Banning Books in Miami

[groovedaddy]

Schools are supposed to introduce children to a variety of ideas and viewpoints, but the Miami-Dade School Board decided a few years ago to put one viewpoint off limits. It banned the children’s book “A Visit to Cuba” from its school libraries because it said the book offers too positive a portrait of life under the Castro regime. That was bad enough, but then last week, a federal appeals court upheld the ban. The Supreme Court should reverse this disturbing ruling.

“A Visit to Cuba” and its Spanish edition, “Vamos a Cuba,” are part of a series of books for children ages 4 to 8 that introduces them to the geography, customs and daily life of different countries. The Miami-Dade County Public School District had 49 copies in its elementary and middle schools.

The father of an elementary-school student, complaining that the portrait of Cuba in the book was inaccurate, petitioned to have “A Visit to Cuba” pulled. The school superintendent denied the petition, but the school board overruled him. The board said it was acting because of inaccuracies and omissions in the book, but Miami’s strong anti-Castro political sentiment was undeniably a factor.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued and argued that pulling the book violated the First Amendment. The Federal District Court sided with the A.C.L.U. and ordered the school district to keep “A Visit to Cuba” available. But on appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta reversed and upheld the school board’s decision.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/opinion/11wed3.html?th&emc=th

[sui generis]

1. the "anti-castro" says it all

I totally get the why of being "anti-Castro", but by and large the organized groups that want to control message about culture to four year olds are bullies.

The ACLU has it right.

[a777pilot]

2. Banned Books?

So then you have no problem with the Bible as part of a public school's reading program? Good for you!

[Giuseppe Mazzini]

6. I don't think the Bible should be banned either.

I think there is a difference between what is actively taught in the school and what is held in the library were students can read it or choose not to. Miami is fiercely anti-Castro so I can see why they are so upset by this, many having lived under the Castro regime. I don't think this book should be part of the curriculum taught to students but should remain in the library. I fell the same about the Bible, Koran, Upanishads, etc.

[Jkid]

3. Schools should be prohbited from banning books.

Unless the content contains child porn or content inciting imminent lawless action.

[backtoblue]

4. i have mixed feelings

about what materials are appropriate for which ages. I also believe that if someone wrote a book about how wonderful and courageous Bush was during his tenure I would (for the first time in my life) like to see that book banned for false educational material.

[TellTheTruth82]

5. unfortunately

until history shows one way or the other, most Bush supporters are going to consider it is fact, while Bush detractors will say the opposite.