Image Credit: Government of Prince Edward Island / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Throughout Tennessee and across the country, parents, local citizens groups, and organizations like Moms for Liberty are speaking out against some of the explicit material available in K-12 school libraries.
These parents and groups are constantly facing accusations of book banning and many news media publications rely heavily on opinions from left-leaning organizations like The Southern Poverty Law Center, which considers Moms for Liberty “a far-right organization, that opposes LGBTQ+ and racially inclusive school curriculum, and has advocated books bans.”
Since the ’21-’22 school year, there have only been a total of four books challenged within the Knox County School District.
“We are not book banners,” Knox County Moms for Liberty Chair Sheri Super, stated during a November school board meeting. “We just want to have some kind of policy that can either label these books, segregate these books, have parental opt-out options, or in the event that some of them are too graphic–be removed from the schools.”
Earlier this week, Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk spoke at a school board workshop and explained that the school district has a policy that allows parents, students, and staff members to challenge specific books available in school libraries.
According to Channel 10 News, these individuals can challenge books at the school level. If they are unsatisfied with the result, the issue can be appealed to the school district.
“That is a very comprehensive, and I believe, very effective process for us to be able to get that done,” Rysewyk told the school board.
However, not all of the Knox County School Board members are satisfied with the current policy. Some would seemingly prefer more input be allowed from local residents who do not currently have children in the public education system.
“I don’t agree with the way it’s currently done,” said School Board Vice Chair Steve Triplett (R-7th District).
Reportedly, Triplett has spoken with Rysewyk in the past about changing the district policy on challenging school library books and the two were forced to “agree to disagree” on the issue.
Knox County conducts partisan school board races and their school board currently maintains a 5-4 Republican majority. There are two Democrat board members and two independent ones.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
5 Responses
Thank you Adelia and TCN – great article.
Every Property Owner in a county should be allowed to comment. Home values and other things are impacted by the quality of schools, so every Property owner has an economic interest and property taxes pay for schools. I’m in Williamson and our property values are very affected by the quality of schools. The Dems want to limit input. Knox is lucky to have a 5-4 majority of Repubs.
Well, if there is a 5-4 Republican majority why don’t they change the policy? Surely there isn’t a Republican willing to vote with the Democrats to keep it as is.
RINOs are why.
Seems like Dems, without kids in school, want a say on this issue!
No
Public
Funds
For
Pornography
Period.
Not in any library at all levels of education.
Even local and county public libraries.
Purveyors, all staff need to be charged as such.
Why is this so hard to comprehend ?
Oh, that’s right, spineless Uniparty politicians.