her high school library, a 17-year-old girl spoke softly into her cellphone, worried that someone might overhear her say the things she’d hidden from her parents for years. They don’t know she’s queer, the student told a reporter, and given their past comments about homosexuality’s being a sin, she’s long feared they would learn her secret if they saw what she reads in the library. That space, with its endless rows of books about characters from all sorts of backgrounds, has been her “safe haven,” she said — one of the few places where she feels completely free to be herself.

But books, including one of her recent favorites, have been vanishing from the shelves of Katy Independent School District libraries the past few months. Some titles were removed after parents formally complained, but others were quietly banned by the district without official reviews.... Her safe haven is now a battleground in an unprecedented effort by parents and conservative politicians in Texas to ban books dealing with race, sexuality and gender from schools, an NBC News investigation has found. Hundreds of titles have been pulled from libraries across the state for review, sometimes over the objections of school librarians, several of whom told NBC News they face increasingly hostile work environments and mounting pressure to pre-emptively pull books that might draw complaints.

...“Why are we sexualizing our precious children?” a Katy parent said at a November school board meeting after she suggested that books about LGBTQ relationships are causing children to improperly question their gender identities and sexual orientations. “Why are our libraries filled with pornography?” Another parent in Katy, a Houston suburb, asked the district to remove a children’s biography of Michelle Obama, arguing that it promotes “reverse racism” against white people, according to the records obtained by NBC News. A parent in the Dallas suburb of Prosper wanted the school district to ban a children’s picture book about the life of Black Olympian Wilma Rudolph, because it mentions racism that Rudolph faced growing up in Tennessee in the 1940s. In the affluent Eanes Independent School District in Austin, a parent proposed replacing four books about racism, including “How to Be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi, with copies of the Bible."

Link

Horrifying and tragic.

Righties who support censorship in schools don't want young people to learn facts. They want them to be indoctrinated with right-wing views.

 

[Noodlegawd]

"KATY, Texas — From a secluded spot in her high school library, a 17-year-old girl spoke softly into her cellphone, worried that someone might overhear her say the things she’d hidden from her parents for years. They don’t know she’s queer, the student told a reporter, and given their past comments about homosexuality’s being a sin, she’s long feared they would learn her secret if they saw what she reads in the library. That space, with its endless rows of books about characters from all sorts of backgrounds, has been her “safe haven,” she said — one of the few places where she feels completely free to be herself.

But books, including one of her recent favorites, have been vanishing from the shelves of Katy Independent School District libraries the past few months. Some titles were removed after parents formally complained, but others were quietly banned by the district without official reviews.... Her safe haven is now a battleground in an unprecedented effort by parents and conservative politicians in Texas to ban books dealing with race, sexuality and gender from schools, an NBC News investigation has found. Hundreds of titles have been pulled from libraries across the state for review, sometimes over the objections of school librarians, several of whom told NBC News they face increasingly hostile work environments and mounting pressure to pre-emptively pull books that might draw complaints.

...“Why are we sexualizing our precious children?” a Katy parent said at a November school board meeting after she suggested that books about LGBTQ relationships are causing children to improperly question their gender identities and sexual orientations. “Why are our libraries filled with pornography?” Another parent in Katy, a Houston suburb, asked the district to remove a children’s biography of Michelle Obama, arguing that it promotes “reverse racism” against white people, according to the records obtained by NBC News. A parent in the Dallas suburb of Prosper wanted the school district to ban a children’s picture book about the life of Black Olympian Wilma Rudolph, because it mentions racism that Rudolph faced growing up in Tennessee in the 1940s. In the affluent Eanes Independent School District in Austin, a parent proposed replacing four books about racism, including “How to Be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi, with copies of the Bible."

Link

Horrifying and tragic.

Yeah, horrifying that some people might not want 14 year olds to have access to sexually explicit material in school.

 

[BlueTex]

Yeah, horrifying that some people might not want 14 year olds to have access to sexually explicit material in school.

Then why did they buy it in the first place?