NLTE to Governor DeSantis: Make Public School Libraries Safer

Dear Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Diaz - and Ladies and Gentlemen all:

As I am one of a very few de facto community leaders charged with making the content of our Florida public school libraries safer for America's children, I implore you to prepare an edict or strongly worded directive to more effectively help protect our children.  I'll provide an example below.

• The FLDOE training for Media Specialists, that thankfully now includes the words "err on the side of caution," is NOT having the desired effect.
• In each district, subject to the whims of the school board and many other entities, we are seeing some truly terrible titles be reviewed then retained.
• Our children continue to be exposed to porn and other horrors.
• The keyword, "caution," is the issue.
• Some of the Media Specialists and purchasers (and authors and publishers) are actively aligned with the ALA [American Library Association] agenda (avowed Marxism).
• Sadly, this is sometimes also true of superintendents and teachers and school board members.
• Many of these persons are still denying ANY book is inappropriate for ANY child.  Their "free speech absolutism" is the opposite of caution.
• In my rather conservative county (Clay) there have already been 97 titles permanently removed.  The resistance to these removals has been, and is today, extraordinary.
• These same persons are screaming about "censorship" and "book banning" yet all 97 of these books can still be found at public libraries and bookstores and even online.
• I do not feel we have truly banned a single book.  We just moved them further away from innocent children.
• I am never going to apologize for my passion to "err on the side of caution" and protect innocence.  I expect so far we agree.

The sample below stems from my experience fighting (and often losing) the same battle for the last 10 plus years.  I hope this serves you and is found worthy of your consideration.

SAMPLE EDICT/DIRECTIVE: 

(My apologies for the length)

To the attention of every Florida public school Superintendent and Principal and Attorney and School Board Member, as well as interested parties of the ALA; NEA; NEFEC; FSBA...:

Whereas Florida State Statutes and Laws provide guidance regarding all books in any location on public school grounds, this directive is issued to clarify the cumulative intent of these Florida State Statutes and Laws. 

Further clarification may be included in your local district policies.  Note that the subtle differences in definitions between a book in any teacher's personal public school classroom library, and a book in the common public school library, and any book that is a relevant part of the curriculum, are not to be treated as justifications for failing to "err on the side of caution" as noted in the Media Specialists training.

1. PORN: Books may not contain pornography.  One single passage or page with pornographic content is sufficient to disqualify a book from purchase.  The book's "artistic value" or "serious literary value" is not relevant.  Regarding books previously purchased, a pornographic passage or page is sufficient for its immediate deselection and/or removal.  Such books should not require any further analysis or committee review prior to deselection.  Such books should not be resold or gifted or destroyed.  They should be returned to the publishers with the explanation that the publisher failed to provide sufficiently accurate product summaries, and that since these items violate our Laws, the publisher may be held accountable and *disqualified from any future sales. 

I personally suggest requesting a ZERO dollar credit - for dramatic effect.

Note that an image or description of breast-feeding is not porn.

See Fl. S847.001 [explicit sex/obscenity] and S847.012 [harmful to minors] and HB 1467 [transparency in book selections - with *accountability]

2. GENDER THEORY AND COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED: While the world is a dynamic place and family structures vary, Humans are almost always specifically male or female. Fl S.1003.46 (2a and all) direct public schools to teach "abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage." Books in any location on school grounds ought to reinforce, or at the very least, not conflict with this statute. Books that mention or promote a sense of gender fluidity; (pre-marital or post-marital) promiscuity or other reckless sexual activity; homosexuality or non-heterosexual sexuality; alternate sexualities; multiple sexual partners or group sex, casual abortions; are in conflict with this statute and should be immediately deselected. Again, these are contrary to statute and should be expedited and returned as above. Generally, there should not be a romance section in a school library. Romance is rarely platonic. Ensure your purchasers select books that deal with more educational subjects and, as above, return the deselected items to the publisher. Note that a book may contain a person that is confused about their sexuality or is not a heterosexual. In general, any book in any public school should not be focused on any person's sexuality.

See HB 1557 [The Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly/incorrectly referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" Bill]; See also HB 7 and SB 300 [both relating to pregnancy and parenting support]

3. UNSOLICITED THEORIES/Critical Race Theory/DEI/WOKENESS: The U.S. Constitution and Florida Law requires that no child (or Adult) be made to suffer for their race or religion. Florida Law does require we teach the true history of uncomfortable topics such as the Holocaust and slavery. The "anti-racist" theory of CRT is in conflict with law. CRT is a theory designed to CAUSE division rather than promote a harmonious environment for education. Many books are known to have been intentionally infused with passages that support CRT. These books will only rarely include the words "critical race theory" or "culturally responsive training." In order to more efficiently deselect these CRT items, they should be read or searched for the keywords that often reveal CRT content. Same applies to the modern tussle over wokeness. Same remedy required. Return the deselected items to the publisher.

