New Florida Law Could Send Teachers to Prison Over "Inappropriate" Books in Classrooms

Leslie Renee Gray

Adults are plagued by an attitude of superiority over children. Children they say, are too young to understand whatever it is that’s actually making the adults involved uncomfortable because they’re too busy injecting their own beliefs into the conversation and their insecurities onto the children. I’ve noticed that the main point of consternation among the adults in this issue is the existence of transgender people.

Conservatives are fixated on the idea that transgender people are somehow unnatural and want nothing less than to eradicate all knowledge of transgender people and the very concept of gender identity. They need to define gender as a biological fact when it is not. The biological reality of sex causes great discomfort for people whose beliefs make sex into something dirty.

Books are easy scapegoats for devious people to use to mislead their followers on emotionally charged topics like homosexuality and gender identity, especially when children are involved. Sadly, people who rely on their leaders to be honest with them know that and sometimes choose to capitalize on fears of endangering children to increase their influence.

People can’t be turned gay or transgender by words in a book. But, this same tactic has been used against disfavored groups of people since at least The Dark Ages if not before. Hate and intolerance relies on a lack of knowledge. Books are a source of knowledge and inspiration and must be protected, preserved and made available to everyone at all age levels or we could see another Dark Ages

Ellen B. Wentzel

If any book should be banned, it should be the "Book of Mormon." It was written by a fraudster, if you read his biography. We should not be banning any books. What is this, "1984?" There is a book that I can't remember the name where all books are banned and people have to memorize the books before they are banned/burned. This world is moving backward, not forward. Ridiculous!

Valerie Sapienza

For what it's worth, here is MY OPINION..... I raised my children with the mindset....if they are old enough to ask the question they are old enough to get an honest answer. I might have used words that were age appropriate at that time....but the answers were honest. But that is the thing....they asked ME and I answered. They did not get the information (idea) at school. There are some things that should be left to the PARENTS to educate their children about. When the PARENTS feel that their child is mature enough to be given an honest answer!!! To be clear....I am talking about ANYTHING of the sexual nature....be it "Where do babies come from?" or "Should I be a boy or a girl?" NOT HISTORY!!! I honestly feel that grammar school is too young and that high school is a more appropriate time to introduce these books or discuss these topics. When a child should be mature enough to understand and not think that they are a girl trapped in a boys' body because their favorite color is pink!!!

Keith Graham Ainsworth

Can't have the kids actually learning things can we, that might be dangerous

Humanism Clergy Linda

I live in Florida IMO the governor has gone to far to the right.

There is nothing wrong with children learning history. History is supposed to make one uncomfortable so we don't repeat it. Through reading books we are opened to a different way of thinking and living. Many of the books have the same issue of trying to ban them I read many of those books and they didn't hurt me.

Father Frederick

The only thing I can say is a teacher's job is to teach and not indoctrinate. But it is clear that starting with the Generation X to Generation Z, more people favor handing their children over to schools with little or know knowledge of what is the child would be taught. Add to that there is no support for schools and teachers, but everyone has an opinion on what should be the lesson. I think we have to face the facts that we put more effort into social media's words, than what is documented history and skill sets.

Richard Lee Cornell

Book burning with a new twist. But in this day and age said banned books can be found online. Since most students have access to the WWW what ever anyone says of student being blinded will not work. There is the reading on You Tube of any book banned by a person in drag. Banning books in Florida that is in English is one thing in another language is a different thing. Banning a book in a religious school opens a can of worms. This Gov. is not too bright when it comes to telling what people can read.

Val Jester

The rule of a teacher is to teach reading, writing, arithmetic, history, civics, etc. Keep to politics at home. If you can’t handle that, get a job at Starbucks.

Carl Bernard Elfstrom

But Ehrman, I'm not at all fatigued or lonely, and usually prefer to stay home in solitude, and take it in hand, with all my exes (who live in Texas), and then some, on my mind. Face it, man. Sixty ii too old too old to look cute, and too old to go out carousing around, looking for chicks, that you know you aren't going to get, without it costing you more than you care to lose, just for the sake of getting something you could have stayed home and done all by yourself, while thinking about your exes, who all live in Texas.

