The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Books Removed/Books Retained. Process Defended. Darla Williams Speaks Against Sexually Explicit Books.
Rest of Board Silent on Sexually Explicit Books.
By David McKalip, M.D.
There is good news from the citizen campaign to remove sexually explicit books from the Bartow County School System: many more books were removed. More good news: Councilwoman Darla Williams spoke out publicly against these books.
There is bad news as well: many sexually explicit books remain.
There is ugly news: Superintendent Dr. Page and four out of five board members refused to speak out against these books. Tony Ross implied that it was parent complaints that got the books removed. Well, that is simply not accurate and is being investigated (see below).
The Good:
Citizen action to protect students from sexually explicit material is clearly making a big difference. Books that had been actively defended by the school as recently as 3/15/2024 were removed as of a 4/12 updated books list (obtained by this blog on 4/15).
It is crystal clear that the ONLY reason books are being removed is CITIZEN ACTION. It is not the “process” or parent complaints. The books on the left in the image below were retained as of 4/8 (based on email communication to school staff). On the 4/12 open records request they are now removed.
Do not doubt that citizen action can make a difference on this problem. It is the only thing that is working. (Despite apparent misinformation that books were removed due to parent complaint forms - see below). Do not believe that your emails and public comments to the board make no difference. They just have.
It was not “The Process” that removed books. The “process” is what is retaining sexually explicit books. Citizen action and only citizen action got these books removed. They would ALL still be there if not exposed.
What else was good? Board member Darla Williams offered passionate and direct comments during the meeting to let the public know that she wants sexually explicit books removed from the school. She indicated that the board should not hide behind policy, implying more direct action was appropriate and possible. See below for the “ugly” non-response and comments from Chairman Ross.
The Bad.
Sadly, many very sexually explicit books have been retained. Most of these books have been previously detailed in past posts here (see summary). Some books have been retained that have not yet been fully detailed here, but reviews are available at “booklooks.org” for some of them.
The books retained are on the right side of the image above.
There are other books retained that do not have overtly sexually explicit material, but do contain gay, lesbian and non-binary “romance” stories. These seemed designed to normalize this in schools and give students the perception that any opposition from parents is to be rejected. This is similar to the “Grooming” done in Florida schools that was banned by the Florida Parent Protection Act removing such instruction from schools for k-12 students. These will be detailed with upcoming posts.
More citizen action will be required to remove them.
If the school system still retains them, then every parent should be notified if such a books is checked out by the students.
The Ugly
The good was countered by the ugly. There was the good step of School Board member Darla Williams offering outstanding testimony during the meeting rejecting “sexually explicit” books and supporting there removal. Oddly, the sound from the video of the meeting was corrupted for this Board meeting…a rather uncommon occurrence. (Coincidence)? Luckily yours truly was recording some key comments.
During the public testimony each member of the Board was challenged to offer a public comment as to whether they agreed with keeping sexually explicit material on the shelves.
The silence of those who refused to comment was deafening, and ugly! It included Board Chairman Tony Ross, Board members Butch Emerson, Anna Sullivan and Matt Shultz and Super intendent Dr. Page. They never have problem asking carefully worded questions or making statements to support increased taxes, increased spending or simply to congratulate kids getting awards at the meeting. But they just could not be BOTHERED to publicly call for the removal of Sexually Explicit Books .
Only Board Member Darla Williams said the obvious: remove sexually explicit books. The other played “see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil”.
Another bit of ugliness. An implication by Board Chair Tony Ross indicating that parent complaint forms led to the removal of dozens of sexually explicit books. Right after Board Member Darla Williams commented, Ross made it a point to “go on the record”.
He offered:
““Any Parent that has any objection. You can apply to have those books removed.
That’s what’s getting the books out of here. Pure and Simple. Easy to do. If you’re a parent”. (Bartow School Board Chair Tony Ross, 4/15/24, School Board meeting)
A public information request has been made for proof that it is parent complaint forms that have led to the removal of many books, rather than direct citizen action. Stay tuned to see what the truth actually is.
Children and adolescents lack “good sense.” The age of 18 was set for smoking and drinking (prior 1988). Adolescent folly caused the age to be raised to 21 for drinking. Adult content internet sites makes a person press an over 18 box. The folly of a child clicks the box and the predictor washes their hands of any wrong doing. Their reply: “it’s in their public schools anyway.”
Freedom is not allowing children and adolescents to play in their folly, but freedom is allowing the parent, not the public, to raise their children with the morals and values within the specific family unit.
Bartow County School Board District 5 seat will be in the upcoming elections in May (early voting has started for this). I endorse James D. Satterfield (Republican Party). His stance is that books that have more adult topics shouldn’t be in public schools serving kindergarten through 12th grade.