Why are book banners showing up at FCPS SB meetings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have concerns about a book in your child's FCPS library, complete this form and email to the principal:
https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/is706.pdf

Most of the illiterati here posting nonsense would get stumped by question #1.

How about FCPS removes the filthy books and doesn’t subject parents to an unnecessary process simply to give school officials additional cover for their bad decisions?

And “illiterati”? Really? Sounds like the type of language Karl Frisch would use to make himself feel better about not having a college degree.

Yes. Trumphumpers are dumb AF. Illiterate, ignorant, and proud of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I consider myself to be very liberal and am an avid reader who thinks all books should be available. I don't generally worry about what my kids are reading, I'm happy they are reading and being exposed to many viewpoints. I've read Lawn Boy and have zero issue with it being included in a school library. The graphic novel Gender Queer does give me pause. Seeing detailed pictures of blow jobs prompts a different reaction for me than reading about the same thing. There is more escape when it is words and you supply your own imagination to make the picture. It's also easier to skim through or ignore if it's triggering for you. But seeing the oral sex happening on the page feels different and I can understand why parents would prefer this be available in a public library, but not in their school's library.

What’s refreshingly reasonable response. Quite different from the erroneous screams of “pedophilia!” And “pornography!” I agree that comic books / graphic novels are different in terms of visual literacy. The question is whether the book has merit on its own despite the potentially problematic frame. Professional school librarians who make these difficult choices decided for whatever reason that there was a need within their school community for a comic book style treatment of a non-binary teen. A reasonable committee of teachers, parents, students, and others can assess the book and see if they agree or if the book, on the whole, would be better as a voice in the public library only. Screams of “filth” and “smut” are a ridiculous outsized reaction to a book that sensitively portrays a person’s feelings toward their body, gender expression, relationships, hopes, and dreams. No trainable person reading either could conclude that they are porn or promotion of anything, from sex to gender identity to sexual orientation. They are heartfelt stories. Maybe one doesn’t belong. Maybe it does. But a reasonable person like you could email a principal or librarian and say, “I was concerned about a book in your collection so I read it in it’s entirety. I am concerned that the illustration on page 76 is unsuitable for a high school library. I would like to request that the title be reconsidered.”

That would trigger a committee’s review and the book might be removed. But THIS….this was a circus deigned to make people start freaking out that, “Democrats on the School Board are buying porn and books with pedophilia for school libraries rather than building new schools or teaching cursive!” Just look at the reactions here from people who haven’t even read the books. It’s a crazed witch hunt.

*reasonable, not trainable

Fully agree.

Also agree. FCPS HS Librarians order 1,000+ books every year. They rely on professional journal sources as they cannot read all of them (although they do read a lot!). I’m a school librarian. I’ve had parents challenge books before and it ran through the established process. No hard feelings there—there is an established process for a reason. I’ve also had parents tell kids to return a book they thought was inappropriate. More often than not, kids actually are pretty good at self-censoring and will put down a book they find inappropriate based on their own/family values.
I read these two book this weekend. I agree with the above assesment…I think Lawn Boy is appropriate for high school collections. I personally would be fine with my kids reading Gender Queer as I think 1) It’s a memoir and their experience 2) Yes, there is a strap on, but the reality is that this is a situation a high schooler might encounter and it is dealt with in a healthy way. YA literature should reflect the experiences of teens and model different outcomes. With that said, should this be in a secondary library where 7th graders have access? Maybe not. I am glad a committee is reviewing it. I am, however, appalled at the way this challenge was made. The school board meeting was not the right forum for the theatrics that the mom (a trained actress, btw) and was clearly a political move.

Hopefully we can get a new Superintendent and a new School Board that aren't pushing an inappropriate agenda and will make sure librarians are hired who aren't fine with introducing smut into public school libraries.

It looks like the under the rock dwellers are poking their heads out again. So thankful I live in Fairfax County and not Hazzard County. But thank you for the reminder that the infidels never tire and they never sleep. We must remain vigilant. Don't forget to show up State and Local folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gender Queer does not have any underage sex acts. The main character is a virgin until age 25. But there is talk/graphics about menstruation, breasts, vagina, pretending to have a penis, etc.

Later when the main character is much older there is more sexualized talk. Perhaps it’s better for a college library than high school.

I don't want my child in any school where they read about or talk about their genitals unless it's in a scientific or medical discussion. It's NOT appropriate.

Same poster - If it's not appropriate to discuss at work, it's not appropriate at school. I cannot go to a coworkers office and talk about my genitals or sex. We have trainings for that. It is considered sexual harassment.

No one was discussing it. It’s a library book your teen can check out on their own.

So, could I provide the excerpts in question to my coworkers or boss? How about if I pretend the main character is myself, and I email the story about "me" to my coworkers and boss? How about in a federal workplace? Would I be safe from a sexual harassment complaint? NO. Because it's inappropriate.

How will children today comprehend what is sexually appropriate vs. inappropriate when they in a professional setting? I forsee a lot of blunders landing these future workers in very hot water because their view of "appropriate" will be so, so divergent than our own upbringing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gender Queer does not have any underage sex acts. The main character is a virgin until age 25. But there is talk/graphics about menstruation, breasts, vagina, pretending to have a penis, etc.

Later when the main character is much older there is more sexualized talk. Perhaps it’s better for a college library than high school.

I don't want my child in any school where they read about or talk about their genitals unless it's in a scientific or medical discussion. It's NOT appropriate.

Same poster - If it's not appropriate to discuss at work, it's not appropriate at school. I cannot go to a coworkers office and talk about my genitals or sex. We have trainings for that. It is considered sexual harassment.

