Controversial books in public school libraries has been a recent topic of public dialogue. St. Johns County School Board member Kelly Barrera addressed that issue in a recent conversation.
Q: Are local parents concerned that there are inappropriate or explicit books being made available in our public schools?
Yes, I have heard from many parents who feel strongly on this issue. In fact, I am one of them. Several years ago, I became aware of a sexually explicit book in my daughter’s classroom, and I challenged it. Parents have every right to be aware of the types of books and materials being shared with their children in the public schools and challenge those materials if they believe them to be inappropriate. Our school district, along with many other local, state and national organizations and agencies are reviewing media collections and procurements.
Q: How can a parent find out what books are in their child’s school library?
They can visit https://sjcsd.follettdestiny.com and click on the link for their child’s school to search for a particular book.
Q: If a parent learns of a book or books with which they are uncomfortable, what are their options?
Parents have two options available to them. The first is to “self-select” books to which they wish to prevent their own child or children from having access. To do so, they complete the following form: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/wp-content/uploads/sites/127/2022/02/Individualized-School-Library-Access-Plan.pdf
If a parent believes that the material in question should not be available to any St. Johns County Public Schools students, he or she can file a Reconsideration Form to alert the schools and other parents to what they found objectional and to suggest alternative materials for consideration: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/wp-content/uploads/sites/127/2021/11/Request-for-Reconsideration-1.pdf
Q: How does the reconsideration process work?
Once a book is submitted for reconsideration, it is reviewed by the school’s Media Advisory Committee comprised of a media specialist, administrator, teachers and parents. The person submitting the complaint has an opportunity to present to the committee, which makes a decision regarding the book.
If the parent disagrees with the committee’s decision, he or she may appeal it to the school district, where the review process is repeated. Once a decision is made at the district level, that decision may be appealed before the School Board, which makes the final determination.
Q: During the time a book is under reconsideration, is the book placed in quarantine?
When the school district pulls copies of the challenged book from the collection to provide each committee member with a copy to read, there are typically only a few copies of that book available. In most cases, this process essentially creates a quarantine for many of the challenged books.
I can certainly appreciate how parents would want materials they find objectionable to be removed immediately. But the reconsideration process was created to ensure that books were fairly and thoroughly examined prior to removal.
In the past, some have tried to remove great works of literature such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Huckleberry Finn” from school libraries because they found them objectionable. Our process ensures that parents have a means to remove sexually explicit or other inappropriate books while providing an opportunity for community and School Board input.
