JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parents raised concerns in the Duval County School Board meeting on Monday over books that some feel are too explicit for children to read. The group Public School Defenders (PSD) also hosted a rally before the meeting to advocate against book bans.
“Please remove any books in school and online that don’t meet the statute. Also, that option for opt-out should not be an option when parents don’t even know what books are even available to students,” Pat Villa said.
Other parents felt like it should be up to the parents to decide what their children can read.
“Due process exists for a reason and I implore our elected board members to do their part in maintaining a just and equitable environment for all students and not cater to the interests of extremist political groups pushing for unconstitutional policies,” Erin Sharer said.
Katie Hathaway, with the advocacy group, said she is concerned about books being read out of context at board meetings to get them banned.
“My mom was a public school teacher in Duval County for 36 years. I went to schools here. I have two children in public schools. I am sick and tired of the attacks on public education and our teachers, and we have extremists in there trying to make decisions for all children, not just their own,’ she said.
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Tabitha Byers came forward during public comment to express her gratitude for the district’s book vetting process.
“I don’t want my child reading about incest and drugs in a school library and you can’t opt out what you don’t know… that’s the problem with an opt-out-only policy,” Byers said.
News4JAX asked the district about the groups fighting against book bans. We were referred to the online book review process page on the district’s website.
According to the website, there are 13 books on the not approved list. PBD said the district’s process works when school leaders follow it.
“We’re just here to ask the board to continue with the process you already have and don’t bow to tactics in the school board meeting where someone may want to read one page of a book out of context and try to pressure them into pulling a book without going through due process,” Jennifer Cowart said.
Also, the school board voted to unanimously approve a long list of new science and social studies textbooks for the upcoming school year.
More information to review textbook materials can be found here: dcps.duvalschools.org
Parents have 30 days to file an objection.