Sign the petition
EDITOR:
Harmful books with violent and highly sexualized content are accessible to minors in Anderson County libraries and classrooms, thus breaking the law.
Violent themes are found in books such as Assassination Classroom. In this fantasy novel readers go through a series of situations in which students figure out how to kill their schoolteacher. Some who want to justify the books are minimizing the dangerous impact by saying, “But the teacher is a bad person.” There are dozens of books with highly sexualized themes, which violate our laws’ descriptions of foul, prurient, and damaging books.
Each community decides for themselves what is right for them. This is called the community standard. Both the 1973 Supreme Court ruling pertaining to obscene materials and Tennessee State laws 39-17-900 series both mention the community standard. It is established when the citizens of a community express their preferences about such things as the standard for what library books are stocked in their public facilities. People from any perspective may speak to establish that community standard, but when thousands of people agree that books should be completely removed, then the standard is established by those majority voices.
A petition is being circulated requiring our officials to make sure books are removed from Anderson County public facilities that violate TCA 39-17-901 and 39-17-911. Laws specific to public schools regulate school libraries, classrooms, and curriculum. A new law prohibits publishers from shipping even sample books and curriculum anywhere into the state. Bravo to Gov. Lee, our state representatives John Ragan and Ed Butler, and Lt Gov. Randy McNally, who passed these laws.
Around 1,000 citizens signed the petition in the first five days. Copies of the petition are being circulated throughout Anderson County. Citizens may choose to sign online at actngop.com/action. The intent of the petition is to prove that Anderson County’s community standards require that state law be followed by removing these harmful books.
Those who cry accusations of “book banning” are using scare tactics. The authors’ First Amendment rights are still intact. People are free to acquire books using their own money and by their own efforts. We the People do not want them provided through public funds or in public facilities.
Special thanks to County Commissioner Anthony Allen, who first brought this problem to light, and to the other commissioners and elected officials who publicly expressed their concern or signed the petition. It has been signed by elected officials, library board members, school librarians, teachers, police officers, firemen, pastors, business leaders, and many concerned citizens.
Please join your community in proving the Anderson County community standards by adding your name to the petition. Printed petitions are also available for citizens who want to circulate them to their families, friends, churches and businesses.
Myra Mansfield
Oak Ridge