Carl Bernard Elfstrom

I guess this is too deep of a subject for flugo, even in his alter image as Professor Fleush, to make a comment on this.

Carl Bernard Elfstrom

Now, instead of accepting you made a mistake Ehrman you're telling me that I should be on good terms with all persons. You're a classic example of self righteousness.

Carl Bernard Elfstrom

Get over it Ehrman! I don't have any fears, and am never fatigued or lonely. Whenever I'm alone I'm in solitude, and love my own company madly!!! And I take too many nutritional supplements to ever get fatigued. You seem like you do a lot of projecting onto others things you don't want to see in yourself.

Mary Haviland

Yes I kniw Lucifer is a demigod if light. But that doesn't mean he is not perverted. At one time Lucifer was one of yhwys top angles. But as the documents say, inequity was found in him. And inequity is sin and perversions.

Carl Bernard Elfstrom

Y'all are right about that. There are definitely loudmouths like Ehrman, with his silly poem, that I will gladly avoid, as soon as y'all quit putting verses from his Desiderata below my comments.

Carl Bernard Elfstrom

Ehrman, you couldn't be more wrong about that. There may be some lesser person's than myself (yourself included (with your silly Desiderata), but there are definitely none greater than me.

Ronald Edward Howlett

READ "BOOK BURNING/HOLOCAUST ENCYCLOPEDIA" and you will know WHY the, so called Politicians, are doing what they are doing. The lust for greed has created a Political Society of overly spoiled children. OOPS, sorry Adults that are attempting to create a new society where they can rule unchecked, by making laws that enforce their power. Many profess to be doing this because of God and their Faith. I'm not sure I know of any God. in any Religion or sect that Teaches greed,lies, killing (that is Legal), theft, (millions of dollars taken from corporate entities to boost their life style) . Reading books about their country's past may may teach people HOW NOT TO LIVE THE FUTURE. They could all be out of a job. Beware of the"woke" (whatever that is. Beware of critical race theory ( whatever that is. Only new words to frighten their new found slaves and keep them in control

Ronald Edward Howlett

See Book Burning Holocaust Encyclopedia. Some things never change. Mans quest for power. 1930's and 40's Had a dictator named Adolf Hitler. In 2023 we have a huge group or groups of wanna bees.The person standing at the top was made President of the United States. with a rather large following including many that have been made Law Makers in The American Political System. As followers of a God, as many have tried to tell they are.(NOT SURE WHICH ONE TEACHES HIS FOLLOWERS TO STRIVE TO BE UNTRUTHFUL, GREEDY, FORNICATORS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST A LUST FOR VIOLENCE OR CREATE A ENSLAVED SOCIETY). These are our ?Politicians? today. Abortion, slavery, white supremacy all things that can be read in books. No one should be allowed to read them lest they find out who who really has created this in our society

Carl Bernard Elfstrom

You're right, Ehrman! Many of those persons who strive for excellence are high on heroin, and shouldn't be paid any attention to.

David Buck

I think some people are taking this wildly out of proportion. I am with deSantis on this and the other law (which is being wildly mis-characterised as "Don't say gay"). There is a time and a place to discuss and teach shall we say 'non-traditional' ideas of sexuality. That is in high school, not when they are 5 and 6 years old. The 'fun with Dick and Jane' books should not include depictions of Dick and Fred having sex, and Jane doing who-knows-what with several somebodies. And if you think I am exaggerating, some of the books which have been found are exactly that. A six year old does NOT need to know how to masturbate.

Don't even get me started on the lies that are passed-off as history these days. Critical Race Theory is a pernicious evil, that has no place in schools - ever. You want to teach the history of slavery, be my guest - but teach the whole worldwide history of slavery, not just a narrow slice of it. Teach how on 25 March 1807, King George III signed into law the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade and the the Royal Navy spent decades and lost dozens of vessels and thousands of men trying to stamp out the slave trade. But the 'all white people are evil' bunch don't want anybody to know about that, it would spoil their narrative.

