Librarian On Tennessee Textbook Commission A Member Of Organization Fighting “Censorship” Of Inappropriate Books In Schools
Image Credit: Twitter / X @mrscapshawbooks
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
The librarian on the State Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission, one of 9 current members charged with recommending official lists of textbooks and other instructional materials, is a member of an organization actively fighting against “censorship” of inappropriate books in public schools.
Katie Capshaw, who was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally to a three-year term, is an active member of the American Library Association (ALA) which promised in June to distribute $1 million in funds to support the fight against what they say is “censorship” and “book banning.”
The 11-member commission, which currently has two vacancies, is made up of two directors of schools, one principal, one teacher or supervisor of grades K-3, one teacher or supervisor for grades 4-8, another teacher or supervisor for high school grades and three members who are not employed by the state’s public school system from the three grand divisions of Tennessee. Members are appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House.
Each member takes an oath when joining the commission which states:
“I do hereby declare that I am not now directly or indirectly financially interested in, or employed by, any textbook or instructional materials publisher or agency, and that I will not become directly or indirectly financially interested in any of the proposed contracts, nor in any book or instructional materials, nor in any publishing concern handling or offering any books or other publications to the commission, of which I am a member, for listing and adoption, and I do hereby promise that I will act honestly, faithfully and conscientiously, and in all respects will discharge my duty as a member of this commission to the best of my skill and ability.”
The Textbook Commission on which Capshaw serves is a last stop for book challenges after local LEAs have reviewed objectionable material. The ALA considers requests for the reconsideration of books in a public school’s collection to be censorship, and the removal of books from a collection to be banning.
In their 2021 990T filing, the ALA had a total advertising income of over $2 million for two periodicals, one of which is Booklist Magazine, used in Wilson County as well as other school districts for book recommendations.
Booklist recommends sexually explicit books such as those that have wound up on mature reading lists.
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas for “young adults” ages 14 and up contains 22 pages of graphic sexual encounters, scenes that concerned parents say are written with the clear intent to induce sexual arousal.
Can Capshaw, who was also President of the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL) in 2022, and is one of TASL’s 2023 current officers, state in good faith that she is not “indirectly financially interested in” the ongoing success of the publishing endeavors of organizations such as ALA, TASL, and American Association of School Librarians?
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
So frustrating that we grassroots conservatives work hard to elect Republicans only to have the Republicans appoint leftists to commissions and boards throughout our state government.
I’m now a school board member in Hamilton County because I got involved in the protest against these types of books. They were being “donated”, ordered in by librarians and classroom libraries being set up by a local LGBTQ support group.
But, it’s also the EL Education company which supplies the main part of our K-12 reading curriculum.
On the companies website it claims to be an advocate for “anti-racism”.
This was allowed by Supt. Robertson and the director of K-12 education in our schools – Dr. Sonia Stewart.
Thank you for all your efforts.
We The People of Wilson County support you!
How about including in the bylaws about ANY material which causes sexual stimulation or arousal are to be REMOVED from the school system.
Their called RINOs for a reason.
I am curious why the writers of this article have made no effort to contact K. Capshaw for her position on this subject. They only make baseless accusations and speculation without any evidence.
K. Capshaw isn’t a Leftist
Any sane person, even Libs, should be in favor of “censorship” and “book banning”. Example – we’re all opposed to teaching kids to be Nazis or to join cult religions. When they start that with me, I ask > “Wouldn’t you ban books that teach kids to be racists, White Supremacists, or Nazis”? Librarians should NOT be the ones to make every decision about books.
I’m against book banning but I am, decidedly, for having restricted areas in any library, school or public. Some information is not age appropriate for pre-teens. It sounds as though, reading this article, it would be more age appropriate to remove some people from the board.
Do we allow schools to put books in their libraries if the books promote violence? How about how to make fireworks? Or How to have sex with a sheep? Maybe we should allow books that support electric cars by pouring acids into the gas tanks of your parent’ cars?
There is no one – not us anyway – saying that we must burn such books in adult stores or other points of sale, but should they be in schools where the kids learn that a school is the authority they should trust to show them what is socially acceptable and, unless presented clearly as fiction, truthful.
How can it be censorship if it is allowed in venues not specifically purposed to guide our children?
It’s time to make it clear that any source of public reporting that uses “censoring” as prohibiting books based on age- appropriateness as some kind of oppression to let us allow those other types of what they would shriek is inappropriate reading.
Is Capshaw willing to step down from this organization? Is Capshaw willing to go on public record stating she will not stand with their liberal decisions, in wanting porn in our schools?
Why not ask her instead of speculating and smearing her without asking her before publication. I know her personally and she not for exposing children to pornographic material.
No. This not about first amendment rights.
No. This is not about book banning.
This about indoctrination vs moral standards.
And Parents Rights.
Charge county/district school board members, principals and librarians with “theft by taking” using any public funds to pay for child porn. Even if the smut is “donated” library employees put it on the shelves.
File civil lawsuits against them individually for corruption of a minor, and for making pornography available to minors.
“Age Appropriate ” what a scam that is!
Why does Lee & Skrmetti allow porn in public schools?
$1,000.00 to any Tennessee parents group that files a lawsuit.
Yes. Putting my money where my mouth is.
Will U ?
Hey Billy
Have you ever heard of a background check?
And so it goes another traveler needs exit the arena