Groups advocating for book censorship are not “protecting” students; they are only projecting their biased views of appropriate educational literature. (Photo: Ronda Churchill/Nevada Current)
Preserving the integrity and effectiveness of public schools is a continual struggle; particularly with those that seem intent on dismantling public education. Unreasonable demands from parent groups are common across the country. Contrary to some of their leaders, parents do not “have the fundamental rights under our Constitution to guide and direct the education of their kids” in public schools.
In public schools, teachers, administrators and other staff members take on the responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of students in lieu of their parents or guardians under the legal doctrine of “in loco parentis,” a Latin phrase meaning “in the place of a parent.” It is when a person or organization has the responsibility to take on some of the duties of a parent.
Parents release responsibility for their children to educators each school day. When there is a lack of trust on behalf of parents, concerns should be brought to the attention of teachers and administrators. If parents are still unhappy with their assigned public school, they need to choose another school setting.
A mutual issue shared by Nevada public schools and those across the country are book bans and censorship of curriculum materials. Parents biased by political, philosophical or religious reasons feel the need to have specific reading materials removed from school libraries and classrooms.
It is based on the incorrect assumption that some parents should be empowered to approve of reading materials, textbooks and curriculum for all students. Parent input and involvement is welcomed in quality schools. Individual parents are allowed to advocate for their own children.
Parent groups do not represent all parents. Groups advocating for book censorship are not “protecting” students; they are only projecting their biased views of appropriate educational literature.
The Clark County School District (CCSD) is struggling to create an appropriate book review policy prior to January when new school board trustees take their seats. The Chair of Moms of Liberty Clark County stated, “It’s hard not to see this as a way to silence the new trustees and push out a last hooray. Parents should have a say in what their children are exposed to.” The key word in her statement is “their.”
Claiming authority over the best interests of all students is false representation. Two trustees-elect, who will take their seats in January, have advocated for removing certain books that they have described as “pornographic.”
In 1964, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart was asked to describe his test for obscenity in a pornography case. He responded, “I know it when I see it.” Do we? This expression means someone is trying to categorize an observable event or fact, but the category is subjective or not clearly defined.
Current policy in CCSD allows challenges to individual books by filling out a detailed form for consideration by a school-based committee. Second-chance appeals are submitted to a district-based committee for a final decision. Book challenges in CCSD in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years were unsuccessful.
Here is a simple suggestion to remedy book or curriculum material challenges in CCSD or other school districts. Provide parents the opportunity to limit exposure to objectionable books for their own children through a cooperative effort.
Allow parents to provide a list of books to teachers and school librarians that they do not want their own children to access. Similar to opting out of sex education instruction. Parents should not serve as authorities of appropriate materials in public schools; those decisions should be left to educational professionals.
Successful public schools create a safe, supportive and productive learning environment for all students, mostly free of bias. Reason, logic, evidence and critical thinking may contradict parent beliefs and behaviors. Constitutional law clearly requires secular learning environments in public schools.
Minority opinions whether obtained by surveys, complaints or media interviews should be carefully considered as to their consequences. The majority of students and parents are happy with their public school and trust educational professionals to make correct choices for the best interests and success for all students.
This is not a complex issue. Either disgruntled parents have the right to censor books or other curricular materials, or not. If not, give them the opportunity to limit exposure of their own children to objectionable books and materials. This ensures teachers the opportunity to provide a complete menu of education materials and instruction.
Quality schools have standards of appropriate and productive behavior for students, parents, teachers, administrators and staff. An expectation for parents is to have cooperative working relationships with teachers and administrators regarding the education of their own children.