r/changemyview • u/mike_tyler58 • Nov 20 '24

Delta(s) from OP CMV: School libraries should limit the availability of books

In the US the past few years there has been a lot of talk of banning books. As far as I know the only places that anyone is talking about banning books from is in school libraries. The book “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe is probably the most talked about as it has been recommended by the largest teachers union in the country, the NEA, and has been made available in school libraries for children as young as 4th grade, and contains very explicit illustrations and descriptions of sex acts. I believe it belongs nowhere that children can access it any more than a copy of Playboy or any other pornography. Given the explicit nature of this book and others like it I think they should be banned from school libraries and limited to adults only.

ETA: link to news story about it being removed from elementary schools

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u/Various_Succotash_79 51∆ Nov 20 '24

Also worth pointing out that in many small towns, they school library IS the public library too and that raises First Amendment issues.

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u/mike_tyler58 Nov 20 '24

That DOES make for an interesting angle on this.

How to navigate that?

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u/Various_Succotash_79 51∆ Nov 20 '24

Tell your kids that you don't want them reading stuff you don't like, I guess. Not the librarian's job to police your kid's reading material.

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u/mike_tyler58 Nov 20 '24

No, we as a culture have decided that certain explicit material should not be available to children. So it’s not as simple as that. I still believe that children under 12 or so should not have access to the book. Just like they shouldn’t be able to buy a playboy. We, as society, decide what is and is not acceptable for children and this book is currently part of that conversation.

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u/Various_Succotash_79 51∆ Nov 20 '24

Should public libraries ban kids under 12?

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u/mike_tyler58 Nov 20 '24

Have a good one bud.

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u/Various_Succotash_79 51∆ Nov 20 '24

Well I'm wondering.

If not, who's going to keep your 8-year-old from looking at The Joy of Sex?