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Here Are The Library Books That Teacher, School Board Member Want Reviewed
September 28, 2022
As we first reported Monday, the Language Arts Department chair at Northview High School and the chairman of the Escambia County School Board are calling for the immediate removal of about 115 books from school libraries until they can be reviewed.
Vicki Baggett has taught for over 30 years, with the last two decades at Northview. She’s compiled a growing list of over 115 books that she says are inappropriate in schools, mostly due to sexual language and graphic drawings that she believes actually violate Florida’s obscenity laws.
School Board Chairman Kevin Adams has called for the removal of the books until they can go before a review committee. They are not calling for the books to be banned, unless they violate state or federal obscenity laws. They do, however, want parental permission for students to read any of the books that pass a committee.
Baggett provided us with a 14-page list of the books, detailing exactly what she believes is wrong. The list was emailed to Escambia School District officials in four parts, beginning August 5 and ending September 14.
Due to the explicit descriptions on her list, we have chosen to make the book list available in two versions. The first is an edited list that details only the name of each book, the author and an indication if is available in elementary, middle or high school libraries in Escambia County. We are also making an unedited version available, exactly as Baggett presented to the school district.
For the edited list, without graphic descriptions, click or tap here.
The following link will load the complete, unedited list. It contains vulgarities, numerous graphic sexual references, references to bestiality and other material that some readers may find disturbing. It is not appropriate for all ages. Clicking the link signifies that you are 18 or older. For the unedited list, click or tap here.
Both lists are information as provided by Baggett to the school district. The accuracy of the information in both documents has not been independently verified by us. It is being presented as a copy of public records.
For an earlier story with more details, click or tap here.
Comments
56 Responses to “Here Are The Library Books That Teacher, School Board Member Want Reviewed”
We put people in office.
They enacted laws making certain things illegal to make available to our children.
Vicki believes some of the books in the library violate those laws enacted by the people we put in office.
As best I can tell she’s trying to be a law abiding citizen.
Unless she is wrong, the fault — if any — is ours.
David for honesty
This woman should not be in education if she can’t accept that it’s totally normal and okay if other people’s beliefs do not necessarily mirror her own. These books are all age-appropriate for high school and include many real-life scenarios that many students have been or will be exposed to. Some of these books may be life-saving when students who read them see that someone else has also been through their experience that they thought no one else had or could understand. Reading not only enriches your use and understanding of language, but also helps you understand the motives and actions of others and makes for a more empathetic, well-rounded individual.However, I agree that if a parent doesn’t want their child reading a book, it should be up to the parent to police that and not the school. It’s ridiculous that this “teacher” thinks that everyone must conform to her beliefs; sounds like a narcissist who shouldn’t be anywhere near a classroom. I hate to think of how she treats students who don’t share the same beliefs, or those who may not be straight, white or Christian.
On another note, for the poster who lamented about all the life skills that kids no longer seem to have when graduating high school: these are skills that should be taught AT HOME and are not the responsibility of schools and educators! I have never understood the reasoning that some folks have that these basic life skills should be taught by educators. It’s already ridiculous that we’ve been forced to provide mental health instruction when the majority of us have no background in that field and have only been given a cursory 8-hour training.
One adult/parent does NOT get to dictate what is proper or improper for other parents’ kids! If you don’t want you child to check out a certain book, it is YOUR job as a parent to establish those boundaries not for you to go into a school and limit access to everyone’s kids. Shame on this teacher.
I came to this site specifically to read the comments from the community and I am impressed and inspired to see so many adults realizing that taking books away from students is unacceptable. You can read this lady’s reasoning for removing these books and there is a common theme. She doesn’t like books that show white people mistreating black people, books with gay characters, or books with sex. This is a slippery slope that I don’t think we want to travel. One person’s opinion should not be cause for limiting access to books. Another issue that needs to be considered, is that some of these books with mature themes are available to high schoolers because they are taking AP English courses. AP courses are taught at the college level using college materials. If we don’t want our high school students exposed to college level course materials, then maybe the state should consider limiting the availability of those classes or just allow seniors to sign up for those courses. Florida ranks highest in the country for high school students graduating with AP credits. However, it is not well advertised that teachers receive $50 for each student that passes the AP exam. If a teacher teaches 7 AP classes a day and 20 students from each class pass the exam, that is an extra $7000 a year. I realize teachers work extremely hard and are already grossly underpaid, but I am surprised at how many underclassman are taking AP courses as freshman and sophomores. If we are going to continue to push these classes and want children to pass the exams, they will sometimes have to encounter text with mature themes. Also, many of you have hit the nail on the head by saying “take away the phones”. Children have access to sex and foul language just by scrolling through instagram and tik tok. At least by reading they are using their imagination and being exposed to new vocabulary.
