A district warning in the US state of Florida has teachers at several schools hide books in classrooms to escape criminal charges.
Educators are trying to adhere to guidance issued in recent weeks by the Florida Department of Education. On Jan. 18, the agency said that classroom libraries “must be approved and selected by a media specialist”—an ambiguous guideline that reads as a kind of censorship.
The notice is an implementation of the law that requires prior approval of material to be used with students. The controversial state rule, which went into effect in July last year, mandates that books be age-appropriate, child-friendly and free of pornography.
In theory, nothing irregular, but add to that the context of the law that became known as “Don’t Say Gay”, which also prohibits teachers from discussing topics related to gender and sexuality, and more recent measures that content about racial issues.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said Tuesday that distributing harmful materials to minors can carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of $5,000. Already the “media specialists” mentioned in the district notice must undergo training, which until last month was still not being offered until last month – the delay caused some schools in Florida to stop buying books.
The restrictions angered parents and educators, who took to social media to post videos and photos of empty shelves. In at least two counties across the state, schools have closed classroom libraries, according to The Washington Post. Marie Masferrer, a board member of the state’s Association for Media in Education, said that at one school, children burst into tears when they asked the principal not to take their books.
Supporters of the measure also took to social media to defend it. “A teacher (or any adult) will face criminal prosecution if they knowingly distribute scandalous material, such as images depicting sexual conduct, sexual assault, bestiality or sadomasochistic abuse. Who could be against that?” state, Manny Diaz. He denies that teachers have to hide their books under the new law.
According to the Washington Post, Manatee County said in a statement to schools last month that institutions should “remove or cover all materials that have not been screened.” The measure would be necessary until all content had been reviewed by a media specialist before being approved and presented at a meeting.
In Dunval County, officials informed school officials that libraries would be temporarily reduced to include only approved books, the Post reported.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
