On Library Books

To the editor:

I enjoy your email newsletter. While I live in Colorado County and subscribe to our local paper, La Grange is a big important neighbor and knowing what is happening there matters. I was disappointed to see the banned books summary today. Banned? No. The books can all be ordered online. They can be accessed at public libraries. They simply aren’t in schools for the same reason we prohibit many things in schools. The same reason we do background checks on employees. The same reason we have locks on doors and don’t teach religion... not because religion is bad, or banned. Not because a person with a criminal past can’t be reformed and change. But because the schools primary job is to educate in the core subjects using age appropriate techniques and to protect students while in their care. They are not supposed to be political or controversial or parents.

Children are very easily influenced and until they have critical reasoning skills, schools should be careful about what is shared on complex, controversial topics, and should avoid the appearance of the school system endorsement (i.e., isn’t that core to the argument for separation of church and state? The government or any public agency shouldn’t endorse religion? And by excluding religion, we do not say “Government condemns religion. All religious people are hated and discriminated against.” No. In fact we understand the rationale whether we agree with it or not. how is the deliberate consideration of books with mature, complex, or controversial topics any different?)

It’s not right to publish that these are banned books, it implies such a negative one sided view on a difficult topic. I would have appreciated seeing some mention of the other side of the debate.

Lynda Duffy Alleyton