Discussion expected at Middlebury school board tonight
By Michael Bielawski
The Addison Central School District will meet at 6:30 PM tonight at Middlebury Union High School and online to discuss community members concerning some books on their shelves with political commentary – sometimes both graphic and targeting young audiences – concerning transgender-related stories.
The Vermont Family Alliance’s Renne McGuinness of Monkton, among others, alerted VDC about the meeting. She warned that Vermont library privacy laws for Vermont children have recently changed. The link to the meeting can be found at acsdvt.org.
According to a front page article in the December 12 edition of the Addison Independent, the parents have followed the protocol for Addison County Supervisory Districts’ (ACSD) reconsideration of instructional materials policy. Having had their request denied by Mary Hogan’s Principal Jen Kravitz, they have brought their appeal to the ACSD School Board.
The five books being challenged, which are included in Mary Hogan’s kindergarten “Who We Are” study unit, are They He She Me: Free to Be! By Maya Christina Gonzales and Matthew Smith Gonzales; Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder; It Feels Good to Be Yourself by Theresa Thorn; Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love; Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton; Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman; and Fred Gets Dressed by Peter Brown.
The excerpt on Amazon.com for Fred Gets Dressed reads: “The boy loves to be naked. He romps around his house naked and wild and free. Until he romps into his parents’ closet and is inspired to get dressed. First he tries on his dad’s clothes, but they don’t fit well. Then he tries on his mom’s clothes, and wow! The boy looks great. He looks through his mom’s jewelry and makeup and tries that on, too. When he’s discovered by his mother and father, the whole family (including the dog!) get in on the fun, and they all get dressed together. This charming and humorous story was inspired by bestselling and award-winning author Peter Brown’s own childhood, and highlights nontraditional gender roles and self-expression.”
According to a second article also featured on the front page of the Addison Independent, MiddPride representatives and community members attended the ACSD School Board meeting on December 9th in person and via Zoom to speak out against removal of the books.
While “Reconsideration of Instructional Materials” does not appear on the ACSD’s December 16 meeting agenda, because of an email distributed by community member Amanda Reinhardt encouraging community members to write letters to the School Board and attend the ACSD’s School Board meetings on Monday, December 9th, and Monday, December 16, public comment on whether to remove the books is expected.
Folks unaware of library law change?
As reported by VDC, a new library law passed this past legislative session concerning parents’ access to their children’s library records.
“S.220, which allows a library to withhold information from parents about their 12-year-old child’s library and computer use,” VDC reported.
The Act’s text states, “Unless authorized by other provisions of law, the library’s officers, employees, and volunteers shall not disclose the records except: to custodial parents or guardians of patrons under age 12 years of age.”
McGuinness in her message to VDC noted many parents may still not be aware.
“I don’t think parents are aware of the Library bill that passed this spring,” she wrote.
Bill cites alleged 1st Amendment rights
The law passed as Act 150 also cites the First Amendment in its opening text as a reason that young children must have access to these sometimes graphic transgender-themed materials.
“To ensure that Vermont libraries protect and promote the principles of free speech, inquiry, discovery, and public accommodation, it is necessary that the trustees, managers, or directors of free public libraries adopt policies that comply with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and State and federal civil rights and anti-discrimination laws,” it states.
The bill also lists groups that are alleged to be protected from any form of discrimination regarding library policy, including gender identity. It states, “State laws prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation, and that reflect Vermont’s diverse people and history, including diversity of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, VT LEG #377704 v.1 Page 2 of 9 No. 150 2024 disability status, religion, and political beliefs.”
Violates compelled speech law?
The First Amendment also has – not mentioned in Act 150’s text – the Compelled Speech Doctrine which prohibits public resources from being used to push a particular biased view on any issue.
“The compelled speech doctrine sets out the principle that the government cannot force an individual or group to support certain expression,” an interpretation at Middle Tennessee State University states.
Which books are in question
Political Analyst Rob Roper has highlighted some of the more concerning transgender-themed youth reading material from the national scene.
He wrote, “If you don’t believe the books in question are age-inappropriate for middle schoolers, watch Senator Kennedy (R-Louisiana) read a passage from one of the books parents are objecting to. But do be very much warned! Once you click that link, you will not be able to un-hear what you hear there. It is quite disturbing.”
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle. Renee McGuinness contributed to this story.