• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
State Lawmaker Claims Parents Are Not ‘Qualified’ to Decide What Books ‘Belong’ in School Libraries

State Lawmaker Claims Parents Are Not ‘Qualified’ to Decide What Books ‘Belong’ in School Libraries

May 3, 2023
CNN’s Harry Enten Admits Trump Has ‘Best Political Instincts’ He’s Ever Seen

CNN’s Harry Enten Admits Trump Has ‘Best Political Instincts’ He’s Ever Seen

August 11, 2025
Socialist Zohran Mamdani To Embark On Anti-Trump Trek Across Big Apple

Socialist Zohran Mamdani To Embark On Anti-Trump Trek Across Big Apple

August 11, 2025
Trump Calls Nobel Winner ‘Deranged Bum’ For Panning Tariff Plan

Trump Calls Nobel Winner ‘Deranged Bum’ For Panning Tariff Plan

August 11, 2025
JD Vance: ‘America, We’re Done With the Funding of the Ukraine War Business’

JD Vance: ‘America, We’re Done With the Funding of the Ukraine War Business’

August 11, 2025
STEVE MILLOY: Trump EPA Swamped Again On Glider Trucks?

STEVE MILLOY: Trump EPA Swamped Again On Glider Trucks?

August 10, 2025
Trump Calls For DC Homeless To Be Moved ‘FAR From The Capital’

Trump Calls For DC Homeless To Be Moved ‘FAR From The Capital’

August 10, 2025
Trump Moves Obama’s White House Portrait Out Of Visitors’ Sight

Trump Moves Obama’s White House Portrait Out Of Visitors’ Sight

August 10, 2025
These Cases Are Already On The Docket For SCOTUS’ Coming Term

These Cases Are Already On The Docket For SCOTUS’ Coming Term

August 10, 2025
Greg Abbott Fact-Checks Jasmine Crockett’s ‘Racist’ Redistricting Claims

Greg Abbott Fact-Checks Jasmine Crockett’s ‘Racist’ Redistricting Claims

August 10, 2025
‘You’re Using The Same Tactics’: JB Pritzker Ducks Question When Pressed On Illinois Gerrymandering Hypocrisy

‘You’re Using The Same Tactics’: JB Pritzker Ducks Question When Pressed On Illinois Gerrymandering Hypocrisy

August 10, 2025
DAVID BLACKMON: South Carolina Judge Makes Climate Lawfare Campaign A 10-Time Loser

DAVID BLACKMON: South Carolina Judge Makes Climate Lawfare Campaign A 10-Time Loser

August 10, 2025
MICHAEL LUCCI: Spain’s ‘Digital Sovereignty’ Ends In Beijing

MICHAEL LUCCI: Spain’s ‘Digital Sovereignty’ Ends In Beijing

August 10, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Monday, August 11, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home Commentary

State Lawmaker Claims Parents Are Not ‘Qualified’ to Decide What Books ‘Belong’ in School Libraries

by Bradley Cortright
May 3, 2023 at 12:54 pm
in Commentary
235 17
0
State Lawmaker Claims Parents Are Not ‘Qualified’ to Decide What Books ‘Belong’ in School Libraries

(@FLVoiceNews/Twitter screen shot)

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

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.

Tags: Florida
Share196Tweet123
Bradley Cortright

Bradley Cortright

IJR, Senior Writer He's written for Independent Journal Review since 2019.

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th