You know what would be really nice? If school could go back to being about the three Rs, and history about facts, with no moral judgements and no political agendas.

Mary

And they do this instead of feeding the hungry and helping people out of poverty. Everything republicans do is dysfunctional.

James Riggle-Johnson

A media specialist? They mean a straight, white, Christian with no experience in literature, deciding what they want children to read. They don’t want kids to learn that our country is built on the backs of slaves. They don’t want them to know that Hitler murdered over 6 million Jews so he could create his master race. They don’t want them to know that gay people exist. They are trying to whitewash history.

Rev Ned

“Conservative” religious folks’ children must be very weak minded, because they require protection from ideas contrary to their parents’ beliefs. It’s sad, bigly sad.

Troy Forbus

Porn of any kind doesn't belong in the class room, period. If a book depicts sexual acts of any kind doesn't belong in the class room. If a book describes in detail sexual acts it doesn't belong in the class room. How hard is this to understand?

Tim Cranford

This is right out of the playbook of every fascist regime that has ever seized power in any country. I can see vetting books for age-appropriateness. I can not, however, see any reason to ban books outright, just because some people don't agree with what they contain. It is my understanding that the books in question are not just LGBTQ+ related, but also books regarding the history of trailblazing people of color and basically anyone who has challenged the status quo in American history in the name of effecting positive change and growth.

Be careful. The governor in question will likely run for President, and if he takes office, he will make this a national thing.

This is motivated by fear... fear of LGBTQ+ people, fear of people of color, and fear that truth will eventually eradicate the lies upon which the modern fascist movement is based. If people don't know their history, they will most assuredly be doomed to repeat it. If people are fed a diet of lies and white-washed history, they will live (and vote) in ignorance. Ignorance of history and truth are the foundation upon which fascists can erode and destroy democracy, and fear-based laws are the device through which fascist regimes control the masses. Today it's Florida... tomorrow it begins to spread to other states. This is how fascist regimes take control... slowly, like a virus, until the entire country is infected.

We are watching the next step in the eradication of our rights, freedoms and personal autonomy... and the destruction of democracy. As clergy, I feel it is our duty to raise our voices in opposition as frequently and as loudly as we can. We can not afford to practice apathy when our way of life is threatened, as it most certainly is now.

George T Tusi

A few years Back we had enough common sense to know what was good and what was bad for CHILDREN. A few years Back The World Was a Much Better Place. Our Young Children Were Safer Back Then.

Allen Levings

I'm worried about the state of the world. This is another example of trying to impose their beliefs onto others. This happened many times in history and it never ends well. I believe in God being the only one who has the right to judge me. The choices I make about my life are mine and mine alone.

Ronaldo

As a parent, I taught my children far more than they learned in school. They learned how to think, how to argue their side of any conflict or disagreement, and became successful in life after graduating. Did I limit certain information and books from them when they were young? Yes, because that information was not essential to their development. All the limitations were eliminated by the time they hit high school, and they could choose their own reading material. There are those who claim that there should be no banned books, even in elementary school. What would they say if copies of "The Anarchist's Cookbook" showed up in those libraries? Kids could learn to make explosives and weapons out of household materials. My kids learned how to make incendiary devices and explosives in middle school. They did not have access to that information while in elementary school because they were too young to use it properly. Should this book be allowed in the elementary school libraries?