Thank you Ms. Bagget for taking the bold step forward towards common decency.
If you don’t want your child to read these books, send a note to the school forbidding the library to check them out to your kid. Simple. You don’t have the right to decide what other students can and cannot read. The parents of non ignorant students pay taxes too.
VOUCHERS Those who are concerned about indoctrination taken place in public schools need to demand vouchers. If you have read the Liberal articulate responses to this article should realize how entrenched they are in the system. They are your children and you are responsible for their development. These liberals think you are ignorant and they know what is best. Vouchers will break the back of these entrenched liberals. Public schools were designed to educate not indoctrinate children. Stop the war on our children.
Just curious if any of you who think these books should be banned have ever read any of them? My follow up question is how many of you who think these books should be banned have children going to school in Escambia county?
This is not censorship or book banning. It is just setting boundaries for school libraries.
Lots of information covered, but I must weigh in on specifically TB’s comment about this being a Christian nation funded on Christian beliefs. I have a degree in US Government from the 1980s and nothing is further from the truth. Please find the original version of the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli, an agreement unanimously signed by the Senate and approved by Washington. Clause 11 specifically stated this nation was not founded on religious principles of any kind in order to promote religious freedom of all kinds. You can listen to 21st century opinions all day, but those are faulty opinions against a primary source.
I actually took the time to read the reason the books were requested to be banned. Here’s the thing, some of the books like Sara J Mass that are close to pornographic, have an amazing fantasy world, that might inspire the next J.J. Martin. Inspiration to become a writer or an artist comes at an early age.
How about being a better parent like my Mom? If we wanted to read something with adult content, she read it first and gave us a yes or no! Society as a whole needs to stop being so puritanical! Guess what teenagers have sex! Also some of these books may cause a child to realize they are being abused and discriminated. These books may be the only voice they hear telling them; what’s being done isn’t normal. I think the Handmaid’s tale should be required reading, so women know how fast we can loose our rights.
Most of the objections are due to sexual content and we live in a county and state that would rather teach abstinence rather than safe sex. That’s why we have such a high teenage pregnancy rate, and a record level syphillis cases. (I work in healthcare by the way).
In the sixth grade my English teacher gave us some books to read. Someone’s mom complained and soon after two books were “banned”. It was Lord of The Flies and The Chocolate War. I hadn’t yet finished The Chocolate War when the teacher had to take it back from me. I had a book taken out of my hands. It’s a visceral memory but what changed my life was my mother’s reaction. I told her about what was happening. She looked me in the eye with a lot of passion and said “don’t let ANYONE tell you you can’t read a BOOK.” She promptly bought me both books and they both taught me an immense amount about the human condition. I’m am now an avid reader with more bookcases than chairs in my house. I work with the public in an emotionally sensitive field and I have my mother to thank for allowing me the opportunity to expand my horizons through reading.
This is censorship pure and simple. It’s a slippery slope. She’s not just telling her own children what to read (which is her right). She’s trying to dictate what everyone else’s reads, too. What happened to the freedom to read under one’s own parent’s guidance? I’d rather my kids learn about some issues from me, using books as examples rather than first-hand. I hope a civil liberties group takes this on.
I wonder if even one parent at each school sent the school board a 100 plus list of books that they find “objectionable” for the whole district, would the chairman be calling for all of those books to be pulled until they are “reviewed”??
I’m sure in over 30 years teaching, Ms. Baggett must realize that families are not all like the Cleavers in Leave it to Beaver and not everyone adheres to her fundamental Christian beliefs and that her religious beliefs are just that…hers.
There is a lot of education a child needs to prepare them for life, so much to learn and so little time. Kids are coming out of the education system lacking so much as it is. Most do not even have the basics like Balancing their finances, making proper decisions regarding nutrition and fitness. Basic medical preparedness and hygiene, how to take care of children, skills to work a job and support themselves and their family. G
Nope, we have to add a bunch of useless garbage that doesn’t do anything for them except waste valuable education time.
Kids nowadays can’t sign their names, cook, sew, balance a checkbook, read Credit Card statements, change a flat tire, check and change their oil, drive responsibly, respect others, respect themselves and be a good responsible Citizen.
As for the haters of Christianity, the Country was founded on Christianity, it is a Christian Nation, a Godly Nation, why should it change for a few? If you’re truly uncomfortable here there are many Countries that would be better suited for you.
I support Ms. Baggett’s work here.
1. ANY book that violates Escambia County School District or Florida Department of Education’s language or content policies should not be allowed in a school.
