“Stuff Some Adults Don’t Want You to Read” at Langley

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was not done maliciously and I am totally supportive of pointing out to HS students that there are books people are trying to ban. They should know this and read them if they choose to.

Putting books on display like that has malicious intent. The school is basically advertising the books for kids to read them. The display is worded so that it is sparking curiosity in kids (by telling those are the books that some adults don't want them to read). Kids always get curious when things are mentioned in such a way.

Writing this as immigrant, left-wing, non-white parent who support free speech. If the school simply kept the books in the library, without advertising them, I would not think this way. The school should put educationally way more appropriate books on display.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wasn’t just the principal. The Region 1 superintendent (Doug Tyson) issued a separate apology as well. It’s just sad they feel the need to apologize for looking for creative ways to encourage kids to read.

There are many, many other ways to better encourage folks to read than this. C'mon - be better.

I literally don’t see any problem at all with the display. What are your issues with it, specifically?

Kids always get curious when they realize the parents don't want them to see something or do something. So, it seems the school played with kids "curiosity" to actually encourage them to read those books . Why encourage books that have sexual content? There are many more appropriate books that a school can encourage kids to read.

I am very disappointed with Langley that they played with kids psyche like that. I am not a parent there, but if I was, I would raise my voice. This is not a political issue, it is an educational scandal.

OMG!! THE LIBRARIANS ENCOURAGED KIDS TO READ BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY!!

There it is, I am fixing your sentence for you.

OMG! THE LIBRARIAN ENCOURAGED KIDS TO READ BOOKS WITH SEXUAL CONTENT AT THE LIBRARY!!

OMG - HIGH SCHOOLERS MIGHT READ ABOUT SEX FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER?!?!?!?!?!

It’s not the school’s place to be exposing children to sexual content. Some might even say it’s inappropriate. Some might even say it’s grooming-type behavior, but apparently that gets posts deleted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was not done maliciously and I am totally supportive of pointing out to HS students that there are books people are trying to ban. They should know this and read them if they choose to.

Putting books on display like that has malicious intent. The school is basically advertising the books for kids to read them. The display is worded so that it is sparking curiosity in kids (by telling those are the books that some adults don't want them to read). Kids always get curious when things are mentioned in such a way.

Writing this as immigrant, left-wing, non-white parent who support free speech. If the school simply kept the books in the library, without advertising them, I would not think this way. The school should put educationally way more appropriate books on display.

But that's the purpose of library displays...to encourage kids to read books.

I really don't understand the outrage here at all.

[Anonymous]

Incidents such as these will have a chilling effect on what teachers teach in our local schools and how librarians and others do their jobs--and it will no doubt push some school professionals to leave their jobs. But perhaps that is the point...

If you have a few minutes, read this insightful article in WP into how teachers around the country are altering their teaching plans to accommodate this sudden parental interest in what is taught in schools.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/02/14/critical-race-theory-teachers-fear-laws/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Incidents such as these will have a chilling effect on what teachers teach in our local schools and how librarians and others do their jobs--and it will no doubt push some school professionals to leave their jobs. But perhaps that is the point...

If you have a few minutes, read this insightful article in WP into how teachers around the country are altering their teaching plans to accommodate this sudden parental interest in what is taught in schools.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/02/14/critical-race-theory-teachers-fear-laws/

I am the 8:39 PP, but this is the point. It is the "othering" of parents by teachers and adults in schools. It is the us versus them mentality that is problematic, especially when teachers have zero responsibility for our children.

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if those Langley parents will move on to complain about the ongoing program on intersectionality taking place at the school. My bet is they'll get around to that, too, once they get their hands on the materials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Incidents such as these will have a chilling effect on what teachers teach in our local schools and how librarians and others do their jobs--and it will no doubt push some school professionals to leave their jobs. But perhaps that is the point...

If you have a few minutes, read this insightful article in WP into how teachers around the country are altering their teaching plans to accommodate this sudden parental interest in what is taught in schools.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/02/14/critical-race-theory-teachers-fear-laws/

I am the 8:39 PP, but this is the point. It is the "othering" of parents by teachers and adults in schools. It is the us versus them mentality that is problematic, especially when teachers have zero responsibility for our children.

But the display was titled "stuff some adults don't want you to read"....not "stuff your parents don't want you to read". It is true that some adults want to censor these books.

[Anonymous]

You are complaining because librarians are "othering" Book Censors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am disappointed in the principal for not backing the librarians on that.

Me too. The email made it sound like it was something racist or horribly offensive. The sign was accurate. Truth hurts, conservatives?

