Marull: My book challenges are about age-appropriateness

Letter to the editor

The Alachua County School Board voted unanimously on March 5 to keep the book “It Feels Good To Be Yourself” in the Terwilliger Elementary School library. The board moved through their agenda faster than expected, and Dr. Crystal Marull, the Terwilliger parent who challenged the book, arrived too late to use the 10 minutes she would have been allotted to speak to the board. She has asked us to publish her planned comments to the board as a letter to the editor.

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Age-appropriateness for kids. That’s what this is all about. 

For me, it’s not a question about transgenderism or sexual identity or any of that. I know that’s how the opposition wants to frame it. It’s easier to dismiss a legitimate argument if you can paint the person who presents it as some kind of extremist. BUT for the record, how people self-identify and what a family chooses to teach their kids about right and wrong, is totally up to them. One of the benefits of living in this country is that people can live however they think is best (and that’s a good thing). 

For those of us who have kids, we know that every child is different and has different needs. Our job as parents is to guide our children through their own specific journey until they are old enough to navigate the world for themselves. But until then, kids need their parents to teach them right from wrong. I don’t think I’m saying anything controversial with that.

However, parents are not in schools with their children. So as parents, we put our faith in the school system and expect the school will not only educate our children at the right age-appropriate level, but also protect them from content that is too mature for them, especially during their formative years, when they are most impressionable. That’s what this whole controversy has been about.

The books I’ve challenged are not appropriate for kids without parental guidance. That’s it. That’s why I’ve challenged them. If parents want to check them out for their kids at the community library, I would have no objection. But here, at school, where parents are not around to supervise, the content of certain books should be off limits until the kids are mature enough to benefit from it. Every reasonable parent feels this to some degree.  

I doubt there’s a parent here who would think it would be okay to have erotica available to young kids at school, right? I’m not saying any of these books we’ve discussed have crossed THAT line, but I am saying there is a spectrum. What’s inappropriate for one parent might be okay for another. That’s why we have statutory criteria that govern what’s acceptable in schools. And, if we feel those statutes are too restrictive or go too far, we have means to change them democratically.

What’s happening here today is not democratic. Over the past few weeks, you’ve heard several district representatives say that they personally disagree with these statutes or that they’ve personally treated the statutes more like “guidelines” rather than limiting criteria. They are blatantly subverting the democratic process. And why?  Because of THEIR personal biases, not mine. They’re flouting the law because they disagree with it. There’s a term for this: unlawful ideological indoctrination – but they’re so steeped in it, they refuse to see it for what it is.  

My position has always been that we follow the state statutes for what is acceptable, period. I don’t aim to impose my will on others any more than to say we should do what’s lawful. The district staff, on the other hand, are imposing their own bias above the people whom they claim to represent and doing so at the expense of our children.

Folks, we are talking about five-year-olds here. Kids who are just learning to read. We’re not talking about high school students who have at least some worldly understanding of sexual identity and other mature concepts. These vulnerable children are still tracing their letters in class, they’re just beginning to grasp the nuances of language. They should be reading books like Go Dog Go and Clifford the Big Red Dog. They should be reading of the adventures of Curious George at the zoo or Paddington Bear at the train station.

Now, let me provide you with the State statutes concerning the selection of library materials for age-appropriateness, which are currently in effect but being ignored:

“According to FS 1006.28(2)(d)2.c, each district school board is mandated to establish procedures for developing library media center collections. These procedures should be guided by reader interest, support of state academic standards, aligned curriculum, and the academic needs of students and faculty.”

In addressing the selection of the book It Feels Good to be Yourself in our elementary school libraries, let’s apply these statutes objectively:

• First, the circulation data reveals ZERO reader interest in this text.
• Second, discussion and instruction on gender identity before the 9th grade is a violation of state academic standards and aligned curriculum.
• And, lastly, since discussing the content of this book is prohibited within school premises, it fails to address the academic needs of students and faculty.

Moreover, in accordance with state statutes FS 394.478, the age of consent for therapy without parental consent is set at 13. However, this book offers telephone numbers and websites that would provide students direct access to therapists. Given that no child with access to this book in school is over the age of 13, it raises grave concerns.

Taking these factors together, it is evident that this book should legally be deemed “inappropriate” for inclusion in a K-5 library.

I would now like to share the written review provided by the ONLY parent representative on the Terwilliger Library Advisory Council. She offers the following “common sense” concerns:

1. “[The] beautiful illustrations appeal to younger students, but the content of the book is far above the level of the student.”
2. “Reviewers list that adult involvement should be in the reading experience, yet a child is not required to have an adult with them to access the book.”
3. “Concepts described are difficult for adults to understand, so how do we expect K-3 students to understand?”
4. “Vocabulary and definitions are far above the suggested ages for the text.”
5. “The Glossary and resources are not sourced.” [the article “the” was added for clarity]

This concerned parent, despite acknowledging the book’s unsuitability for young readers, ultimately voted to retain its presence in our schools. I wanted to know why. I wanted to talk to this person, but I was denied. I wanted to call this person as a witness, but I was denied. Her decision perplexes me and begs the question: What compels a parent to disregard their own instincts in favor of appeasing authority figures? Is it because she was also a school employee and she feared reprisal, professional pressure, or perhaps the sway of bureaucratic influence?

This situation echoes what happened at the last hearing. An employee of the school had indicated hesitancy for approving the text and voted to have it moved to the higher grades. Yet, when called to testify, he changed his response and said he thought the book was appropriate for grades 3-5. Why the change to his response? Was he, too, afraid of retaliation? Are these concerns for one’s job and social standing discouraging parents and educators from speaking common sense? 

These anecdotes are a metaphor of my entire experience making objections to library books.

When I raised my initial concern about a MARXIST ABC book, I was told I needed to leave these decisions to the “professionals,” the “experts.” However, besides being a parent, I am also a certified teacher and Media Specialist. But, nonetheless, my opinion did not seem to matter because the “experts” argued that I lacked the requisite experience to make these judgments.

Parents, I implore you: stop deferring your common sense to the so called “Experts.” Their additional certificates or diplomas do not give them any access to knowledge that is unavailable to you. There is no “secret understanding” that they have that you don’t. 

Schools should not provide books to 5-year-olds that tell them they can be a boy one day and a girl the next. It’s just common sense. These kinds of books don’t belong in school libraries, and our state laws agree. However, we are being gaslit by the district specialists. They are trying to convince us that they alone understand the law, in turn granting them the freedom to select library books based on their preferences without facing any sort of accountability. This is a blatant abuse of power that disenfranchises legally protected parental rights.

I know that there are many parents out there who would like to speak up. To say how they, too, find this book completely inappropriate. But they fear the consequences for such courage.

But, to them I ask – 

“Do you want your five-year-old coming home from school questioning their very identity, unsure of whether they are a boy or a girl?” If not, speak up, because courage is contagious.

In closing, I would like to share this clip of another mother with whom I feel a great deal of connection. She, too, is concerned about this SAME book as I, and addressed a board just like you. She speaks with a common sense and courage that is dangerously lacking in today’s society.

Clip of parent challenging It Feels Good To Be Yourself

Crystal Marull, Gainesville

The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com. Letters may be submitted to info@alachuachronicle.com and are published at the discretion of the editor.