Jacob Howard
Staff Writer
Amidst controversial times, the banning of over 700 books in Florida is one of the most important topics when it comes to the future of education in the state. While it is important for there to be some limits as to what kind of content children should have access to, it is a very questionable decision made by the Florida Department of Education to outright ban pieces of literature that have been a stepping stone in the progression of writing in our country.
Since 2023, the number of books that have been banned by Governor Ron DeSantis has doubled due to the signing of the Parental Rights in Education Bill and the Stop WOKE Act. The Parental Rights in Education Bill requires district school boards to implement procedures that comport with certain provisions of law for notifying the parents of students. Reinforcing the right of parents to make the decisions regarding upbringing & control of their children.
The Stop WOKE Act, originally known as the Individual Freedom Act, looked to handle race-related issues in workplace training and was intended to prevent teachings or mandatory workplace activities that suggest a person is privileged or oppressed based on their race, color, sex or national origin. This act was overturned in the summer by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker stating the law, “violates free speech rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.”
The national free speech group, PEN America, has even reported up to 4,500 book bans in Florida, up from 1,406 books that were banned in the prior year. Florida is also one of 18 states that have passed laws restricting lessons on race and racism, as well as restricting content on LGBTQIA+ identities in school.
While Florida has continued to lead the country in its removal of books from the libraries of public schools, it is important to understand why this decision could lead to harm in the protection of our freedom of speech in the United States.
Despite these positive messages, the book was most likely banned due to LGBTQIA+ inclusion, as well as topics of grief. I can understand wanting to censor mature topics and discussions for young children, but what about the students in grades six-12? The themes of this story are something that I have witnessed in the lives of friends at my grade level, as I grew up in Southwest Florida.
One of the removed books for grades nine-12 in Volusia County and grades K-12 in Clay County is “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L Sanchez. Published in 2017, this story covers themes of self-acceptance of not needing to be perfect to be loved, while the main character Julia also learns to appreciate her heritage and the sacrifices that her parents had to make.
By banning this book, it takes away the opportunity for Hispanic students who may have had to grow up faster than their classmates or are the first in their families to pursue an education in America to have someone they can relate to and realize that they can overcome whatever obstacles they’re facing.
“This crisis is tragic for young people hungry to understand the world they live in and see their identities and experiences reflected in books,” said the director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program Kasey Meehan in a press release.
A group of book banning protesters at the Georgia State Capital building in Atlanta. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou was similarly banned for its assessment of deep-rooted racism in the South. The book is a coming-of-age story of a black girl growing up in Arkansas who overcomes struggles of self-acceptance, racial prejudice and sexual assault. It focuses on themes of fragility and the strength of the main character’s community while they were growing up. By the end of the story, the main character learns to become empowered and independent, becoming self-reliant with the decisions they make due to them overcoming all of their problems they faced growing up.
While government officials may claim that the banning of these books keeps children away from inappropriate content, stories that write about current-day issues, such as the struggle of overcoming racism, is something that can’t be washed away or erased.
It’s important to not only provide these books to students who may face the topics of these books in their day-to-day lives, but also to students who haven’t been in those situations so that they have the opportunity to learn and accept the perspective of others.
The United States is a diverse country, which means that literature plays an important role in the education and fostering of empathy, understanding and cultural awareness for teens as they grow into young adults. Continuing to understand the history of our country and different communities will allow the future of tomorrow to grow the U.S. into a stronger country that can overcome these generational issues.
Today’s youth have a lot to endure as they grow up in a country that is constantly anxious and divided. As the son of a public elementary school principal, it is astounding that Florida’s Department of Education is more focused on taking away books they disagree with rather than focusing on essentials, like affordable lunches or protecting student well-being and safety.