No one was discussing it. It’s a library book your teen can check out on their own.

So, could I provide the excerpts in question to my coworkers or boss? How about if I pretend the main character is myself, and I email the story about "me" to my coworkers and boss? How about in a federal workplace? Would I be safe from a sexual harassment complaint? NO. Because it's inappropriate.

How will children today comprehend what is sexually appropriate vs. inappropriate when they in a professional setting? I forsee a lot of blunders landing these future workers in very hot water because their view of "appropriate" will be so, so divergent than our own upbringing.

You didn’t read Judy Blume growing up?

[Anonymous]

Bring it in to work and put it on a bookshelf. Report back on all the bad things that happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gender Queer does not have any underage sex acts. The main character is a virgin until age 25. But there is talk/graphics about menstruation, breasts, vagina, pretending to have a penis, etc.

Later when the main character is much older there is more sexualized talk. Perhaps it’s better for a college library than high school.

I don't want my child in any school where they read about or talk about their genitals unless it's in a scientific or medical discussion. It's NOT appropriate.

Same poster - If it's not appropriate to discuss at work, it's not appropriate at school. I cannot go to a coworkers office and talk about my genitals or sex. We have trainings for that. It is considered sexual harassment.

No one was discussing it. It’s a library book your teen can check out on their own.

So, could I provide the excerpts in question to my coworkers or boss? How about if I pretend the main character is myself, and I email the story about "me" to my coworkers and boss? How about in a federal workplace? Would I be safe from a sexual harassment complaint? NO. Because it's inappropriate.

How will children today comprehend what is sexually appropriate vs. inappropriate when they in a professional setting? I forsee a lot of blunders landing these future workers in very hot water because their view of "appropriate" will be so, so divergent than our own upbringing.

You didn’t read Judy Blume growing up?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gender Queer does not have any underage sex acts. The main character is a virgin until age 25. But there is talk/graphics about menstruation, breasts, vagina, pretending to have a penis, etc.

Later when the main character is much older there is more sexualized talk. Perhaps it’s better for a college library than high school.

I don't want my child in any school where they read about or talk about their genitals unless it's in a scientific or medical discussion. It's NOT appropriate.

Same poster - If it's not appropriate to discuss at work, it's not appropriate at school. I cannot go to a coworkers office and talk about my genitals or sex. We have trainings for that. It is considered sexual harassment.

No one was discussing it. It’s a library book your teen can check out on their own.

So, could I provide the excerpts in question to my coworkers or boss? How about if I pretend the main character is myself, and I email the story about "me" to my coworkers and boss? How about in a federal workplace? Would I be safe from a sexual harassment complaint? NO. Because it's inappropriate.

How will children today comprehend what is sexually appropriate vs. inappropriate when they in a professional setting? I forsee a lot of blunders landing these future workers in very hot water because their view of "appropriate" will be so, so divergent than our own upbringing.

You didn’t read Judy Blume growing up?

No.

Why not?

[Anonymous]

I'm so done. Thank you for validating my decision to withdraw from public school, and taking other families with me. Enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Would a book like this end up in the childrens or adult section of the public library? We view our school library (at least in ES) as having similar books to what's in teh chidren's section of the public library, so we assume the content is acceptable and don't really need to police what our kids check out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so done. Thank you for validating my decision to withdraw from public school, and taking other families with me. Enjoy.

Good, the schools are too darn crowded anyway!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gender Queer does not have any underage sex acts. The main character is a virgin until age 25. But there is talk/graphics about menstruation, breasts, vagina, pretending to have a penis, etc.

Later when the main character is much older there is more sexualized talk. Perhaps it’s better for a college library than high school.

I don't want my child in any school where they read about or talk about their genitals unless it's in a scientific or medical discussion. It's NOT appropriate.

Same poster - If it's not appropriate to discuss at work, it's not appropriate at school. I cannot go to a coworkers office and talk about my genitals or sex. We have trainings for that. It is considered sexual harassment.

No one was discussing it. It’s a library book your teen can check out on their own.

So, could I provide the excerpts in question to my coworkers or boss? How about if I pretend the main character is myself, and I email the story about "me" to my coworkers and boss? How about in a federal workplace? Would I be safe from a sexual harassment complaint? NO. Because it's inappropriate.

How will children today comprehend what is sexually appropriate vs. inappropriate when they in a professional setting? I forsee a lot of blunders landing these future workers in very hot water because their view of "appropriate" will be so, so divergent than our own upbringing.

If I started emailing my coworkers excepts from The Bible or the Quran, I'd get in trouble. Does that mean we need to take those of the shelves of school libraries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would a book like this end up in the childrens or adult section of the public library? We view our school library (at least in ES) as having similar books to what's in teh chidren's section of the public library, so we assume the content is acceptable and don't really need to police what our kids check out.

We are talking about teenagers in HS. It would be in the young adult section. Where there is young adult relationships, including sexual exploration.

There’s sex in a ton of YA books. Including homosexual relationships.

[Anonymous]

wow - you have such power...ooooooooo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so done. Thank you for validating my decision to withdraw from public school, and taking other families with me. Enjoy.

Good, the schools are too darn crowded anyway!

Thank fcking god.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would a book like this end up in the childrens or adult section of the public library? We view our school library (at least in ES) as having similar books to what's in teh chidren's section of the public library, so we assume the content is acceptable and don't really need to police what our kids check out.

We are talking about teenagers in HS. It would be in the young adult section. Where there is young adult relationships, including sexual exploration.

There’s sex in a ton of YA books. Including homosexual relationships.

Homosexual relationships?!?!