Library Exposed Reaches 100: Shedding Light on Controversial Books in Rockwood Schools
During a span of 17 months, the Library Exposed team has brought attention to 100 books that include controversial content. These books cater to all age ranges, from board books intended for Kindergartners to mature content intended for adults. The team has made a concerted effort to represent a broad spectrum of concerns across different age groups.
Reaching the milestone of 100 books is both a point of pride and concern for the team at Library Exposed. On one hand, they're proud of the time and effort invested in researching and posting about each book. However, the fact that there are 100 controversial books within the Rockwood School District is concerning. This emphasizes the necessity for a more comprehensive examination of books.
As the second-largest district in Missouri, the Rockwood School District serves nearly 20,000 students, making it unsurprising that some books could be considered controversial by parents. However, as a district that values “strong character, ethics, and integrity,” it raises questions about how that translates to safeguarding the well-being of the children under their care.
Rockwood emphasizes that they “share the responsibility for student learning, growth, and safety.” However, despite parents’ requests for an opt-in process instead of opt-out for library books, their concerns have been dismissed. The district must recognize the significance of parental involvement and strive to engage in open communication and collaboration. It's imperative for the district to ensure that its commitment to their values extends to creating a safe environment for all its students.
As long as the Rockwood School District fails to implement measures that safeguard the well-being of all students, the Library Exposed team will continue to shine the light on potentially harmful books. Their goal is to empower parents with the information necessary to make informed decisions about the reading materials their children are exposed to.