Dean Allen White

There sure are a lot of people here ready to grind their own personal axes, and to push their own personal ideologies onto everyone else. Isn't this what the entire problem is? Please check your "personal ideologies" at the door. Please. Lionheart is correct. Children need to be taught HOW to think for themselves, not WHAT others wish for them to think. Teaching children to think, to apply reason and deliberation doesn't require the use of "Inclusive texts", "Bibles", "Korans", or any one other particular book (if I missed your personal favorite, feel free to imagine it listed here, in this space). That certain books are seen as inappropriate for young children, is the view of many, but not all. I will ask, is this variance in views a matter of true fact, or a matter of opinion? I hold that it's a matter of opinion, and that the very root of the issue being discussed is based upon "opinion". So, should the state government, or the federal government, or the local school board, or an individual teacher, or the child's parents, or a Special Interest Group (this would include religion in all forms), decide what is proper to teach to a child? Obviously, the answer is no, not only one opinion is best in this situation. Something that resembles a consensus must be reached. Perhaps the duties of a school need to be changed, to settle the matter. Perhaps it's best if a school teaches only "Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic", and perhaps some science? Perhaps history is best left for children to learn on their own, later in life? Most would agree that much of history is opinion, written by those who wish to advance their own ideologies. And revisionist history is the same, persons wishing to push their opinions of history onto others. There are no "easy answers" here, but obviously some compromises need to be made. Should every person with an ideology or a special interest be allowed to force their ideologies and opinions into public schools? Parents, activists, politicians? Public education needs a long hard look, and then some thoughtful, considerate, corrections need to be made. In the meantime, have fun here, pushing your own agendas. Regards, Dean

Gary James Thomas Garrett

How about banning books that glorify genocide, support slavery, normalizes incest and teaches we are all inherently evil and should be tortured forever - ya know, like the Bible.

Lady Celynia

I agree with the idea of not indoctrinating children or exploiting children to push an agenda. Also, our schools, around the country, need to stop being used for political agendas. We used to have the best and the brightest. Now, not so much. My family homeschooled for these reasons. Academics was on a downward spiral when I was a kid in the 70s/80s.

I do not agree with this law. It is divisive and oversteps. Both sides will use it for their own agenda. We already see that here on this forum. On a larger world scale, it just gets worse. We don't need laws. We need philosophical change in how we teach our children. The social agenda needs to be set aside in favor of strong academics in language, science, history (not this social studies garbage that emerged in the 60s), maths, the arts and physical education. Honestly, if teachers are teaching these subjects well, there really is no time for this other nonsense.

Humanism Clergy Linda

I live in Florida and the governor is ridiculous and a laughing joke. He once a run for the presidency so he is pandering to MAGA republicans. He is a very dangerous man if he wins the presidency he's also very intelligent and sly knows how to work around the law

Reading never hurts anyone it's the Not Reading that is Dangerous.

Curtis Presson

First book to keep away from the kids is The BIBLE! That has some really racy stuff in it! Next, no Shakespeare!

I was in a Barnes and Noble bookstore not too long ago and they had a special table labeled “Banned Books” to make them easier to find. In Florida I image they should just label the whole store. Easier that way.

Carl Bernard Elfstrom

I suppose it's probably alright for children to look at child porn, but children should never be allowed to look at adult porn. However, adult teachers can't look at child porn, so the students have to figure it out for themselves, so they probably won't learn much on the subject, and if they aren't being taught anything about it, it has no place in a school.

Daniel Gray

I dont have a problem with the teachers being told to cover or remove the books. You dont get to go into any workplace and just decide you can do what you want. You want to keep working then you abide by what the rules are, and this has nothing to do with teaching children how to read as one low intelligence person in the story put it as there are thousands of books out there that can be used. What this is all about is some teachers think they can do what they want and when they want and the parents who sign their paychecks be d**ned. get used to it, what books you have i your own home are your business as long as they are not breaking the law (child porn etc) but when you bring them into the public workplace then all rules are off and you follow what the rules of your workplace or you quit. Simple as that

Canadian Yankee

Time of the people of Florida to watch the movie Fahrenheit 451

Mary Haviland

Good, and they should. They shouldn't have any tight to bring that kind of info into the schools and brainwashing the kids with that crap. Kids at that age are highly influential. They can't disseminate between right from wrong for many years and teachers with an agenda have no right adding there agenda into the school curriculum. That is called brainwashing.

Hayley Jane Person

This is just unbelievably sad

Rev. Z.D. Caballero

George Orwell, Ayn Rand, and George Carlin must be sipping on gin and juice in "Un-certified Media Specialist Heaven", laughing their "tushes" off, and screaming at the top of their prophetic lungs, "We told you so!!!"

