Retired Escambia County teacher Linda Fussell pushes back the movement to remove books approved by the district’s review from public schools.
The Escambia County School District has over 150 books under review. Those that pass the scrutiny of the district’s review panel are being challenged and brought before the school board. To date, the board has removed every book brought to them.
“I think the district committee process is pretty good,” Fussell said on WCOA. “You have a group of people who are like boots on the ground people – administrators, media specialists, teachers, a parent with a kid in the school and a community member. They come together and read the book. The laws have been explained to them,and they look at it, talk about it, and determine if it is worthwhile. Is it a piece that is valuable? Can it be kept in the libraries?
She continued, ” For the school board to not take the recommendations of that district committee – that they put together themselves as part of their policy that they agreed to in December – is very frustrating because these are the professional people. They have degrees; they have certifications, so it is very important I think because they know what’s going on with the kids. The process is good.”
Fussell, who taught in Escambia County schools for 24 years, pointed out the district has struggled getting children to read at their grade level.
“I know that teachers are working tremendously hard in Escambia County now and when I was working also. They work every day at writing. They work every day at reading, and sometimes it is more challenging to find a book that a kid will like and that will engage them,” the retired teacher shared.
“And I know that media specialists are particularly hardworking. They know a lot about their school, they know a lot about their students, and they order books based on professional reviews, as well as the interest of the kids. So all of that goes into picking and choosing a book.”
