{"id":2067416,"date":"2023-10-14T13:47:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T17:47:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parents-outraged-after-students-exposed-to-inappropriate-book-content-in-florida-schools\/"},"modified":"2023-10-14T13:50:46","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T17:50:46","slug":"parents-outraged-after-students-exposed-to-inappropriate-book-content-in-florida-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parents-outraged-after-students-exposed-to-inappropriate-book-content-in-florida-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents furious over inappropriate book content exposed to students in Florida schools."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fparents-outraged-after-students-exposed-to-inappropriate-book-content-in-florida-schools%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2067416&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<p>A Florida school district claims that parents are responsible for preventing inappropriate content from\u2063 reaching their children through\u200b an online reading program provided by the district. However, the Florida\u200d Department of\u200b Education disagrees.<\/p>\n<p>During the 2022-2023 school year, Kristy \u200cL. Agerton-Marshall made a \u200bdisturbing \u2063discovery. Her\u2064 eight-year-old daughter, a third-grade student, was being exposed to books with content that is prohibited in schools by Florida laws. \u200bWhat&#8217;s \u200deven more concerning is that these books were recommended to her daughter through \u200da reading program \u2063on \u2062the school district&#8217;s website.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As a parent, I&#8217;m frustrated and \u200bangry. I just want \u2063my child to learn\u200d about American history, not be exposed to discussions about gender identity,&#8221; said Kristy Agerton-Marshall. &#8220;I \u2064searched online for books on American history for\u200d my daughter to read\u200c and couldn&#8217;t find any. Instead, there&#8217;s an abundance of LGBTQ and gender ideology content.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/anthony-furey-heres-the-issue-with-gender-ideology-in-the-classroom-5496167?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Anthony Furey: Here\u2019s \u200bthe Problem With Gender Ideology in \u2063the Classroom<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; Published on\u200c 9\/22\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/health\/children-groomed-for-trans-lifestyle-by-gender-ideology-in-schools-experts-5154235?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Children Groomed for\u200d Trans \u200dLifestyle by Gender Ideology in Schools: Experts<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; Published\u2064 on\u2062 3\/28\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Mrs. Agerton-Marshall \u2063expressed her frustration \u2062with not receiving answers \u200cand being\u2062 told\u2062 that it&#8217;s\u2062 her responsibility to block the inappropriate content. She \u2063emphasized that she only discovers the content\u200d after her daughter has\u200c already been exposed\u200c to \u2062it, as \u2064it is often hidden within the books.<\/p>\n<p>After \u2064sharing her discovery\u2064 on social media, Mrs. Agerton-Marshall realized\u2064 that many other parents\u2062 shared her outrage.<\/p>\n<p>Ryan Kennedy, Program Manager of \u2064Education Policy &#038; Advocacy for \u200dFlorida Citizens Alliance, stated, &#8220;Many counties in Florida are not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/buttigieg-says-transportation-department-working-to-avert-summer-travel-disruptions-amid-demand-surge\/\" title=\"Buttigieg: Transportation Dept. Preventing Summer Travel Disruptions Amid High Demand.\">taking proactive measures<\/a> to remove this inappropriate material, despite it being illegal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>The\u200d Books<\/h2>\n<p>During the 2022-2023 school year, Mrs. Agerton-Marshall&#8217;s daughter, a third-grader at \u200cBratt Elementary, was exposed to books with content prohibited by Florida laws. These \u2064books were\u2063 recommended to her through \u2063a reading program on\u2062 her personal Chromebook \u2064while completing her Accelerated Reader assignments.<\/p>\n<p>Even \u200cwith &#8220;strict parental\u200b settings,&#8221; Mrs. Agerton-Marshall&#8217;s daughter encountered the same prohibited\u2063 content as a fourth-grader\u2064 at Byrneville Elementary, a\u2063 charter school, during school hours \u2063using her district-issued Chromebook.<\/p>\n<p>One \u200dof\u200d the books, titled \u2064&#8221;My Sister Daisey,&#8221;\u2064 provides a \u200bgentle introduction to gender identity and acceptance, according to a book review by Andrew\u2063 Hacket.<\/p>\n<p>A screenshot provided by Mrs. Agerton-Marshall shows that the \u2063search\u200c term &#8220;LGBTQ&#8221;\u200d resulted in 10 books selected\u2063 for \u2063her daughter by\u200c the &#8220;myON&#8221; reading program.<\/p>\n<p>Another book, &#8220;People of Pride&#8221; by Chase Clemesha,\u200b features the biographies of\u2063 25 LGBTQ\u200d Americans.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8220;Each District School\u2063 Board is Responsible&#8221;<\/h2>\n<p>The Florida Department of Education confirmed that\u2064 providing online access to these books violates Florida laws. According to Cailey Myers, Communications Director for \u2062the Florida \u200cDOE, each district school board \u2063is \u2064responsible for the content made available \u200cto students.<\/p>\n<p>Florida\u200c Statute \u200d(F.S.), section 1006.28(2)(a)1., states that &#8220;Each district school board \u200dis responsible for the content of\u2062 all instructional materials and any other materials used in a classroom, made \u200bavailable in a school library, \u200dor included on\u200b a reading list.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Myers also emphasized that parents\u200d have the right \u2063to object to specific materials, and districts must have processes\u2063 in\u2062 place to\u2062 address \u200bthese\u200c objections.<\/p>\n<p>House \u200bBill 1069, signed\u2063 into law by\u200c Governor Ron \u200bDeSantis,\u200c requires districts to remove materials objected to due \u200bto pornographic content or depiction of sexual conduct within \u200dfive school days.\u200d House\u200c Bill 1467 mandates elementary schools to publish a searchable list of materials in their \u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-were-not-going-to-keep-taking-it-tempers-flare-as-floridas-lgbt-community-loses-ground\/\" title=\"Florida's LGBT community is growing increasingly frustrated as they face setbacks and discrimination.