2. Those policies are already in place, so follow them! Don’t like the policies? Take steps to change them. But for now, the school should follow the same rules that students must follow in regard to profanity, explicit content, language, etc.
3. NO book should be removed just because it makes someone uncomfortable, contains controversial content, or presents an alternative lifestyle. Religious beliefs are NOT policy.
4. The determination of whether a book violates district or state policy should be objective and fair, and NOT determined by opinion. Not sure if a violation has occurred? Create or appoint a panel of parents, teachers, administrators, and school board personnel to make those decisions.
5. Parents or guardians may allow their children to read material NOT allowed in school can certainly do so in their own home.
6. Parents or guardians who find an approved library book objectionable have the right to tell their student that the book is off limits.
7. Schools should not allow ANY book that violates school, district or state policies in school libraries at any time.
8. This issue has nothing to do with internet or student cell phone use.
9. This matter should bring to light the fact that that schools should NOT allow books that violate current school board or state education board nudity, obscenity, profanity or content policies to be placed in their libraries.
I like you Bob lol. Absolute truth. Unfortunately for most people here, trying to pierce the veil of reason and indoctrination has the same probability of success as trying to destroy a tank with a paper airplane.
No one is arguing that there aren’t topics or books that shouldn’t be restricted from school libraries. No one is arguing that some of the books on this list shouldn’t be banned.
What people ARE arguing is that several of the books absolutely belong in schools, and Ms Baggett’s reasoning for having them banned is appalling. Banning books because they have controversial ideas like “gay people exist”, “racism is bad”, and “women deserve equal rights” is disgusting, especially for someone who is *supposed* to be an educator.
I swear, some of y’all won’t be happy unless the library doesn’t contain anything except a Bible, a handgun, and a copy of the dictionary (with all the scary words removed, of course).
She IS an avid reader! From the short excerpts, some of these do sound age-inappropriate.
But her complaints about things like celebrating “non-traditional marriage” or what she thinks are unfair views of racism make her crusade sound a lot more about her personal beliefs, not the kids’ safety. I expect the School Board can tell the difference and I hope they’ll make balanced decisions on this.
P’cola, great idea. Let them also take the phones of the children belonging to those concerned parents and read what they find. I think you’re right that it would quickly clear up this matter.
@laura cook I truly hope you don’t believe this is the greatest thing you’ve ever seen done in a school. As others have said, this list does contain some books that may be inappropriate but because a book in Ms Baggett’s opinion “marginalizes only white people but claims to marginalize all people” isn’t a reason to pull a book. That’s more of a review. I guess she doesn’t have a problem with Harry Potter glorifying witchcraft…now if Harry was gay, that might be another book on her list.
I would say maybe desegregation or something like that was the greatest thing to happen in a school. And there’s a book about it!
History proves that the people who burn books are NEVER the good guys.
Seems to be a lot of groomers here. Why else would you all be ok with this trash being available to CHILDREN!
@Concerned You are probably right.
Concerned parents could read the most offending excerpts from these books at the next School Board or City Council Meeting in the presence of the Sheriff and District Attorney to find out if they violate any deceny laws on the books. This matter could be cleared up real quick.
Its obvious some of you don’t read the Bible cause it would be at the top of this list.
I agree with some others here that a big , thank you!, Is due to Ms Baggett for bringing these books up for review. Iam hoping the school board does a hard look at this list and removes.
Like others have said, Go to a private , free enterprise book seller and buys these for your children if you think these are the types of books that will enhance their lives, but for a publicly funded school district, I can’t see this being supported.
Just because something is in print doesn’t equate that it is suitable for children to read. If that is the fight against removal of this so called literature and they are okay for every child, why not order and place playboy, hustler, and playgirl magazines in the school’s libraries? They’re printed, right? Got it? Probably not. By the way, you can’t fix those individuals who are stuck on stupid.
This is the greatest thing I have ever seen done in a school. If we as parents don’t control our children as what they do or what is put in front of them what is our world coming too. So many of our children are not corrected and are allowed to do as they please whether good or bad I am so proud of Vicki Baggett for taking this stand. So many children are not brought up in a church but allowed to do whatever they want to.I think children should be guided as they grow and not be letting to do what they please. What is our world coming to, homes and settings where illicit drugs, reading material they choose. Our youth have to be guided from the time they are born to adulthood. We send our children to school to learn and be guided as they are supposed to in the home. I know it is hard for both parents to work but they feel proud to send their child off every day and feel they will get the same protective environment as they had been getting at home. Where has the funny books and decent reading gone? It makes me so proud that we have teachers such as Mrs Baggett who care enough to stop this kind of books coming in schools. The parents send them away from home to be taught life’s basics to make it so they too can bring their children to become good law-abiding citizens that they in turn can bring their children to become the same, not sex oriented at school. Thank you Ms Baggett for this worthwhile adventure.
