I am a baby boomer. I was born in 1952 and grew-up in the San Francisco of the 1960’s. I was lucky to have a Dad that was a high school teacher and a mother who was an educator as well. I want you to come along with me as I think back to what school was like in those days.
Now remember, in those days we only had maybe four channels on TV, no cell phones and computers were something only NASA used. We played outside all the time and when the weather was bad we spent time at home reading. Dad had first say as to what was on the family TV. My parents never denied my sister and I anything that we wished to read. In the summer time we both read many books of all kinds, biographies, mysteries, fantasies and even comics! My parents wanted both of us to be exposed to as much of the world as possible to help mold us into hard-working, honest, caring, and to use today’s words, WOKE members of society.
My sister and I spent countless hours in the school library choosing the next book to read, our very own portal to adventure and knowledge. Our teachers gave us books to read as part of our school work and expected us to learn to write book reports, and engage with fellow students and friends about what we read.
While I went to an all-white elementary school and junior high school, when it came time for high school I chose to go where my Dad was an art teacher. It was most definitely an inner-city school; 40% white and 60% everything else. It was one of the best choices I ever made in my life. I learned more about myself there than at any other time. Plus, I was exposed to the so many cultures through the friends I made. I was lucky to have that opportunity! As we prepared for college, we were again encouraged to read any book that caught our interest. Anything and everything was permitted. Sadly, the same cannot be said today.
Who would have ever thought that book banning would be a dangerous concern today?
Now, I have a 10-year-old grandson here in Kentucky and when I asked him what kind of books they read in school his first comment was, “Nothing really.” I asked also if he ever read for fun and he replied no, he would rather play video games or hang out with friends. I am shocked that the school he attends does not encourage the kids to read. I offered to give him books to read that I enjoyed but he was simply not interested. Now we are faced with school boards, egged on by some parents, banning certain types of books because they feel the content is inappropriate, which is shocking to me. Why shouldn’t our children have the right to choose which books they read? Parents can have a say with their own children, that is ok, but do not make decisions for other kids.
I want my grandchildren to have choices and have the opportunity to learn as much as they can about the world we live in. Not this stripped-down version that some are trying to force upon our communities. There are those who wish to brainwash our kids into thinking ONE WAY and ONE WAY only. Do we wish to go back to Germany in the 1930’s where children were only allowed to read what the government told them they could read and believe what the government told them to believe?
Their parents bought into it and look what happened.
Reading saved me.
Book banners have never been the good guys in history.