Why It’s Time We Start Treating Books Like Movies And Music (Op-Ed)

Image Credit: PxFuel / Public Domain

By Frances Rosales [Rutherford County School Board Member] –

As most parents know, our local libraries are more than just a place housing books, magazines, newspapers, and computers with internet access.

For many families and young children – libraries are also a quiet space to work, play, and read.

Unfortunately, in many places across the country, including here in Rutherford County, our local libraries and public-school libraries are circulating sexually explicit and highly controversial content. Many of these books use the graphic novel format and have covers that most adults would interpret as comic book-like material.

Most parents don’t bat an eye when their child picks up a book from their library, or their school library, because they might think that they wouldn’t have sexually explicit content readily available for children.

We now know that many parents are wrong to be so trusting.

Some parents are mobilizing and urging public schools and public libraries to have greater discretion when selecting books for our children, but there is tremendous pushback from some who are saying that these efforts are meant to “ban books.”

But what if we could find a compromise?

What if we started rating books like we rate movies, television shows, podcasts, and music?

By now, everyone knows that movies have a G, PG, PG-13 and a R rating. It’s a great way for parents to get a general sense of the content and decide accordingly before allowing their child to watch the movie. Some parents may be OK with allowing their child to watch PG-13 or even R-rated movies unsupervised. Others – like my parents growing up – may not be OK with that.

The point here is that parents and guardians should get to decide and know the contents of a book or magazine before allowing their children to check out the book.

While we want our children to broaden their minds and be cared for emotionally, that does not have to come in the form of pushing sexual enlightenment at an early age.

For example, consider the book titled: The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson available in several Rutherford County school libraries, including at least two elementary schools. The book blurb would suggest that it is an honest story of soccer, friendship, unity, and identity. It is also suggested that readers ages 8-11 are the target audience. What the blurb does not mention is that the storyline includes a sleepover by a sixth-grade girl and her eighth friend that results in a ¨make-out session¨ in bed. Since it is a graphic novel. pictures provide intimate details of the encounter. 

My question is: when and why is it appropriate for this type of material, whether of a heterosexual or homosexual nature, to be depicted to young children? Secondly, who decided on the purchase of this and other similar books? Unfortunately, this is just one example of the direction literature is taking in our schools.

Currently, the policy of Rutherford County Schools is to address complaints that have been filed.

Unfortunately, the process does not include providing the information to the public, including why complaints have been made. A rating system would allow a team of parents, teachers, and board members to peruse and then rate all materials. At that point, ratings would be made available on school library websites as part of other information about each book. This could provide parents a sense of security and an opportunity to make their own judgements about what is appropriate reading for their child’s maturity level.

It’s time to make our school libraries and public libraries safe places where children can develop a joy of reading and learning without parents worrying that their children are consuming content that is not appropriate for their children.