I find these kinds of news amusing, because if I get angry or sad, it kills my inner peace. It seems that humanity regresses the more civilized it becomes. Here is a prime example of the two-edgedness of the Politically Correct Movement's proverbial sword.

Yes, teaching acceptance, tolerance, and sensitivity is good for society in general. However, concentrating on the language used to replace words that communicate the accepting, tolerant or sensitive message with words that, although being good intentioned, confuse the meaning of words, gives rise to these kinds of controversies.

On the one side, gay use to mean happy, joyful, merry. Now it refers to a homosexual man, which was further replaced with a string of letters to be inclusive of the plethora of sexual inclinations or gender identifications that are different than the accepted norm (which is enforced by what is quickly becoming a lesser and lesser majority of traditional individuals and the institutions they have created, which includes local, state, and federal government). These traditionalists, in turn, use an accepted politically correct logic or algorithm to create terms that, again, are unnecessary, since words already exist for them.

For example, the "certified media specialist" that will inspect the potentially offensive reading material for "appropriateness" is simply a CENSOR looking for material that doesn't OFFEND traditionalist's sensitivities. Either side of the controversy utilizes the rules of rhetoric to shape language in a way that benefits their cause (us), while demonizing the other side (them).

In doing so, sometimes statements are made that really hurt their cause. Is the CENSOR employed by each school's library going to remove every book on historical Christmas carols (both because of church/state separation and for offending language)? I mean... "don we now our GAY apparel, fa-la la-la la la-la, la, la" and all that. How about books that quote Martin Luther King, Jr. or Malcolm X because they use the word "negro," or a book on photography that includes that little girl from the Vietnam War burned by napalm, or of Thích Quảng Đức torching himself in protest during that same war, or a book on feminism that includes "It is a QUEER thing, but imaginary troubles are harder to bear than actual ones" by Dorothy Dix (pseudonym of Elizabeth Meriweather Gilmer, a respected and influential American journalist of the mid to late 19th century)?

With all due respect to the sensibilities of many, it is GOOD to be exposed to "bad" stuff now and then. After all, if we are not exposed to the flu virus, we cannot build defenses against it, right? Well, how the heck is a child going to decide which philosophy of life he or she is going to live by and DEFEND, if the poor child isn't exposed to the opposite view? Juxtaposition is a great way to learn and realize where one stands. I cannot fully grasp what being straight or gay is if I am not exposed to the ideas of the other sexual inclination, or whatever the socially accepted term is nowadays. Did not singer-composer Michael David Rosenberg, aka Passenger, made this point in his song "Let Her Go"?

"Well, you only need the light when it's burning low Only miss the sun when it starts to snow Only know you love her when you let her go"

It seems critical thinking textbooks were thrown out of academia about 30 years ago, and this is what happens. In 30 more years, the pigs will be running the farm, if you know what I mean. ;-)

Suzette Shelby

U ALL SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF PEDOPHILES. GET SOME HELP

Stewart

They never learn just say no to drugs did not work ... Sara Palin is the poster child for abstinence sex education failing not once but twice and the list goes on weed was the ultimate evil but with education the citizens are realizing it was all smoke an mirrors .
Allowing a police state to be built using fear in many places prisons are the largest employers mostly filled with small time users or other christian enemies that do not buy into the whole everything we don't want you to enjoy is a felony .

They are afraid of education its why their cult is dying a slow death like many before it .

What gives us the right to condemn a person for loving another human being? God made us as we are, and God doesn't make mistakes. Love is the greatest power in the universe; God is love. For as long as I am the pastor of Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church, I will not turn anyone away because they are gay or lesbian. For we are ALL God's children and I shall not judge."

Remember, God is known by many names by many people. God is spirit, and God is love."

As Jesus sat teaching in the temple, the Sadducees and Pharisees tried to entangle and tempt Him with their questioning in Matthew, Chapter 22, and Verse 36 through 38.

"A lawyer asked Jesus, Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?