\">library media centers<\/a> and reading lists on their websites.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Top-Quality, \u200dComprehensive Education&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>The Epoch Times reached out to Escambia County Public \u2064Schools Superintendent\u200d Keith Leonard for comment. \u2063Cody Strother, \u2064Communications Director for\u2063 the\u2064 District, stated that Florida Attorney General Ashley \u2064Moody believes that the law applies\u2062 to formal classroom instruction\u2063 but not to self-selected \u200blibrary materials.<\/p>\n<p>Parents\u2062 in Escambia County Public Schools have \u200dthe ability to\u2063 restrict their students&#8217;\u200d access to objectionable material. The district has \u2062provided parents with a new process to limit their students&#8217; library media access through the Focus \u200bGrade Portal.<\/p>\n<p>The district&#8217;s Information\u2064 Technology team is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parents-outraged-after-students-exposed-to-inappropriate-book-content-in-florida-schools\/\" title=\"Parents furious over inappropriate book content exposed to students in Florida schools.\">continuously updating \u2063security measures<\/a> to ensure appropriate internet accessibility. The\u2063 district \u200cis committed to providing \u2063students \u200cwith \u200ba top-quality \u200beducation while complying \u200cwith state statutes.<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Myers \u2063highlighted that\u200d Florida \u200chas comprehensive rules and statutes in place to protect students and parents&#8217; rights. She\u200b warned that districts and superintendents who fail to follow\u2064 Florida\u200b law are putting themselves at\u200d risk.<\/p>\n<p>In response, Linda Germain, vice president\u200c of marketing\u2063 for Renaissance\u200b Learning,\u200d stated that their product allows districts to determine access to specific titles in accordance with local laws and \u200bguidelines.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What steps can be \u200dtaken to empower parents to have a say in the content their children are \u2062exposed\u2063 to through online programs<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u200cOm.&#8221; This\u200d includes online programs and\u200d resources provided by the school district.<\/p>\n<p>The Florida\u200d Department of\u200b Education emphasized that parents should \u2062not be \u2062burdened with \u200bthe responsibility of preventing inappropriate content from reaching their children through online\u2063 reading programs. Instead,\u2062 it is the\u200b duty \u200cof the district school \u2062boards to\u200b ensure that all materials and resources provided to students comply with Florida laws and regulations.<\/p>\n<p>However, Mrs. Agerton-Marshall&#8217;s experience and the response she\u2062 received from the school district suggest that this responsibility is not being\u2062 effectively\u2064 fulfilled. Parents like Mrs. Agerton-Marshall \u2064are left frustrated\u2064 and concerned about the \u200bexposure of their children to content that goes against their values and beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>The availability of books discussing gender\u200d identity and LGBTQ-related topics in \u200ban online reading program\u200b targeted at young students raises questions about the appropriateness of the content and whether it aligns with the educational objectives of the program. While it is important \u2064to promote \u2063inclusivity and diversity in education, it \u200dshould be done in a\u2062 manner that respects the \u200cvalues and beliefs of\u2064 all\u200b families.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 disagreement between the Florida\u200d Department of\u200b Education \u2062and\u200c the school district highlights a broader issue in the education system. Ensuring that students\u200d receive a well-rounded and age-appropriate education requires a collaborative effort\u2062 between parents, educators,\u2064 and\u200c policymakers. There should be \u200bclear guidelines and standards in place to\u2063 regulate the content of educational materials and resources, especially those delivered online.<\/p>\n<p>While it is essential to provide students with access to \u2062a variety of literature, it is equally \u2063important to ensure that the \u200ccontent is suitable for their age group and does not infringe upon any laws or regulations. It is\u200d the responsibility of the district \u2064school boards to scrutinize and validate the\u200c content provided to students through online programs\u200b and resources.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the disagreement \u200cbetween the Florida\u200d Department of\u200b Education and \u2064the\u200d school district regarding the\u200d responsibility for preventing \u2062inappropriate content from reaching students through an online reading program highlights the complexities of providing a\u200b well-rounded education while respecting the values and beliefs \u2064of all\u200c families. There is a need for clearer guidelines\u200b and standards\u2063 in place to regulate the content \u200dof educational materials and resources, particularly those delivered online. It is crucial for district school boards \u200bto fulfill their responsibility\u200c of ensuring that all materials provided to students comply with Florida laws and\u200b regulations. Empowering parents to have a say in the content their children are exposed to\u2062 through online programs is also a necessary \u2063step towards fostering \u200dtrust and collaboration between\u2063 parents and the education system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Florida school district claims parents must prevent inappropriate content in an online reading program provided to students. However, the Florida Department of Education disagrees. In 2022-2023, Kristy L. Agerton-Marshall found her third-grade daughter exposed to prohibited books at school.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":225,"featured_media":2067417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2067416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/225"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2067416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2067417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2067416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2067416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2067416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}