Does Beaufort County have book bullies? A reader thinks so
Book bullies
Beaufort County removed 97 titles from school libraries without due process. Why? Because a small group of parents decided that these books were objectionable based on a mysterious “rating system” that apparently was not identified in the parents’ complaint. Certainly, books in school libraries should be age-appropriate. But K-12 children vary considerably. Their parents vary considerably when it comes to deciding what is age-appropriate. So, why should these parents force their limited vision of literature (or sex, or race) down the rest of our throats? This is called bullying. I find it hard to understand why Beaufort County officials cooperated, giving legitimacy to this removal of books, including classics like Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye,” and Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner.” Unless we want to see the triumph of ignorance, Beaufort County should put the books back on the shelves.
Palmira Brummett, Beaufort
Teacher on books
My teacher’s heart speaks. On the topic of banning books and censorship, the crux of this issue has a bigger, more important question: How are students learning in school? It’s the ‘how’ that matters most. I’m an educator of 22 years, and my daughter has gone through both private and public schools, educated by highly qualified teachers. With my experience as a parent and teacher, I can share with those who care about how all educators I have known practice the foundation of effective teaching; facilitators of information, without bias, empower students to think critically and for themselves. A critical thinker considers perspectives other than one’s own. This can sometimes involve content that is diverse, perhaps at times evocative, and should always be developmentally appropriate. There are measures in place for parents to opt out their child from reading a book, and the process for questioning the content of a book is fair, reasonable and should be followed. Let’s continue the privilege of thinking for oneself and allowing others to do the same. Our teachers are professionals, well equipped to guide students to analyze, evaluate and come to their own conclusions.
Monique Dobbelaere, Bluffton
Change SC
With 20 years of Republican governors SC has the sad distinction of ranking in the bottom 10 in key quality of life issues. There is one area that we are in the top 10 - violent crime. This is not a record that any governor would want to run on but especially the leader of the party in control of the legislative agenda for two decades. Gov. McMaster’s politically driven refusal to expand Medicaid, though the costs would be 95% covered by federal funds, has resulted in hospital and pharmacy closures in rural areas, lack of access to primary care and poor maternal child heath. SC has a dire shortage of teachers and nurses but McMaster offers no realistic solutions. He supports directing tax money to private schools through “vouchers” which will drain from public schools. McMaster’s primary initiatives are outlawing all abortions, channeling public funds to private religious schools and expanding access to guns. Does it seem that these priorities will improve SC ranking in quality of life, the main reason people want to work and live here? It is time to change and I urge voters to look at the Democratic platform.
Viriginia Murray Cruz, Bluffton
Vote YES
My husband and I moved here 20 years ago because we did not want to live in a place that looked like Florida, with its with strip malls and massive traffic jams. We loved the quiet Lowcountry with its natural beauty. We expected it would grow, and welcomed new restaurants and shopping. Beaufort County is one of the fastest growing counties in South Carolina. I feel we are reaching a tipping point where development becomes too much for our roads, for our wildlife to find space, for those who love nature. Bluffton, which has grown from 1 square acre in 2001 to 54 square acres now, has 92% of its land under PUD zoning! The Greenspace Referendum, up for vote on the Beaufort County ballot, adds a 1 cent sales tax for 2 years, collecting no more than $100 million dollars to purchase land, create conservation easements, and buy down density to slow development. Food, gas, and prescriptions are EXEMPT. A citizen advisory board will guide, review, and recommend projects. Act now to sustain our quality of life, protect our waters from pollution, and preserve our economy. Vote YES on the Greenspace Referendum!
Paula Smith, Bluffton