Jesus said onto him, Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

Jesus had more to say to the Pharisees:

"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

"If we follow these two commandments, and accept Jesus as the Son of God, then we are right with God. But I say to you, my brothers and sisters, how can we be right with God if we do not love our neighbors as ourselves? For if we hate a man because of the color of his skin, we have not the love of God in us, because that man is our neighbor, and we are breaking one of the two great commandments.

Rev Ned

Taliban “Christians” seem to be coming a real nuisance.

James Lowrance

The Communst Democrappers are far more dangerous.

Matthew Mastrogiovanni

The N̶a̶z̶i̶ Republican party in Florida must be stopped.

ET

Comment removed by user.

Clay Serenbetz

Banning or burning books is something the Nazis did. It wasn't a good idea then and it remains a bad idea today.

Stephanie A Willey

Florida is now a Fascist State within the United States of America and DeSantis is its Fascist leader. Other States are contemplating the same or similar path into Fascism as Florida.

Lionheart

As long as children are taught “how to think”, and not “what to think” they should be good. There are many books containing fiction, that should be labelled as such, like the Bible, and other religious books, that many will insist are the works related to some deity, with no real evidence to support their claims. Let children make up their own minds using logic, reason, and critical thought.

To many teachers push their own biased agenda, which often is no different to parents pushing their own biased agenda, which causes children to have a misguided belief structure, not of their own making, but of how they have been taught what to think.

🦁❤️

Joe Stutler

More theofascist nonsense from the cannibal cultists. Stand Your Ground.

Colleen McAllister

This is just plain wrong. Ideas can be very powerful and depending on the person can also be quite destructive. But ideas are also what causes change and to stifle learning does more harm than good.

Florida needs to get their act together and get rid of that governor.

Helen Claire -Estelle Nance

I am very happy to see how the System of White Supremacy /Racism is NOT GOING TO HIDE its face any longer...SO NO MORE relating the legacy of African prisoners of WAR or the institution of American Bondage /Slavery...I was born in the 1960's in Charleston S.C...near Berks HS.... under the Black Slave codes called Jim Crow/ the system of Apartheid and NOW ..Jim Crow is COMING BACK! or did it ever really LEAVE?.....The Civil Rights Act could never change the REAL HEARTS of Whyte FOLKS.. and Now you see it and ..it looks like ......most Whtye FOLKS APPROVE...Most Whyte folks WILL NEVER FIGHT BACK against the hiding of the HISTORY OF SLAVERY.....Hear that ?..just Silence and compliance...IT'S What you really want.....to return to Jim Crow amerikka... and Black folks are having their eyes opened..!! Malcolm told us .. he was a Prophet...;.... that this country ,will never do right by the Freedman/ the African....We demand :Reparations for the Slavery THAT NEVER ENDED.!!..We still have to fight as Freedmen against the continuing War on African people..

Nicholas J Page

Ban inappropriate books sex and nudity yes but history books etc no Children need to learn about their country and other places and races

Mary Haviland

Good the class rooms have been teaching some pretty raunchy stuff lately. There needs to be a stop out to it.

Rev. Kev

I don't see a problem with teaching children things. The trick is to understand there is such a thing as age-appropriate materials, and some content that should really fall under the category of what parents should discuss in private with their children instead of the schools. That aside, I think the activists at both ends of the political spectrum have taken things too far to push their own agendas and the kids are the ones caught in the adults' tug-of-war for their hearts and minds.

Of course, we have the awful creation known as social media happily poisoning the minds and character of countless people. That is where both parents and teachers need to focus some attention. To stop kids from diving into that cesspool and learn how to think for themselves, as well as not rely on the opinions and "Likes" of others. Being exposed to the nonsense people want to splash all over the internet is not the same as a solid education.

Katelynne Shouse

Christofascist scum running the entire state of Florida!

Susan Colmenares

Ideas are not harmful. People are harmful. Anyone who believes that exposing children to American history or the fact that some people prefer their own sex is deluding themselves. They will find out any way and then grow to distrust those who kept the truth from them.