Some people prefer vanilla and don't want normalization. Others like to push the boundary ever farther.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is yet another way that schools are making it an us (parents) versus them (adults in schools) mentality. Perpetuating the notion our kids, while at school, are independent and unaccountable to their parents is troubling. Or, at the worst indefensible, when "teaching" that their parents are morally wrong or "bad" because parents beliefs are counter to what is being normalized at school. I do not want to dictate what schools teach my kids, I just want schools to reiterate to our children that parents have the biggest stake in their lives. And, no matter what, their parents and what their parents provide, encourage, and instill in kids are the biggest indicators of success - not replaceable by anything a school can, nor should, do for children. Parenting is hard enough these days without having to fight and counter what adults, who are not in any way (legally, financially, emotionally) responsible for our children, are "teaching."

https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/educations-enduring-love-affair-luxury-beliefs

What values are you trying to instill in your kids that conflict with them reading Maus?

DP

Maus was objected to by that Tennesee school board for its depictions of cartoon female nudity and violence rather than teaching about the Holocaust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Incidents such as these will have a chilling effect on what teachers teach in our local schools and how librarians and others do their jobs--and it will no doubt push some school professionals to leave their jobs. But perhaps that is the point...

If you have a few minutes, read this insightful article in WP into how teachers around the country are altering their teaching plans to accommodate this sudden parental interest in what is taught in schools.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/02/14/critical-race-theory-teachers-fear-laws/

I am the 8:39 PP, but this is the point. It is the "othering" of parents by teachers and adults in schools. It is the us versus them mentality that is problematic, especially when teachers have zero responsibility for our children.

Okay Moms for Liberty parent. Were your parents so involved in micromanaging your public school experience? I’m guessing they weren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wasn’t just the principal. The Region 1 superintendent (Doug Tyson) issued a separate apology as well. It’s just sad they feel the need to apologize for looking for creative ways to encourage kids to read.

There are many, many other ways to better encourage folks to read than this. C'mon - be better.

I literally don’t see any problem at all with the display. What are your issues with it, specifically?

Kids always get curious when they realize the parents don't want them to see something or do something. So, it seems the school played with kids "curiosity" to actually encourage them to read those books . Why encourage books that have sexual content? There are many more appropriate books that a school can encourage kids to read.

I am very disappointed with Langley that they played with kids psyche like that. I am not a parent there, but if I was, I would raise my voice. This is not a political issue, it is an educational scandal.

OMG!! THE LIBRARIANS ENCOURAGED KIDS TO READ BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY!!

There it is, I am fixing your sentence for you.

OMG! THE LIBRARIAN ENCOURAGED KIDS TO READ BOOKS WITH SEXUAL CONTENT AT THE LIBRARY!!

OMG - HIGH SCHOOLERS MIGHT READ ABOUT SEX FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER?!?!?!?!?!

It can be viewed as a governmental body promoting sex. That position may be considered controversial because those values are not held by all members of the greater community as evidenced by this discussion. That's part of being in a diverse community, because not all people think alike.

[Anonymous]

"I just want schools to reiterate to our children that parents have the biggest stake in their lives. And, no matter what, their parents and what their parents provide, encourage, and instill in kids are the biggest indicators of success - not replaceable by anything a school can, nor should, do for children. Parenting is hard enough these days without having to fight and counter what adults, who are not in any way (legally, financially, emotionally) responsible for our children, are "teaching."

Really -- you may be a perfect parent but a lot of kids have parents who do not instill and encourage free thought ... there is nothing my kids were taught in school that I felt I had to "fight and counter" --- and certainly I would include not having to "fight and counter" knowledge about book banning, the Holocaust, and historic injustices. I truly hope they will be taught about such things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That was the title of a sign in the Langley High library displaying some of the books that the Trumpkins don’t want kids reading like “Beloved” and “Maus.” Of course some Langley parents complained and the principal issued a groveling letter apologizing for “poor judgement” and removing the display.

Seriously, WTF? It was a clever way to encourage kids to read! And do these parents have any idea how many teachers and administrators are going to steer clear of the school when they hear how heavy-handed the parents can be?

C’mon, people. Surely you can find a better way to channel your energy.

I find this humorous and have no problem with it.

However, the simple truth is that liberal and moderate to liberal leaning parents are in a political fight against right leaning and far right parents. That is the political reality and stunts like this are not helping the cause.

[Anonymous]

Bottom line--the parental-control-over-public-schools movement is a successful Republican tactic to fire up voters. It worked for Youngkin, and it will work for other politicians in future elections. While we all sit here exercising our 1st amendment rights by having spirited discussions about what is or isn't taught in public schools, Republican strategists are laughing all the way to the polls.