Tag Archives: censorship

HB 1815: forbidden fruit, this time with feeling…

06 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Toss a book or two or more in:

Missouri in the 21st Century.

Bill prefiling for the Missouri General Assembly session started on December 1st.

Yet another bill, addressing a matter of great urgency for right wingnuts, filed today:

HB 1815
Prohibits public schools from using any curriculum implementing critical race theory
Sponsor: Schroer, Nick (107)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2022
LR Number: 4178H.01I
Last Action: 12/06/2021 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1815
Next House Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar

The bill language:

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1815
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHROER.
4178H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 170, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to curricula used in
public schools.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 170, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 170.353, to read as follows:

170.353. 1. As used in this section, “curriculum implementing critical race theory” includes, but is not limited to, any curriculum that:
(1) Identifies people or groups of people, entities, or institutions in the United States as inherently, immutably, or systemically sexist, racist, biased, privileged, or oppressed; and
(2) Employs immutable, inherited, or objective characteristics such as race, income, appearance, family of origin, or sexual orientation to:
(a) Define a person’s identity;
(b) Classify persons into groups for any purpose including, but not limited to, the targeting of only certain groups for education, formation, indoctrination, viewpoint, or transformation;
(c) Perpetuate stereotypes; or
(d) Assign blame to categories of persons regardless of the actions of particular individuals.
2. For purposes of this section, a curriculum implementing critical race theory includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) The 1619 Project initiative of the New York Times;
(2) The Learning for Justice Curriculum of the Southern Poverty Law Center;
(3) Teaching Tolerance, or any successor curriculum;
(4) We Stories;
(5) Programs of Educational Equity Consultants; or
(6) Any other similar predecessor or successor curriculum.
3. No school district, charter school, or personnel or agent of such school district or charter school shall:
(1) Teach, use, or provide for use by any pupil any curriculum implementing critical race theory as part of any curriculum, course materials, or instruction in any course given in such school district or charter school; or
(2) Teach, affirm, or promote as an accurate account or representation of the founding and history of the United States of America any of the claims, views, or opinions presented in the 1619 Project as part of any curriculum, course materials, or instruction in any course given in such school district or charter school.

Show us on the curriculum or course materials where the actual facts influenced you…

Previously:

HB 1634: forbidden fruit (December 5, 2021)

HB 1634: forbidden fruit

05 Sunday Dec 2021

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Apparently books with ‘things’ in them and any discussion thereof are really scary.

“…to ensure that the intellectual vitality of students and faculty is not infringed, the general assembly hereby enacts the following reform for history curricula used in schools and institutions of higher education in this state…”

Stack ’em and burn ’em. That’s next.

Bill prefiling for the Missouri General Assembly session started on December 1st.

Yet another bill, addressing a matter of great urgency for right wingnuts:

HB 1634
Prohibits the use of any curriculum implementing critical race theory in the public schools and institutions of higher education of the state.
Sponsor: Seitz, Brian (156)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2022
LR Number: 3667H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2021 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1634
Next House Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar

The bill language:

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1634
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE SEITZ.
3667H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 170, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to curricula
implementing critical race theory.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 170, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 170.353, to read as follows:

170.353. 1. In accordance with Article IX, Section 1(a) of the Missouri Constitution, which states that “A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people”, and to ensure that the intellectual vitality of students and faculty is not infringed, the general assembly hereby enacts the following reform for history curricula used in schools and institutions of higher education in this state.
2. As used in this section, “curriculum implementing critical race theory” includes, but is not limited to, any curriculum that:
(1) Identifies people or groups of people, entities, or institutions in the United States as inherently, immutably, or systemically sexist, racist, anti-LGBT, bigoted, biased, privileged, or oppressed; and
(2) Employs immutable, inherited, or typically continuing characteristics such as race, income, appearance, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, or gender identity to:
(a) Perpetuate stereotypes; and
(b) Assign blame for societal problems or ills to categories of living persons based on any such stereotypes or characteristics; or
(3) Classifies persons into groups for the purpose of targeting only certain groups for education, formation, indoctrination, or viewpoint transformation, other than separation of students by biological sex where appropriate and conducive for state20 mandated sex education instruction.
3. For purposes of this section, curriculum implementing critical race theory includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) The 1619 Project initiative of the New York Times;
(2) The Learning for Justice Curriculum of the Southern Poverty Law Center;
(3) We Stories;
(4) Programs of:
(a) Educational Equity Consultants;
(b) BLM at School;
(c) Teaching for Change; or
(d) The Zinn Education Project; or
(5) Any other similar predecessor or successor curriculum.
4. No state department, school district, charter school, online instruction funded in any manner by the general assembly, or personnel or agent of such state department, school district, charter school, or online instruction shall teach, use, or provide for use by any pupil any curriculum, instructional material, or assignment designed to teach components of critical race theory as part of any curriculum, course syllabus, or instruction in any course or program of study.
5. (1) If the state board of education determines that a publicly funded local education agency or online program of instruction has violated this section, the board shall notify the entity of its violation.
(2) If such entity fails to comply with this section within thirty days of such notification, the state board of education shall direct the department of elementary and secondary education to withhold a maximum of ten percent of the monthly distribution of state formula funding to such entity. After the board determines that such entity is in compliance with this section, the department shall restore the distribution of the funding to its original amount before the percentage of the distribution was withheld.
6. (1) If the attorney general determines that a two-year or four-year institution of higher education that receives state moneys has violated this section, the attorney general shall notify the institution of its violation.
(2) If such institution fails to comply with this section within thirty days of such notification, the attorney general may direct the department of higher education and workforce development to withhold a maximum of ten percent of the distribution of state funding to such institution. After the attorney general determines that such institution is in compliance with this section, the attorney general shall notify the department to restore the distribution of state funding for the institution to its original amount before the reduction was made if any such funding was withheld.
7. This section shall not be construed to:
(1) Inhibit or violate the First Amendment rights of students or faculty;
(2) Undermine the duty of a public institution of higher education to protect intellectual freedom and free expression to the fullest degree; or
(3) Prevent a public institution of higher education from promoting racial, cultural, ethnic, intellectual, or academic diversity or inclusiveness, provided such efforts are consistent with the provisions of this section.

