Response to “Resolution Against Book Bans”
Following is Marc Cooper’s Response to “Resolution Against Book Bans” - Resolution No. 2023-20
FIRST OF ALL, I have heard the voice of many parents and community members that are concerned about the Reading level of our students in FMSD: (as we all should be!) 22% of our children can read at Grade Level or Above (placing us 170th in the list of school districts in California according to the 2022 California Reading Report Card -THAT IS THE REAL DISSERVICE TO OUR CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS!
SECONDLY, We as a Board should NEVER set this resolution because none of us even know what is on or in the books. There is no oversight. Parents have no say! That is wrong!
I remind the Community and the Board that I asked for the recent donation of 3,000+ books from Bay Area Access Books to each of McKinley Elementary and Lairon College Preparatory Academy be made public on the school websites and sent to the parents and community of FMSD. Superintendent Cruz told us on record that he will do that for every donated book to our school libraries. Thank you, Superintendent Cruz!
I checked the schools’ websites last night; I still don’t see the list of books on the sites. Do you have any idea when the list of books will be published on those school sites?
How can parents and the community of stakeholders see the books that are in the school libraries?
How about the books the children have access to in the digital library of books their children can access on their Chrome books, and I Pads, without parental supervision?
How can the Parents and Community see those books?
Where is the accessibility, the transparency? The accessibility?
Do they need to file a Freedom of Information Act request to see the ,title of the books in their children’s school libraries? (THAT’S RIDICULUS)
I noticed in the 6th WHEREAS statement of the Resolution: “librarians are professionals trained to not impose their own thoughts and opinions on which ideas are right, but to make knowledge and ideas available so that people have the freedom to choose what to read,” My questions to us parents:
Would you allow your 8-year-old to look at a Playboy, Playgirl, Hustler, etc…
Would you allow your 12-year-old to read how to commit suicide? Or hear of others tell why life is not worth living?
Would you allow your 10-year-old to read about the joy you feel when you discharge a loaded magazine at a gathering of people who deserve to die?
Would you allow your child to read about and see the “pleasure of giving or receiving (you name it) sex act from another child, or adult? Would you allow your child to read and see how to make plastic guns, make bombs/explosives, or do bodily harm to others?
Would you allow your child to read about why the people like the elderly, mentally ill, disabled, and people who are not “needed” in society or who don’t agree with what I believe to be true should be eliminated from our society?
I would propose that “No, I would not want my child to read material like this unless I give them my permission!” would be my and most parents’ response NOT the school district or this Board!
I noticed in the 7th Whereas statement, “removing and banning books from public libraries or public schools is a slippery slope to government censorship and the erosion of our country’s commitment to freedom of expression,”
I agree freedom of speech as per our 1st Amendment is essential to a free society! But what about…
Were Dr. Suess books removed from our school libraries? (I heard they were). Why?
Were Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn books removed?
Was Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, removed?
Was the Grapes of Wrath removed?
Was To Kill a Mockingbird removed?
Was Of Mice and Men removed?
Was the Holy Bible removed?
Was 1984 removed?
Was Catcher in the Rye removed?
Was The Great Gatsby removed?
Was the Chronicles of Narnia series removed? Why?
I noticed in the 8th Whereas statement “a large majority of Americans across the political spectrum oppose book bans”,
Where is the data for that definitive statement? I hear often we are “data-driven” in making our decisions for curriculum and choices we make for our district and the children’s education. Where is the data?
Why does this statement mention ‘political spectrum’? I thought the decisions we make for our children’s’ education is based on their needs NOT politics!
I noticed in the 9th Whereas statement, “book bans harm communities,” Again, where is the data? That is a subjective statement with no empirical evidence to support the claim.
Student achievement has never been so low in FMSD! Teacher salaries have never been so high in FMSD!
Why is this Administration so against having Parent Involvement unless it’s free labor for yard duty.
Is it true teachers don’t want to answer to parents?
Why are they fighting me? I’m calling for Transparency in our schools, including the books and materials our children read. I’m calling for Parents to have the right to know and see what their children are exposed to? Who would be against that?
This Resolution should NOT be a Resolution Against Book Bans,
But it SHOULD be a Resolution to create complete transparency and oversight to every book, material, and curriculum that is put in front of our children’s eyes and in their hands and minds.
It SHOULD also be a Resolution to create a process for Parents’ review and approval of everything our school district puts in front of their children.
It SHOULD BE A Resolution to have certain questionable books (as identified by Parents) with sex acts, vulgar language, extreme violence, and controversial behavior to be put behind the desk of the librarians and ONLY the parents can check the books out for their children. THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE BOOKS AVAILIABLE ONLINE IN SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVED COLLECTIONS.
As this Resolution Against Book Bans reads, I cannot support it!
