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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida is at the top of a controversial list for 2024.
The reading advocacy group “Pen America” ranked Florida number one in the nation as the state with the most books banned from local schools.
The debate on whether the Florida Department of Education is “banning books” or “challenging books” continues. Mothers on both sides of the argument, however, do agree that parents should continue to have a voice on the issue.
Tiffany Justice, mother and co-founder of Moms for Liberty, advocates for parents to regain control over the content children are exposed to in the classroom.
“To be clear, my parental rights do not stop at the classroom door. I have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing of our children. As does every other American parent, as does every parent across the world actually, because this isn’t a right that the government gives you. And it’s not the right a right that the government can take away,” said Justice.
The Florida Education Association reminds Floridians that parents already do have that right.
“If a parent had a problem with the book their child was reading, they could simply reach out to the teacher or the school and ask for an alternative assignment. And under Florida law, they would get that,” said Andrew Spar.
President of the association, Andrew Spar, adds to the debate, stating, “We shouldn’t limit what kids should learn, we should expand on it.”
Katie Blankenship, mother and senior director for PEN America Florida, claims that book bans are “no hoax”
“Book bands are no accidents or no hoax, they are happening. Censorship and education more largely is not a hoax. It is happening,” Blankenship said. “And the goal from those who seek to censor is to destroy public education.”
While Blankenship says book banning is an “attack” on viewpoints individuals are “uncomfortable” with, Justice says there is no excuse for graphic sexual content to be allowed in public schools.
“Parents all over Florida have gotten up at school board meetings to read the graphic sexual content in some of these books to school boards, and what happens? The school board stopped the parents from speaking. They shut down their speech,” Justice said.
There were several counties across Tampa Bay, like Manatee and Hernando, that removed or discontinued books in response to an objection raised by parents.
