A Committee on Policy is Formed: A Public Library Update
A Committee on Policy is Formed: A Public Library Update
Also, GO VOTE: Remember to vote all the way down the ballot, and bring a Republican voter guide for the nonpartisan races. The Conroe ISD Conservative Slate is: May, Dawson, Semmler, Horton!
A Distraction:
Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs was moved from the children’s non-fiction section to the children’s fiction section by the reconsideration committee, likely before the library was placed on the commissioner’s court agenda on October 8th.
I went ahead and submitted a public information request for the form, and I will drop it here for anyone interested.
What about the decision?
This is not within the scope of what I do; therefore, I am not going to share my opinion on this decision. My advocacy is for age-appropriate books in age-appropriate hands. I believe that children under the age of 12 should be able to explore the children’s section of the library freely, without parents feeling the need to pre-read every book their child picks up. The book in question here was moved within the children’s section. I do not believe there was a question of age suitability.
The book was moved back to non-fiction.
This book was moved back to the children’s non-fiction section. More information below, but when the judge moved to form a committee, he also asked to include a stay on all actions made by the committee since October 1st. This effectivly moves the book back to nonfiction. I embedded the video below for anyone who wants to watch for themselves. I have edited this paragraph since I published this after watching it again and realizing I got it wrong. I still think Commissioner Noack could have simply brought this decision before the board without revising the policy since this action was not within the scope of the committee according to the current policy.
The Gender Books are BACK.
For those recently joining us, the library reconsideration committee members appointed by the commissioners are citizens who meet to consider books submitted by library patrons for reconsideration. Usually, books are submitted due to concerns parents have of the material being age inappropriate and the books are moved to a more suitable location.
As soon as Commissioner Noack got his new reconsideration committee appointee approved on October 8th, the books started to move. Interesting timing. Remember on July 11, 2023 the commissioners voted for the books with mature content to be moved out of the children’s section. The books remained unchanged UNTIL February 2024, when I recommended Ritch Wheeler who was running for commissioner in precinct 3 (Commissioner Noack’s current position). Sometime between this day and early voting, the books were removed from the shelves completely (exact dates pending PIR). Just to recap, there was no book movement after the court’s decision in July, but after I endorsed his opponent, the books disappeared in February, only to reappear last week.
Half the children’s chapter books went back to the children’s section, and these books are not mild. I’ll drop an example below. We read them to the court that day and you can watch here: https://montgomerycountytx.new.swagit.com/videos/318291
While half of the children’s chapter books went back to the children’s section, the other half went to the young adult section, and all of the picture books went to the parenting section. The picture books are the most obvious for parents to figure out, but the chapter books are often 200-400 pages, with nothing on the inside flap indicating mature content is in the book. The following is a breakdown of where each book went.
Download this list here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wSqTEd7Cu_WBLoK8oVzNjGM_gduOE_8E/view?usp=sharing
Sidenote: Public Information Request
I put in a public information request for the specific dates that the above books were moved and where they were moved to since July 2023, when the court first voted to have all mature content placed in a section out of reach of young children without their parent’s approval. I included any new copies that were also ordered, and any communication to the library managers about moving them. The county attorney’s office got back to me with a cost estimate of $810.00. This is a really surprising number. I amended my request to include only the three books read in court. We will see how that goes. I may decide to crowd fund for this if the cost is still a bit high.
Public Comment
Several friends read a few excerpts from some of the books that were moved back to the children’s section, aloud to the commissioners. Thank you all so much!! The following is an example from one of the books.
From George (renamed Melissa) by Alex Gino:
George, renamed Melissa, by Alex Gino was recently placed back in the children’s fiction section where 8-year-olds pick up their first chapter books. In this book George transitions to Melissa.
The narrator discusses how George has already searched the internet for information about how to medically transition. The narrator discusses hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries for transition. Later in this same chapter on page 47, George is in the bath and “She immersed her body in the warm water and tried not to think about what was between her legs, but there it was, bobbing in front of her.”
