In Leander, a group of concerned parents and pastors rallied outside LISD's Board meeting Thursday evening, concerned by what they call obscene and inappropriat
In Leander, a group of concerned parents and pastors rallied outside LISD's Board meeting Thursday evening, concerned by what they call obscene and inappropriate books available to students in the classroom.
For some, this is an issue of parental rights, and protecting their kids from what they believe to be harmful literature. Others disagree on how far those rights go, and whether or not they interfere with a student's educational rights. "We are sick of the identity politics, the racism, and the pornography." Perla Hopkins, a Leander ISD parent and former teacher, said. "I used to work for Leander ISD. I can debate it all day long. There's no reason that these books that have no educational value need to be in the hands of our children." Holding signs bearing excerpts from books and assignments they call inappropriate, the group is calling on the Board to be stricter about what material is being made available to their children."It's not something he wanted to be exposed to,” Parent Brandi Burkman said. “And he actually went to the school board meeting the night that we read this aloud because he was so angry with the administrators for doing this.""They're trying to make it so that our kids can't read books that are good for them that we as parents approve." Parent John Handybosma said. As a parent to a biracial high schooler, Handybosma says he wants to make sure his child has access to books she identifies with. "We have two beautiful daughters, who deserve to read books that are about what their life could be like - that they could benefit from," Handybosma said. The incoming senior, Kalia Handybosma, says she doesn't want anyone telling her what she can and can't read. "I've read a lot of books from other cultures, and I've learned things that I would have never known otherwise,” Kalia said. “And it's just really shaped the ways I've seen people and everything really." Laney Hawes is co-founder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project and says it's those rights that need to be protected. "Students, at the appropriate age, should have access to books that will help them make decisions in their lives - to see themselves in books,” Hawes said. Governor Greg Abbott signed the READERS Act into law last year. It would've required book vendors to rate their books for content before selling them to school libraries. Booksellers sued under the First Amendment and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with them, blocking that portion of the bill. A federal appellate court upheld the ruling in April, but one of the pastors rallying today says he would be visiting every school district in the state to demand the removal of these inappropriate books.
Books Parents Rights Pastors Rally Students Inappropriate
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