A Florida state lawmaker is making the bold claim that parents simply are not “qualified” to decide what books should be in school libraries.
On Wednesday, Florida state Sen. Tina Polsky (D) claimed, “This ban first, review second is a terrible policy. In addition to the fact that I as a parent, and anyone else who is testifying or who’s suggesting books don’t belong in school libraries or classroom libraries, is not qualified to make that decision like a school librarian or the teacher of those students.”
Watch the video below:
WATCH: Fla. Democrat Sen. @TinaPolsky says parents aren't "qualified" to decide what books are appropriate for their children pic.twitter.com/Hqhubn6Q1i
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) May 3, 2023
Polsky referred to a law in Florida aimed at preventing what Republicans call “divisive concepts” from being taught in schools.
The law led to an incident, which Polsky referenced, where Duval County Public Schools temporarily removed “Roberto Clemente: The Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates” from its libraries for review.
However, the book was reinstated after it was determined it did not violate state laws.
The Duval County Public Schools incident appears to have been the result of a required review by schools to ensure the books in its libraries did not run afoul of state law. However, this has been a trend of parents calling for books in school libraries to be reviewed as well.
In one instance, a parent in Florida asked the Hillsborough County School Board to review its decision to keep the book “This Book Is Gay” in school libraries.
“It seems like there’s been a very slippery slope in what we allow our children to be exposed to,” Polsky said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
A description of the book states, “Lesbian. Gay. Bisexual. Transgender. Queer. Intersex. Straight. Curious. This book is for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. This book is for anyone who’s ever dared to wonder. This book is for YOU.”
“This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it’s like to grow up LGBTQ also includes real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations,” it added.
Not every parent or even a majority of parents are going to have education degrees or studied various education theories.
And it would be one thing if Polsky tried to argue parents agree, by sending their students to public schools, they are abdicating their voice in the process of what is taught in schools and what books are available.
But what she claimed is that parents are not “qualified” to make such decisions about books.
What makes someone “qualified” to determine whether books are appropriate for students? Having a bachelor’s or master’s degree? Working in a school library? What makes them more qualified to determine what is appropriate for children to read than parents?
And what is wrong with parents raising concerns about content they feel is inappropriate for their children to access?
Polsky’s comment reeks of an elitist obsession with credentialism and a kind of disdain, or at least a lower opinion, of those who may not have a four-year degree as though simply by not going to college — or not going to college long enough — they’re not smart enough to know what is really best for their own children.
