Press Release/Education
By Jack Knocke, 10-16-24
Parent Objection to obscene books
Who’s standing with Jinger Brinkley to keep obscene books out of our school libraries? One voice might be dismissed, but a community of voices can’t be ignored.
After two years of Nassau Citizens Defending Freedom (Nassau CDF) fighting to remove 34 inappropriate books, the Nassau County School District returned them to the shelves. When Jinger found out, she didn’t stay quiet. She immediately objected to 4 specific books that are obscene and need to be pulled now.
Jinger, as a parent, officially submitted her objection on Monday, September 16th. By Friday, September 20th, the News Leader published her name, calling her out as the parent challenging the returned books. It appears that Misty Mathis, reporting to Superintendent Burns, provided background on the lawsuit settlement and shared that Jinger had filed a new objection.
On October 3rd, Jinger addressed the Nassau Citizens Defending Freedom (Nassau CDF) meeeting, speaking passionately about why these books should be removed from our schools. This is a compelling message you need to hear. You can listen to her comments in this YouTube video. (23 minute video)
Here’s the thing: the Nassau County School District takes a parent’s objection more seriously than one from Nassau CDF. For example, on June 24, 2024, Nassau CDF identified and reported 22 more books in our school libraries that violate Florida’s obscenity laws for minors. These books encourage dangerous behavior, confusion, and acting out. One of these, Sold, includes explicit scenes of rape, prostitution, and graphic violence. The Nassau County School District has taken NO action on the 22 books. This particular book is in Yulee, Hilliard, West Nassau, and Fernandina Beach high schools. (The Sold copy in Fernandina Beach Middle school is marked as “lost”.) Click the link above for excerpts if you want to see more about the book Sold and other books challenged in June of this year.
Jinger is one parent taking a stand, but if other parents join her, we have a real shot at stopping the Media Specialists, Superintendent, and School Board from keeping this garbage in our school libraries. Let’s focus on real education, not this nonsense.
Ready to take action? Click this link to easily send an email to school leadership. Customize the email as you see fit. Please be respectful and on point – “remove the obscene books now”.
If you want to connect with other parents and interested citizens, we are meeting this Thursday, October 17th to review the situation. Attend if you have any interest in finding out more or getting involved in any way. Parents especially welcome! If you want to attend this Thursday or get more information, call or text 470-295-4365 or submit a request through the Nassau CDF tip line.
Do a google search on “banned books” you will be amazed at the media blitz to defend these horrible obscene and dangerous books. Keeping these books on the shelves is supported by the entertainment industry, publishers, ACLU, George Soros Foundations, the sex industry, pedophiles, American Library Association, LGBTQIA++ community, Pen America, and many more. Why do you think they are so passionate about having these books in front of young children?
Jack Knocke
County Executive Director
Nassau Citizens Defending Freedom
Here are the rules governing obscene materials in schools:
1006.28 Duties of district school board, district school superintendent; and school principal regarding K-12 instructional materials.—
3. “Library media center” means any collection of books, ebooks, periodicals, or videos maintained and accessible on the site of a school, including in classrooms.
(2) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—The district school board has the constitutional duty and responsibility to select and provide adequate instructional materials for all students in accordance with the requirements of this part. The district school board also has the following specific duties and responsibilities:
(a) Courses of study; adoption.—Adopt courses of study, including instructional materials, for use in the schools of the district.
1. Each district school board is responsible for the content of all instructional materials and any other materials used in a classroom, made available in a school or classroom library, or included on a reading list, whether adopted and purchased from the state-adopted instructional materials list, adopted and purchased through a district instructional materials program under s. 1006.283, or otherwise purchased or made available.
2. Each district school board must adopt a policy regarding an objection by a parent or a resident of the county to the use of a specific material, which clearly describes a process to handle all objections and provides for resolution. The objection form, as prescribed by State Board of Education rule, and the district school board’s process must be easy to read and understand and be easily accessible on the homepage of the school district’s website. The objection form must also identify the school district point of contact and contact information for the submission of an objection. The process must provide the parent or resident the opportunity to proffer evidence to the district school board that:
a. An instructional material does not meet the criteria of s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c) if it was selected for use in a course or otherwise made available to students in the school district but was not subject to the public notice, review, comment, and hearing procedures under s. 1006.283(2)(b)8., 9., and 11.
b. Any material used in a classroom, made available in a school or classroom library, or included on a reading list contains content which:
(I) Is pornographic or prohibited under s. 847.012;
(II) Depicts or describes sexual conduct as defined in s. 847.001(19), unless such material is for a course required by s. 1003.46 or s. 1003.42(2)(o)1.g. or 3., or identified by State Board of Education rule;
(III) Is not suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented; or
(IV) Is inappropriate for the grade level and age group for which the material is used.
1006.40 Use of instructional materials allocation; instructional materials, library books, and reference books; repair of books.—
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/1006.40
Pornography
847.012 Harmful materials; sale or distribution to minors or using minors in production prohibited; penalty.—
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/847.012
School Board responsibility to review instructional materials
1006.283 District school board instructional materials review process.—
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/1006.283
Nassau County School board policies
https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/nassau/Board.nsf/Public#
8.31 – PARENTAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION
8.32 – LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS SELECTION AND CHALLENGES