@Lee, @Citizen -
You obviously have no idea what fascism is. Don’t try to lecture me about “burning books” or censorship. Don’t try to hand me the BS about Google or anything “on-line”. There is software to prevent children from accessing such sites. This is about concerned parents actively participating in the selection of age appropriate reading material in public schools. If either/both of you choose to sit on your duffle bag and do nothing for your kids, don’t complain on how they turn out. Nobody said “stack the books and burn them”. They are asking for the books to be reviewed because some of the topics and/or illustrations are questionable. They are asking for parental approval before CHILDREN are allowed to read/check them out for home reading. Now – take your favorite liberal tag line and do a little research on it. You could definitely learn something.
I read National Geographic when I was in high school
It was full of nudity.
As someone with an English major background, I am astonished at this list. I read many of these titles during middle and high school 15+ years ago. They’re classics and award-winning books. I think people forget children are individuals with their own thoughts and opinions. This move is nothing more than someone trying to impose their values on everyone. But regardless of this censorship play, children still have wide access to these titles and themes from a click of their finger on digital devices. We try to monitor kids so much, but the reality is they’ve more than likely seen it all. We can thank the democratization of information, the internet, and social media for that. And more than likely, this teacher grabbed the same list from the internet where she searched for something to conform to her values. It’s so sad to hear the world wants to be A Handmaid’s Tale or border Fahrenheit 451. Censorship paves the way for fundamentalist societies. The world is not black and white. There is a ton of gray area. The best thing I ever did was study abroad to see that others lived differently from me. Don’t dare travel to Europe and turn on the TV, this teacher would have a stroke. The library is supposed to be a place where patrons can access information, even if it doesn’t suit someone else’s palette. Books mimic real life, and that includes the sex, violence, political views, etc this teacher wants to censor. We adore Shakespeare and that includes Romeo and Juliet where two teenagers have sex, lie to their families, run away, and commit suicide. And that sounds much like life or someone we already know.
This is facism.
Sounds like another case of a few people of “higher moral character” pushing their values on the majority. Instill your own values in your own children, but leave mine alone. Shame on parents who have never even stepped foot in a library to help their child select a book. Don’t be duped; this is NOT about books.
Thank you Mrs. Baggett! Children are now reading more thanks to the attention that you have brought these books. You are such an asset to the children in our community. They now have reason to increase their trips to the library. Circulation of books in our school libraries I’m sure have increased. I know school librarians can’t thank you enough. It’s very unfortunate that it took you so long in your career to call out these books.
Can’t wait for the bible to be taken out for vulgar content
Based on her descriptions, it does sound like some of these books should be removed.
However, banning books because they acknowledge that gay people exist? Or that drug use is dangerous? Or *gasp* uses the “F” word?
If your kid is in high school, they are about to enter the adult world. If finding out that there are different kinds of people than straight, white, conservative, Christians is going to break them, it sounds like you’ve failed in your job of preparing them for the real world.
Concerning her “hit-list,” look at Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five.” She is so hyper-focused on sex, she doesn’t address other themes of the book like the horrors of war, being a POW, or PTSD in veterans.
Many of you are judging the teacher just by the list only.Many of the books show sexual acts. Describing how male on male sex is proformed. This is porn PERIOD. If you want your kids to read or see this take them to Books A Million. The WOKE want these books in schools but yet they have had Dr. Seuss books removed. Where were all of you about that move. Someone said times have changed and to keep up. Schools are supported by our taxes ,if they are putting these books that or basically breaking the law, then they need to be removed. Bottom line if you want your kids to read this trash, buy it for them with your own money.
Marie Skopis,
Many of these books have been in the libraries for 10+ years. Very few listed are actually brand new books. The only problem is that you are just now finding out about them because because one person believes everyone should follow her beliefs. So since you haven’t had an issue with the books in the 10-20 years they’ve been sitting in the libraries, most students either don’t read the books, or don’t put as much stock into them as many of you are.
Money comes from the district.
One person does not choose the books.
Where did money come from to buy these books? Was it mis-appropriation of funds? Who is in charge of choosing books? Is it one person, or a committee?
Blaming it on “they see worse online” is a total cop put and fallacy… So you’re saying YOUR kids see worse online… I’m sorry YOUR kids have no guidance or supervision. MY kids do and I know exactly what they are seeing online. It is called being involved with your child’s education and activities. None of these books promote the education of our children, it is indoctrination material by leftists. designed to influence your children to their agenda and make them question their own parents rules, beliefs and raising to destroy the nuclear family.
