Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
Guidance Document Change: The guidance document "Model Policies Concerning Instructional Materials with Sexually Explicit Content" was developed in conjunction with stakeholders in order to comply with SB656 (2022).
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7/25/22  12:51 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

An Infringement Upon Free Speech-Strongly Oppose
 

Libraries and schools must be representative of all of the students and patrons they cater to, not a select few. It's one thing as a parent for you to decide your child is not allowed to read a book you do not deem appropriate for them. It is an entirely different subject not allowing any students of any kind access to books and materials that are representative of who they are as growing individuals. Giving people the ability to make these, at times, misinformed complaints set a very dangerous precedent reminiscent of Nazi Germany and Jim Crow/"Separate But Equal" America. This will slowly trickle down to freedom of speech and expression not allowed for all Americans regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or religion. This is also damaging to LGBTQIA+ children who now more than ever need our empathy, compassion, and support. I'm all for parents doing what they believe is best for their children. However, I'm not for parents dictating what other people and what other children should and should not have access to in terms of public institutions. Schools and libraries are public, meaning they serve every individual, every child. Not just their own. 

 

CommentID: 122947