Our families and especially our children are the most important people in our lives. In these difficult times, I truly believe that everyone in our community wants what is best for our youth.
The Westfield Washington School system is one of the absolute best in the country. The facilities are modern and well kept, the teachers love our children and work tirelessly to educate and hold them to the highest standards, our resource officers would lay down their lives for ANY child in any of our schools and our school administration and board members want to continue to build upon the reputation that we already have.
Over the last few months, it has come to our attention that a number of books have been placed in some of the WWS elementary schools that deal with topics of sexuality and gender identity. These books are accessible to all elementary students and do not have to be checked out by the student meaning there is no record for the parents to know that they are looking at them.
Here is a list of some books on gender identity that our children currently have access to:
"I am Jazz"
"George"
"It Feels Good to Be Yourself"
"Julian is a Mermaid"
"Morris Micklewhite and the Tengerine Dress"
"One of a Kind Like Me"
"They, She, He, Me. Free to Be"
These books are inappropriate and confusing for elementary aged children.
Please join Unify Westfield in our effort to have these books removed from areas where they can be freely accessed in the schools and into the school counselor's office. Before discussing the topic of gender identity with students, the counselor must be required to receive written approval from the student's parent or legal guardian.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
April 19, 2021
April 18, 2021
I honestly did not think this would gain this much steam so fast but here we are and the response has just been overwhelming really. It feels like everyone is finally waking up to what is sitting right there on the shelves in those schools which is just wild to think about when you consider how long this has been going on right under our noses.
April 17, 2021
I was looking at the counter and realized we are almost at the one thousand mark which is just wild because I honestly thought it would take way longer to get here. If you could just ping a few neighbors today who are worried about the libraries imagine how fast we could hit that goal before the next board meeting happens.
Reached 100 supporters
April 16, 2021
367 Comments
Kris, there is a book called “How to Commit the Perfect Murder”. I would hope that we can agree that an elementary library isn’t the right place for that book. I don’t feel that by banning it from the elementary library I am forcing my beliefs on the children.
Parents of Elem. school age children should be dealing with these issues at home. Our schools are having a hard time teaching them how to read, write and do math. Issues like these are taking time away from learning/teaching the basic tools they need to serve life.
Enough is enough! Parents should be the only ones to educate their children on these matters. School should stick to fundamentals and courses they have always taught. As an educator and mother I am concerned we have crossed a very sensitive line.
I do not agree with these books at the elementary, intermediate, or middle school levels. This discussion should be left up to the parent(s) and school personnel should be involved on a case-by-case basis. The focus of education should be on core academic areas.
I agree it’s important for someone to understand their sexuality, but kids in preK-4th grade still struggle with learning basic English or math. These books will not only confuse them, but start a conversation that is needed between a trusted parent or guardian.
I have never supported banning books because I believe that all topics are worthy of being addressed. That said, I believe the topics of sexuality and gender are extremely advanced and challenging for many adults to understand. If a children have gender specific questions or are questioning their own gender, this is a mental health issue and needs to be explored and addressed by professionals alongside the parents. It is possible that some children may only be interested in learning more but not questioning their own gender. However, other children may be confused and struggling to understand their own mind/body connections. The only way to determine which of these situations is the case, is to place the books and any other gender sensitive literature in an area that can be easily monitored and administered by the school counselor, social worker, psychologist, etc.
Books can unlock a mantal adventure of knowledge for all youth it is the responsibility of adults to us wisdom in choosing appropriate books to produce the best. In each child’
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Our families and especially our children are the most important people in our lives. In these difficult times, I truly believe that everyone in our community wants what is best for our youth.
The Westfield Washington School system is one of the absolute best in the country. The facilities are modern and well kept, the teachers love our children and work tirelessly to educate and hold them to the highest standards, our resource officers would lay down their lives for ANY child in any of our schools and our school administration and board members want to continue to build upon the reputation that we already have.
Over the last few months, it has come to our attention that a number of books have been placed in some of the WWS elementary schools that deal with topics of sexuality and gender identity. These books are accessible to all elementary students and do not have to be checked out by the student meaning there is no record for the parents to know that they are looking at them.
Here is a list of some books on gender identity that our children currently have access to:
"I am Jazz"
"George"
"It Feels Good to Be Yourself"
"Julian is a Mermaid"
"Morris Micklewhite and the Tengerine Dress"
"One of a Kind Like Me"
"They, She, He, Me. Free to Be"
These books are inappropriate and confusing for elementary aged children.
Please join Unify Westfield in our effort to have these books removed from areas where they can be freely accessed in the schools and into the school counselor's office. Before discussing the topic of gender identity with students, the counselor must be required to receive written approval from the student's parent or legal guardian.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
April 19, 2021
April 18, 2021
I honestly did not think this would gain this much steam so fast but here we are and the response has just been overwhelming really. It feels like everyone is finally waking up to what is sitting right there on the shelves in those schools which is just wild to think about when you consider how long this has been going on right under our noses.
April 17, 2021
I was looking at the counter and realized we are almost at the one thousand mark which is just wild because I honestly thought it would take way longer to get here. If you could just ping a few neighbors today who are worried about the libraries imagine how fast we could hit that goal before the next board meeting happens.
Reached 100 supporters
April 16, 2021
367 Comments
These books should not be in elementary schools. Kids need to be kids and not be thinking about their sexuality. Who is purchasing and choosing these books for the shelves of our elementary schools? Librarians, PTO’s, teachers, ? The process needs to be revised it seems.
Kris, there is a book called “How to Commit the Perfect Murder”. I would hope that we can agree that an elementary library isn’t the right place for that book. I don’t feel that by banning it from the elementary library I am forcing my beliefs on the children.
Parents of Elem. school age children should be dealing with these issues at home. Our schools are having a hard time teaching them how to read, write and do math. Issues like these are taking time away from learning/teaching the basic tools they need to serve life.
Enough is enough! Parents should be the only ones to educate their children on these matters. School should stick to fundamentals and courses they have always taught. As an educator and mother I am concerned we have crossed a very sensitive line.
I do not agree with these books at the elementary, intermediate, or middle school levels. This discussion should be left up to the parent(s) and school personnel should be involved on a case-by-case basis. The focus of education should be on core academic areas.
I agree it’s important for someone to understand their sexuality, but kids in preK-4th grade still struggle with learning basic English or math. These books will not only confuse them, but start a conversation that is needed between a trusted parent or guardian.
I have never supported banning books because I believe that all topics are worthy of being addressed. That said, I believe the topics of sexuality and gender are extremely advanced and challenging for many adults to understand. If a children have gender specific questions or are questioning their own gender, this is a mental health issue and needs to be explored and addressed by professionals alongside the parents. It is possible that some children may only be interested in learning more but not questioning their own gender. However, other children may be confused and struggling to understand their own mind/body connections. The only way to determine which of these situations is the case, is to place the books and any other gender sensitive literature in an area that can be easily monitored and administered by the school counselor, social worker, psychologist, etc.
Books can unlock a mantal adventure of knowledge for all youth it is the responsibility of adults to us wisdom in choosing appropriate books to produce the best. In each child’
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These books should not be in elementary schools. Kids need to be kids and not be thinking about their sexuality. Who is purchasing and choosing these books for the shelves of our elementary schools? Librarians, PTO’s, teachers, ? The process needs to be revised it seems.