We have heard so many negative stories about libraries banning book. How about one with a happy ending for a change: This happened at the Carver County Library in Chaska, Minnesota:
It could have been a war of words, but instead it was a collective call from the community to keep a book on the shelves. "Gender Queer: a Memoir" By Maia Kobabe has become the most challenged book in the United States, according to the American Library Association. In July, a Waconia woman raised concerns about the book which detailed the author's gender identity journey. She then went on to file a request for removal which was at first denied, but after another appeal, the board discussed the book further during a meeting Tuesday night. Dozens packed the usually-empty meeting to make their voices heard on the issue.
. . . Erin Busse, the woman who advocated for its removal, did not speak during the meeting. During a meeting on Aug. 8, she described her concerns with the book saying, "This book is shameful and harmful, and to put it and allow it to be in the hands of children is sexual grooming."
Parents disagreed Tuesday. One resident said, "If you don't like it, don't read it. If it makes you uncomfortable, maybe you should examine why that is."
This was the first time the Carver County Library Board considered removing a book. Nationwide, attempts are on the rise. The American Library Association says there were almost 1,300 demands to remove library books last year, the highest ever in its 20-year recording history. In Minnesota, 22 demands were made with "Gender Queer" being the top title for removal. By the end of the meeting, the demand was unanimously denied by the board who had all read the book over the last month. "I was really quite amazed at how touching I found the book. I found it really, quite moving and also extremely informative," Secretary Frank Foss said.
"Gender Queer" will remain in the adult-fiction section in Carver County.
This was nice. No noisy adults calling people groomers, no lies about "sexual instruction," no reading sexual book passages in order to shock people. Just calm and rational discussions. This is what the book banners fear. And what we need more of.
Below is the standing ovation the Carver County Library Board received when they voted to keep the 'Gender Queer'
Standing ovation for the Carver County Library Board after they voted to KEEP the book Gender Queer: a Memoir in circulation. It comes after a request for removal from a Carver County resident. More at 10pm @WCCO pic.twitter.com/pC1lr05Vt7
— Kirsten Mitchell (@Kirsten_TV) September 12, 2023
This is in sync with my adolescence in smaller MN towns of the 1970s. There was generally a significant blue-collar, service-industry and ag labor presence among parents. The thing that united the communities of 700-2,000+ was a commitment to the kids having access to the resources and overall education which could land them in professions, trades and careers to jump-start the success of the next generations.
ReplyDeleteMy parents were both educators, one in special ed, the other a community college instructor. They weren't up against backlash or censorship... well, except that Mom couldn't nail a social studies teaching job because those were reserved for guys who could also coach sports. Everybody knew the folks attending Lutheran and Methodist churches to be slightly to the left of Catholics, with the Assembly of God and a couple other churches rocking the rafters on the conservative side.
At 11, I told my parents I wanted to take over my buddy's once-a-week shopper route, which might have paid $5/week (probably less). At 12, the early-AM daily route came available, the Duluth News Tribune, for our town of 700. Seven days a week at 5am, plus collecting the $2.35 bi-weekly charges from subscribers in the afternoon.
The response was OK, but only if you accept this is all on you. We will help you set up the checking account you'll need to run this micro-business, but you will have to deal with the invoices, the customer collections on your own.
My teenage self loved that.
I also had free access to my parents' books from a young age. Mom's second-year college accounting textbooks grabbed my math brain.
When an adolescent runs into content from the library which raises questions, the best answer from parents will be to invite discussion, over banning their kid's access to anything they dislike.