This is part of our Cardinal Way project on promoting civil discussions.
The General Assembly’s research arm recently produced a report on how many books had been removed from school libraries in Virginia over the past five years.
The number: 223 different titles, with 75% of those removals concentrated in just five localities, with Hanover County pulling the most (125). After that came Rockingham County (57), Goochland County (34), Madison County (23) and Spotsylvania County (19).
Most localities didn’t remove any.
You can read our account of that report or the report itself.
The report prompted us to ask readers some questions. In the first week’s installment, we looked at how parents handled their children’s book reading — at what age did they let their children make their own choices? Last week, we asked readers if there was a book they read in their youth that opened their eyes or minds to something very different from what they heard and learned at home, school or church. This week, in the final installment, we asked readers what else they’d like to share on this topic. Here’s what we heard:
I believe children need to explore. I don’t think parents need to get up in arms about books at the libraries. Everyone has their own moral stance and should have a right to chose. The school system that didn’t remove the books but had the books available for students in the counseling office to be read with permission is a good compromise.
Christine Gibbons, Lynchburg
I have spent my professional life as an educator-some 53 years now as a teacher, coach, principal, director of instruction, superintendent, professor, and consultant in K-12 education. Moreover, I was married to the Greatest Second Grade Teacher Of All Time. I think (wish I could underline and bold that) that I have learned a few things along the way. One is that parents should always be involved in their children’s education. More often than not we begged for involvement that did not come, at least not from the parents from whom we needed it most. McAuliffe was not just obtuse with comments, he was wrong. Schools are a partnership among students, parents, teachers, staff, business, religious, and community leaders. We need all the help we can get. That being said, teachers and librarians should be respected for their knowledge and expertise. Similarly, educators need to listen to and engage with parents. It is about effective communication and building, nurturing, and sustaining relationships.
Wayne Tripp, Roanoke County
In a society that prevents reading choices, there is only insufferable monotony. Reading is a path to knowledge, to new frontiers, to critical thinking and problem solving. It promotes understanding of worlds beyond our doors. Why insulate children and destroy questioning?
Marie Pridgen, Chatham
Keep dialogue as open as possible in your family and talk about “controversial” books. Children won’t be changed by books in a negative way if you keep the lines of communication open. It’s important to know all sides of an issue. And if my kids disagreed with me, it opened my eyes to new perspectives. Ignorance is not bliss.
Sandra Knodel, Lynchburg
It’s crazy now that people are wanting to ban books when the real concern is the unrestricted access to porn, violence, etc. kids now have through the internet. At least books put sex scenes (for example) in context.
Holly Kozelsky, Martinsville
Parents need to be more concerned about too early access to personal devices, social media, and AI. It is far more important that children grow up with a love of reading, and can develop that ability to concentrate, than that they get “correct” content. Social media is intrusive. Reading a book is private and can be reflective. There’s a beauty to the reading experience that we threaten to lose with our hyper vigilance to internet mediated flow of information.
Lillian Trettin, Roanoke
As a teacher, I had a parent effectively ban “Slaughterhouse Five” in my class and school. It was a terrible situation involving the pastor of my church and his family. It was heartbreaking for me as their child’s teacher. The administration was so afraid of bringing the wrath of conservatives down on our school, we just quietly caved to their wishes. It made me so sad.
LeAnna Earls, Rosedale (Russell County)
Books should be mirrors and windows — windows to see others’ walks of life and experiences, and mirrors to see ourselves in the stories.
Melissa Kile, Alum Ridge (Floyd County)
What frustrates me the most about these book bans is how often it is obvious the parent(s) have not taken the time to read the book themselves before stating their (or my) child should not read it. Sit down and take the time to read the book before you say it is inappropriate. Engage your brain and articulate what is wrong with the book and maybe step up and be an engaged parent and have a conversation with your child about topics and themes raised in the book. I respect my daughter enough to allow her the freedom to decide what to read and she knows I am available to discuss any concerns a book raises. I think it is great she has found genres and authors she enjoys.
Patrick Johnson, Riner
Books are not a go-to cultural influence anymore. Yet cultivating the mind’s capacity for imagination through imagery conjured up through words seen is a vital human skill. For some children this path of exploration and discovery will be primary, and it is a huge disservice to create blocks and barriers. For many other kids it will be a non-issue — they explore their worlds via other modalities.
Carol Nelson, Reva (Culpeper County)
One parent should not choose what another parent’s child should read. My kids brought home plenty of books in elementary school that I thought were too old for them emotionally, but we would talk about them. If I had my way they would have stuck to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle or Little House on the Prairie (which some people think is inappropriate) or Harry Potter (other people think inappropriate) but they do have to grow up and learn about the real world.
Bonnie Lindsay, Warrenton
Kids and especially teenagers will seek out banned books. Better to allow a wide range and discuss in class and at home. Our society is so complex, it’s good for children to be led through the complexity by books that grapple with the issues, guided by open minded parents and teachers.
Janet Eddy, Hanover County