P’cola, if the Sheriff’s Department investigated ECSD for these books, and DCF took kids from school because of the books, then A LOT of children in this district would also need to be taken from their homes because their parents allow them to have a cell phone and social media.
Do you know how many kids in middle and high school, and even some elementary, are watching porn daily? Get a job at a school and you will find out very quickly. You’d be shocked at what these kids do on their cell phones. It is very clear that the majority of you have no clue what your kids are seeing and hearing daily.
I hope everyone reads the lists and the objections. Ms. Baggett has some real biases showing in her objections. “LGBTQ themes”, “political gay agenda”, “full of woke agenda and anti-whiteness”. Please! “Go Ask Alice” was published in 1971. I think I read it in high school!
Sheriff should investigate those responsible in the Escambia County School District for for contributing to the delinquency of a minor or any other applicable violation. DCPS should remove the children from the school district to protect them from school promoted perversions.
A lot of you saying that kids can find a lot worse online. That’s fine, but my child doesn’t need to be reading books that glorify beastiality, rape, incest, pedophilia, and unprotected sexual acts. I need to be able to trust that my child can bring home age appropriate books from their SCHOOL. If some parents allow unmonitored access to the internet or books from the local library, that is on them. I don’t think a book should be banned solely based on LBGTQ or what someone might consider a woke agenda though. I don’t like it, but that’s the way things are. It needs to be AGE APPROPRIATE though!
There will be enough criticism and support for Mrs. Baggett’s requests, so I shan’t go into that. I will say, however, there will probably be a MUCH greater chance of more students seeking these books simply because they are “questionable.” Teenagers, in particular, have a tendency to do such. At Least To Kill a Mockingbird isn’t on there. . . . But, then again, it has probably already been banned.
Welcome to fascism.
Sex is bad! Gay is bad! Slavery is bad! Let’s not talk or learn of these subjects. This teacher will be trying to ban music and dancing at school next!
To: Let’s read books
Maybe you should click the link and read the unedited version of what these books have in them. I wouldn’t even read something with this disgusting crap in it. It’s definitely not appropriate for our children to be reading.
Thank you Vicki Baggett for standing up for our children and getting this mess out of our schools.
(Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer (ES)—alternate sexualities; harmful to minors.
Inside cover admits to being a book used for gay fathers and mothers for their children. Main
character brings two dads or two moms to school. Celebration of non-traditional marriage.) – The entirety of this books entry in the list.
(Draw Me A Star by Eric Carle (ES)—This is an art book, but it does contain one image that some
might consider questionable as that of a naked man and woman.) – The image in question can be found via Google. I think worse content could be found on a billboard.
Two excerpts from the unedited list,
“Has the “F” word 62 times; Uses Jesus 24 times and God 75 times.”
“crude language; Has the “F” word 83 times.”
Some of the described content does seem genuinely objectionable but when it includes that I do not trust this teachers judgement.
@Let’s read books
they like to watch movies also do we just let them watch pornos. Common sense goes a long way.
Sure, alot of these shouldn’t be available in a school setting. (Anything with sexual violence, for example) But pushing transgender? Really? Shut up. Pushing LGBTQ+ really? It’s 2022. Please get over it already.
While we’re on the subject of book and topic bans, ECSD officials might want to conduct a walkthrough of classrooms and look at what’s on teacher desks and walls. Be on the lookout for Holy Bibles, Christian publications, and Christian wall posters.
If inappropriate sexual content is being placed under the microscope, so should the district’s “turn your head the other way” promotion of Christianity and religion in general.
I noticed the Bible wasn’t on that list. Yet it contains nearly all of those themes in some form or another within its pages. While fleeing Sodom and Gamorrah, Lot’s daughters were offered up to be used for sex rather than the angels, and in turn raped their own father after getting him drunk. Tons of rape in the Bible if we’re being totally transparent. Lots of sex, murder, all the things modern entertainment is made up of today. The amount of mass killing God does on a whim is pretty violent.
Besides, I thought banning things didn’t work anyway. This is some Ray Bradbury level stuff right here.
Maybe the books are inappropriate or the availability makes you feel uncomfortable; however, kids are able to read much worse online. If they’re that passionate about the topic then kudos to them for picking up a real book instead of their phone. These aren’t curriculum books, these are library books that are optional and available for students to read on their free time. Libraries are sacred ground for the collective thoughts, stories, and knowledge that humanity has collected. Don’t burn it.