From page 104 George’s best friend, Kelly, is accepting George as a girl and mentions that he can take hormones. ‘Yeah, I know.’ George had been reading websites about transitioning since Scott had taught her how to clear the web browser history on Mom’s computer. ‘But you need your parents’ permission.’
Beginning on page 161 after George switches places with his friend Kelly in the school play, his mother is concerned, but the principle is ecstatic and proud. When the adults exchange polite words, the principal makes it clear that George’s mom’s concern is unacceptable. Before George and his mom leave the principal whispers in George’s ear, “My door is always open.” This is further indoctrination that when parents aren’t fully on board with supporting transition, they aren’t to be trusted. Other adults will keep the secrets of these minors, their parents never need to know.
Alienating behaviors are behaviors are intended to create distance and separation in a relationship. These behaviors are all over these books that are on the shelves for curious 8-year-olds to pick up.
On the other side was a group who wanted librarians back in charge of the libraries. They made the case that “regular people” shouldn’t be making decisions in regard to what is age appropriate. The librarians are the experts, and only experts should have a say. They clearly worship at the altar of experts and education.
In response, an amazing lady, Roxanne, stood up to speak and knocked those idols right down! She is pure fire, and you can listen to her words here. Notice how calm she is in her boldness. She gave respect to librarians and their education, but reminded the court that parents are experts too.
Can Librarians Serve? Of Course, They Can!
I would also like to point out that the policy does not prevent librarians from serving on the committee. They would have to pursue this service through their commissioner asking to be appointed just like everyone else. Likewise, that librarian would need to make the case that she will represent our precinct not just as a librarian but as a conservative willing curate age-appropriate content for young children.
There are conservative librarians out there; I know because I have met them! I was waiting in line to vote last week with a conservative librarian who was very upset about what has been going on with some of the age-inappropriate books found in the schools. I wish I had gotten her number because she would have been an excellent committee volunteer! Unfortunately, conservatives like her were not being chosen by the library administrators to serve on the committee before the policy was changed.
For more information about how the committee used to work please visit the substack post below titled, Kangaroo Committee. Previously there were 5 citizens appointed by each court member, and 5 librarians chosen by the library administrators (with no input from our elected commissioner court members). The book was discussed, but not vote was taken. The library director could choose to ignore the discussion and made the final decision.
October 8th Commissioner’s Court
For more information about the previous court meeting and the agenda items about the library, please see these two articles.
A Committee is Formed
Judge Keough moved to form a policy committee to review and revise the county library policy. He included his office, Commissioner Noack’s office, and the office of the county attorney. The first assistant to the county attorney, Amy Davidson, noted that the county attorney does not set policy, so their office would serve in an advisory capacity. Commissioner Walker also wanted a member of his staff to serve on the committee. Judge Keough remarked that three members of the court cannot serve on the committee because that would create a quorum, and they agreed to send staff members to sit on the committee. I am hopeful that this will bring a good result.
What I hope will come out of the committee:
A policy that keeps citizens in charge of what material is age-appropriate on the reconsideration committee.
A policy that will set clear parameters to what content is and is not appropriate for children under 12 years old in the first place.
That’s really it. Anything else would just be icing on the cake. I had hoped at one point, that there would be an appeal process, but I am not sure how that would work. With the school board, an appeal goes before the board in a public level-3 hearing and each board member is asked to read the entire book to make a decision. I do not see this happening with the court. I am not sure how an appeal would work, but an appeal process would be welcome as long as it is in the hands of elected officials, and not county employees. The hearing should be public and recorded, and the court should oversee membership.
School Board Update: Don’t forget to vote!
Early Voting is open today through November 1. Election Day is November 5.
Vote like an educator:
“I have been in public education long enough to lose count of the number of teachers who say, ‘I want lawmakers to spend just one day doing what I do. I am so tired of lawmakers thinking they understand education because they went through the system.’
“If you reside in Conroe ISD, you have the opportunity to vote in someone who has spent a decade doing what you do, so why support someone who when asked why you should vote for them states, ‘because I went to school here.’” - Former Conroe ISD Teacher
Article written by Michele Nuckolls, a homeschool mom who spends a lot of time in the public library with her kids.
email: twomomsandsomebooks@gmail.com