I serve on our local public library board and we had a request to ban “Gender Queer”. We went through the reconsideration process and then to the board as a whole and it was an unanimous vote to retain the book in our collection. I credit the unanimous support for the book because we all read the book. I am a retired librarian and the old me would have made sure to note to one and all that we don’t ban books around here. This time is different, I have been relatively quiet because for the first time in Iowa I feel estranged from my neighbors and wonder if everyone has lost their damn minds. I live in a very small town in a rural county in southeast Iowa.
As a parent of two teenagers, I would have no concerns about my children reading any of the books being challenged. I think it would give them insight into diverse experiences of their peers.
It is infuriating that a few parents who don't like frank writing about race, gender identity, or sexual orientation could restrict access from Iowa students statewide.
Since our Governor has already decided to take tax dollars and give them to religious institutions perhaps she should suggest to the parents who want to remove books from public schools, they should just send their children to private schools where they can completely control the curriculum. In the meantime maybe it's time for politicians to get out of the business of education and for that matter what a women should do with her bodies. Less government?
I serve on our local public library board and we had a request to ban “Gender Queer”. We went through the reconsideration process and then to the board as a whole and it was an unanimous vote to retain the book in our collection. I credit the unanimous support for the book because we all read the book. I am a retired librarian and the old me would have made sure to note to one and all that we don’t ban books around here. This time is different, I have been relatively quiet because for the first time in Iowa I feel estranged from my neighbors and wonder if everyone has lost their damn minds. I live in a very small town in a rural county in southeast Iowa.
As a parent of two teenagers, I would have no concerns about my children reading any of the books being challenged. I think it would give them insight into diverse experiences of their peers.
It is infuriating that a few parents who don't like frank writing about race, gender identity, or sexual orientation could restrict access from Iowa students statewide.
Since our Governor has already decided to take tax dollars and give them to religious institutions perhaps she should suggest to the parents who want to remove books from public schools, they should just send their children to private schools where they can completely control the curriculum. In the meantime maybe it's time for politicians to get out of the business of education and for that matter what a women should do with her bodies. Less government?