[notch656c]

I am very much against this law but I think "present in school" is much different than "curated."

I couldn't give a shit if kids were bringing Anarchist Cookbook and images of the tortures at Abu Dhabi prison to school. What the kid and his family obtain on their own through private means and choose to read in a public venue like a school IMO is none of my business.

If the teachers are curating books that disproportionately pushes certain non-academic agendas, though, then maybe the parents ought to have the right to guide the employment of that teacher to make sure it follows the desires of the voters. Criminal charges are insane though.

[CydeWeys]

What you're describing very much isn't happening, though. These books indeed were merely "present in school" on a book shelf. Nobody's being indoctrinated into practical terrorism in Florida schools by being forced to read the Anarchist's Cookbook or anything like that.

[unnouinceput]

He said: "...pushes certain non-academic agendas..".

Translation: Teachers are woke and shoving down the kids throat their political agenda.

[notch656c]

If the books in the school library just appear there with no influence by the school staff in charge of the libraries then I guess we can just fire the library staff. Then there's no one there to risk a felony. I didn't realize it was completely non-curated and unmanaged in Florida.

[crooked-v]

Teachers regularly have their own collections of books in classrooms, separate from those held by the school library.

[notch656c]

Are they completely non-curated? Kids just put whatever book they want there? If so I'd say the teacher isn't liable for what happens. If the teachers put the books or manages which books are there they are curated and that activity can be managed by the people paying the teacher, ie the taxpayers/representatives.

[hooverd]

Eh, I disagree. Teachers should be given some leeway in their pedagogy as long as they meet expectations.

[yamtaddle]

There's also the fact that you're selecting for some of the worst teachers by confining them to curriculum and harshly punishing deviation or expansion. The best teachers are good precisely because they do those things, and if you take that away it's not the same job anymore—they're just reading a script and serving as a mouthpiece for the state rather than serving the students the best they can. That's not what they signed up for. They'll leave.

Check teacher forums, this kind of over-management and micro-management are major reasons for discontent in the job, and one of several factors pushing good teachers out of teaching.

[crooked-v]

> and that activity can be managed by the people paying the teacher, ie the taxpayers/representatives

In this case, Florida has decided to manage that activity by making it a felony to merely happen to have a book on the shelf that's not on the pre-approved list.

[hooverd]

No one has yet to name any books.

[CydeWeys]

They know that the second they name any specific books that were actually present in classrooms, we'll all realize how ridiculous the outrage over such innocuous books actually is.