Florida Statute 847.012 (5) and (6) states “(5) An adult may not knowingly distribute to a minor on school property, or post on school property, any material described in subsection (3). As used in this subsection, the term “school property” means the grounds or facility of any kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, or secondary school, whether public or nonpublic. This subsection does not apply to the distribution or posting of school-approved instructional materials that by design serve as a major tool for assisting in the instruction of a subject or course by school officers, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, school volunteers, educational support employees, or managers as those terms are defined in s. 1012.01.
(6) Any person violating any provision of this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.”
There is a timeline of events at the end. We asked for the school board members who opposed the recommendation of Sheriff Judd and Superintendent Heid to be held accountable.
Difference between Opt In and Opt Out:
The few books in question are kept behind the librarian’s desk. They need their parent’s opt-in permission to access, essentially like an R-rating for a movie. MPAA rating for movies was established in 1968. This is also similar to an explicit content sticker on music (in effect since 1985, put in place by Tipper Gore and the PMRC), and the ESRB rating for video games, established in 1994. Opt-in leaves the books in place, with simple common safeguards for parents who are not engaged in their minor child’s schooling or are just too busy to pay attention. It’s a win for free speech as it leaves the books available for parents who want their minor to have access, so it leaves parental rights in place. Best part? No one has to remove or ban a book.
An opt-out leaves these books on the shelf, any student has unfettered access to them on the shelf and can read them in the media center. The student is not able to check the book out to take home with this option. A parent has to go through a list of up to 5000 books in their school’s library and opt out of their child from checking the book out. There is very little protection with opt-out.
The content in question includes books that contain graphic rape, graphic incestual pedophilia, suicide, and graphic bestiality, among other topics.