Call to Action for BFC: Library/School Books List Withheld
Why Won't Dr. Page and Chair Tony Ross simply publish the school book list online?
The Bartow Freedom Coalition (BFC) is offered an opportunity for action (that is you if you are reading this) . See below…. (note, the email address for Dr. Page has been updated)….
The Bartow County School Board and Superintendent have long been withholding the list of books in the library and curriculum used in our schools. The latest attempt to get the list has resulted in a $306.67 invoice to produce them. Could I pay that? Yes. But it is time to set a new precedent of a government that serves its citizens, rather than hiding information from the taxpayers or causing them to spend money on what should be easy to provide at no additional cost. (It should be noted, that an ELECTRONIC COPY was requested, not a printed copy requiring a per page printing cost).
Dr. Page and Chairman Tony Ross have ignored several emails for a response to this simple request. Given the many objectionable books put before our kids in School lately (see below), it is time for easy transparency.
The Bartow Freedom Coalition is asking members to email the leadership to get the school book list. Here is how….
Email superintendent Dr. Phillip Page, and the School Board to request that they release the Bartow County School System book and library list.
(note, the email address for Dr. Page has been updated)
Paste these email addresses in the “to” area.
To: Phillip.page@bartow.k12.ga.us;tony.ross@bartow.k12.ga.us; darla.williams@bartow.k12.ga.us; matt.shultz@bartow.k12.ga.us; butch.emerson@bartow.k12.ga.us; anna.sullivan@bartow.k12.ga.us; bartowfreedom@proton.me; lynn.huskins@bartow.k12.ga.us
Paste to “Subject”
Subject: Please make books transparent to public
Paste to “Body”
Dear Dr. Page, Chairman Ross and Bartow County School Board,
Please make the library book list and school book list (hard copy and digital) available online for view by the public. As citizens and taxpayers, we deserve to know what Bartow County students are being taught and exposed to in schools. This should be easily done within your budget by simply producing a link to a few PDF documents.
Thank you,
[name]
PRESS SEND! (note that the Bartow Freedom Coalition email is included to help keep track of the campaign).
The School Board routinely hides behind the bureaucratic and expensive excuse of requiring a public records request to be filed and a payment to be received to produce information that should be readily available. Some information is so important that it should be available for citizen review online, at all times and routinely. Examples include the school budget. Cherokee county produces a detailed budget, at no additional direct costs to citizens, but Bartow County does not.
Another critical item needed by taxpayers is a book list. Sadly many school libraries have been known to stock very objectional and sexually graphic books in school libraries. They may be assigned to kids for classwork. This was revealed recently in Fulton County schools that had to remove 4 books: “Gender Queer”, “Flamer”, “Blankets” and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”. Each had graphic sexuality depicted. We need to make sure that there are no such books in the Bartow County School System. The only way to be sure is to get a list of all books.
It is noteworthy that the Cartersville School System recently provided their library and media center book list. There was no charge. The PDF documents were sent by email by a simple email request (although it took a few months of requests). This list is being reviewed and will be made available here soon.
Please help make our Coalition a force for positive change in our community by emailing Dr. Page and the School Board. Stay respectful, but be firm in your request. Do not be dissuaded to act. This is a very simple act of an open government that serves it citizens, rather than takes citizens for granted.
In Freedom!
The schools should absolutely provide you and any other taxpayer a list of all the books available. If there is an objection to a book, it should be reviewed by the school. If there is material that is arguably objectionable to some, the book should be put in a special section where parents could opt in or out of their student having access.