| PRESS RELEASE
Nassau Citizens Defending Freedom Nassau County School District seeks to RETURN OBSCENE books to libraries September 6, 2024 |
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PRESS RELEASE Nassau County, Florida
Nassau County School District seeks to RETURN OFFENSIVE & OBSCENE books to libraries
Nassau County School District has proposed to settle the lawsuit about obscene and offensive books in our school libraries – by potentially returning all of them to the shelves!!! No this is not a story from New York City. It is right here in Nassau County Florida. The Nassau County School Board approved proceeding with settlement negotiations at the August 8, 2024, School Board meeting. Read on and TAKE ACTION. The school board needs to know that citizens will not accept this.
Some of the books (rated by Booklooks.org as inappropriate for minors under age 18 or having explicit sexual content) could be returned to the shelves for your child’s viewing without any age restrictions!! Other books rated as having aberrant content/adults only could also be returned to the shelves. One book which promotes racial division and critical race theory would be available with no age restrictions.
The Nassau Citizens Defending Freedom inquiry to the School Board has been ignored. Nassau CDF letter to School Board.
To give you an idea what type of books are being promoted as having educational value, the book TRICKS according to Booklooks.org is rated Adult and has the following concerns: contains “sexually explicit excerpts involving minors. A 26 books and links to excerpts can be found here. Look for yourself. There are also excerpts containing explicit child rape and abuse; illegal drug abuse; graphic violence; underage alcohol consumption; and adult and child prostitution”. You can go to Booklooks.org using the above links and check it out for yourself. This settlement was proposed by the plaintiffs in the case and endorsed by OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHOUT A SINGLE NO VOTE!!!
On June 24, 2024, Nassau Citizens Defending Freedom made an additional request to remove 22 more library books that have no business in a school library. We had asked the Superintendent and the School Board to proactively curate books To date, these books are STILL on the shelves and Superintendent Burns has not responded, not removed the books and does not appear to be interested in taking any action.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
*If you care about your child being shielded from obscene books in the public school
*If you don’t want your taxpayer money paying for pornographic materials
*If you don’t want your children to be indoctrinated in “woke ideology”
*If you want our school district to stand up and do what is right for children
PLEASE COME TO THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2024, at 6:30 TO EXPRESS YOUR OUTRAGE TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. All comments should be delivered factually and with respect. If they do not hear from you, they will think that silence is approval. We have been silent too long.
If you need further information, please contact Jack Knocke at 470-295-4365 jknocke@ccdfusa.com
Background
Nassau County School District (NCSD) has caved to pressure in the matter of removal of inappropriate library materials from school libraries.
In recent months, NCSD removed 34 books from the shelves of the school libraries after Nassau Citizens Defending Freedom had objected to a books which were considered inappropriate content. This action was met locally with strong support and acclamation. The NCSD was subsequently sued in federal court by the two authors of one of the books (Tango Makes Three) in coordination with parents of two minor children in the district – Sara Moerman and Toby Lentz. These parties were represented by attorneys from New York and Miami. This case is significant enough that it received press coverage from USA Today as a case “with significant stakes” regarding First Amendment law.
School district officials appeared to stand by their actions at first. According to USA Today, school district officials stated such decisions are actually protected by the First Amendment, which they are accused of violating.” (Our) actions constitute government speech for which no First Amendment protections attach”. Steger Law Firm PLLC stated “There is no constitutional right to have one’s book remain on the shelves of a public school library. Plaintiffs cannot demonstrate standing.”
Then, in a shocking turnaround Superintendent Burns sent a Proposed Settlement Agreement to the School Board seeking approval to negotiate a settlement.
Plaintiffs proposed settlement would seek to 1) immediately return 3 of the books to the shelves (including Tango Makes Three) with no age restrictions and 2) return 21 more books to the shelves without age restrictions unless a public meeting is held. 3) a new book review process would be held for the rest of the books and, if the book is found to warrant removal, hold a public meeting.
These books were validated by Nassau CDF utilizing a website called booklooks.org. The Nassau school district review committee agreed to immediately remove 31 of the books due to violations of Section 847.001 84.012. Booklooks uses a rating scale: 0 -no age restriction; 1)some content may not be appropriate for very young children; 2) some content may not be appropriate for children under 13; 3) minor restricted; under 18 requires guidance of parent or guardian; 4)explicit sexual nudity; 5) aberrant content; adults only. You are encouraged to see for yourself on Booklooks.org about the content of these books as direct text examples from the books are also given online for your guidance.
Of the three books in part 1 above, Tango is rated 1. Ghost Boys is rated 2. Almost Perfect is rated 3.
The school district is proposing to put these books back on the shelves with no age restrictions whatsoever. Of the books in Part 2 above, the range is from 2 to 5. Four of the books are rated 4; 1 is rated a 5. These will go back on the shelves with no age restrictions. Of the books in Part 3 above, the range is from 3 to 5. Remember, a 5 rating is aberrant content; adults only.
What can we do about this unfortunate turn of events? If you agree it is unacceptable for these books to be readily available to children and, if you agree you do not want your tax money paying for these types of books, please ATTEND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 12TH TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS. Personal attendance and speaking is a powerful message. Emails and phone calls will also help. In all communications to the school board and staff, please be respectful, fact based and firm that we expect them to protect children and not cave to special interests and extremists. Share your concerns on school & social media sites.
School Board and Superintendent Contact information
Nassau County School Superintendent:
Dr. Kathy Burns, Superintendent burnska@nassau.k12.fl.us (904) 491-9902
Nassau County School Board Members:
Shannon Hogue, District 1, hoguesh1@nassau.k12.fl.us 904-556-1568
Gail Cook, District 2, cookga@nassau.k12.fl.us (904) 261-9127 (h)
Curtis Gaus, District 3, gauscu@nassau.k12.fl.us 904-887-9071
Dr. Cynthia Grooms, District 4, groomscy1@nassau.k12.fl.us 904-845-8105
Lisa Braddock, District 5, braddockli@nassau.k12.fl.us 904-507-9522 (C)
Prior Press Releases
August 13, 2024
School Board votes to return removed books BACK on library shelves