A fairly comprehensive list of suggested search terms is provided here: https://www.noleftturn.us/crt-code-words/ - I'd add "belonging" to the list as this term is likely to be abused by some people.

Note that historical or current references to racist behavior are acceptable unless they promote that racism or intend to increase disharmony overall.

See Fl. HB 1467 [transparency in book selections - with *accountability]

4. HISTORICAL LIES/PROPAGANDA/ANTI-POLICE/ANTI-GOVERNMENT SENTIMENT: We pledge allegiance to the American flag. We stand for the National Anthem. We honor our Veterans. We respect our police. We live in a Constitutional Republic.

Books that call America a "Democracy" or promote the benefits of Socialism or Communism, should be purchased sparingly and only as needed for a curriculum designed to show that the use of propaganda is dangerous.

Note that judicious use of "The Communist Manifesto" and "Mein Kampf" can be helpful in this regard.

Whenever possible, unless crucial to a lesson about the danger of historical lies, apply the same treatment. Expedite and return the deselected items to the publisher.

See US Constitution - Article 4 Section 4 [The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government]

5. VIOLENCE and GUNS: There have been mass shootings at some of our schools. Many schools are occasionally locked down for a variety of sound efforts to maintain safety. Our children now regularly participate in "active shooter drills."

It's terrifying to most parents and our children that such drills are even required.

Accordingly, there is no good reason to provide books to children that glorify murder or trivialize weapons or death. Please apply the same treatment. Expedite and return the deselected items to the publisher.

Note that books detailing the horrors of an historical war or armed conflict, are not required to be deselected.

Note that books that describe the safe handling and operation, as well as the mechanical design of weapons, are not required to be deselected.

See Fl. 1006.28 [Duties of district school board, district school superintendent; and school principal regarding K-12 instructional materials]

6. MANGA and Graphic Novels: Picture books are appropriate for children learning to read. Manga and young adult graphic novels (comic books) often contain the prohibited content discussed above. Unless a graphic novel is found crucial to higher learning and free of the inappropriate content above, it should be removed from school grounds.

Literate students should access these types of books in a public library outside of our schools, if desired.

They are a distraction and hindrance to learning. Please apply the same treatment. Expedite deselections and return the items to the publisher.

See Fl. 1006.28 [Duties of district school board, district school superintendent; and school principal regarding K-12 instructional materials]

7. SHADES OF GREY: We recognize that some books may offer contrary perspectives on topics as varied as serial monogamy; Global Warming; politics in general.

When choosing books for America's children, please continue to "err on the side of caution!"

I hope you all find this informative and helpful.

Commissioner Diaz: Please reach out to me by phone or email at your earliest convenience.

Respectfully,

Bruce

--

Bruce Friedman - concerned parent

Chapter President

No Left Turn in Education - Florida

bruce.friedman@noleftturn.us

TO:

GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com

mannydiaz@fldoe.org

Brandy.Brown@eog.myflorida.com

parentalrights@fldoe.org

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Above is a letter submitted to Governor Ron DeSantis as shown, active links, formatting for the web, and graphics from Bruce Friedman added by me.

Below is the same Bruce Friedman being silenced by his school board for daring to read aloud the books his school board approves for school children to read.  The adults aren't allowed to hear it, not even those sitting on a governing school board, but the school children get it from school librarians?  

Notice the huge engagement numbers because everyone knows this is wrong while the librarians keep falsely claiming it's a First Amendment right guaranteed by ALA's so-called "Library Bill of Rights," as if it were the real thing, as if it trumps community standards, state law, and US Supreme Court cases.

UNREAL. A dad says he’s gonna read from graphic books available to children in school and gets shut down by @oneclayschools board before he even starts because it might be against the law to read from these books in front of children.

These books are in school libraries. pic.twitter.com/PCJSMCttq5

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 12, 2022

By the way, school boards violate open government laws by silencing parents reading school books:

Kleinman, Dan. “Parents May Legally Read Explicit Books at School Board Meetings: Mama Bears of Forsyth County v. McCall.” SafeLibraries® (blog), February 7, 2023. https://safelibraries.blogspot.com/2023/02/parents-may-legally-read-explicit-books.html.

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