“…This section shall not be construed to…Inhibit or violate the First Amendment rights of students or faculty; Undermine the duty of a public institution of higher education to protect intellectual freedom and free expression to the fullest degree; or Prevent a public institution of higher education from promoting racial, cultural, ethnic, intellectual, or academic diversity or inclusiveness, provided such efforts are consistent with the provisions of this section…”

It does just that:

“…No state department, school district, charter school, online instruction funded in any manner by the general assembly, or personnel or agent of such state department, school district, charter school, or online instruction shall teach, use, or provide for use by any pupil any curriculum, instructional material, or assignment designed to teach components of critical race theory as part of any curriculum, course syllabus, or instruction in any course or program of study…”

What, we’re all stupid?

“…If such institution fails to comply with this section within thirty days of such notification, the attorney general may direct the department of higher education and workforce development to withhold a maximum of ten percent of the distribution of state funding to such institution…”

Must have left out the part about reeducation camps. That’ll get fixed with an amendment.

HB 1457: You were expecting something else?

02 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Bill prefiling for the Missouri General Assembly session started yesterday.

Another bill, addressing a matter of great urgency for right wingnuts:

HB 1457
Prohibits the use of the 1619 Project initiative of the New York Times in the public schools of the state
Sponsor: Billington, Hardy (152)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2022
LR Number: 3087H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2021 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1457
Next House Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar

The bill text:

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1457 [pdf]
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BILLINGTON.
3087H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 170, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the 1619 Project
in school districts and charter schools.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Sect ion A. Chapter 170, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to beknown as section 170.352, to read as follows:
170.352. 1. As used in this section, “1619 Project” means the 1619 Project initiative of the New York Times.
2. No school district, charter school, or personnel or agent of such school district or charter school shall:
(1) Teach, use, or provide for use by any pupil the 1619 Project as part of any curriculum, course materials, or instruction in any course given in such school district or charter school; or
(2) Teach, affirm, or promote as an accurate account or representation of the founding and history of the United States of America any of the claims, views, or opinions presented in the 1619 Project as part of any curriculum, course materials, or instruction in any course given in such school district or charter school.

It’s all about the details. You’d think there’d be something about purging any of those same materials in associated libraries. Publicly burning them is the customary method.

If a society is afraid of words written on a page it has much bigger problems than those words written on a page.

There are barbarians at the gate

27 Saturday Nov 2021

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Because it had to be stated:

MO Library Assoc. @MOlibraries
On behalf of our members, member institutions and professional ethical standards, we at the Missouri Library Association (MLA) stand with librarians, library workers, and other educators in the state of Missouri as they select and provide access to their collections for readers.
1:14 PM · Nov 27, 2021

We further support the processes and procedures our libraries have in place to deal with challenges with concerned parents and community members and are deeply troubled by efforts to circumvent these processes for political gain or as a result of moral panic. (2 of 14)

Libraries as public institutions have existed in the United States for over 250 years. Each year, we promote our foundational ideals, provide access for our patrons, and find better and more equitable avenues to improve our institutions. (3 of 14)

Perhaps our most important guiding principle comes from Ranganathan: “Every reader, their book and every book, its reader.”
The “freedom to read” is more than just a shorthand for encouraging curiosity and inquiry. It is a pillar of our democracy. (4 of 14)

Intellectual freedom means that all of us have the right to explore and engage with the ideas we choose, and to be informed about the world around us. Adults have intellectual freedom, but so do youth. (5 of 14)

We support @MASLOnline’s statement that says, “Students should have choices in what books they read.” We librarians are skilled, credentialed and thoughtful professionals who make it our work to champion inquiry, curiosity, democracy and access to information. (6 of 14)

Librarians support the rights of parents to choose books for their own children, but not the rights of one person to choose what books are right for an entire classroom, school, or public. (7 of 14)

Through our deep immersion in books and materials, librarians and library workers understand the greater context of knowledge and understanding facilitated through our collections. (8 of 14)

We reject the claim that removing, labeling, or relocating a title will somehow shield children from the ideas contained within, especially in the context of our connected digital world. (9 of 14)

We further reject the notion that anyone can perform the work we do without significant engagement with the professional ethics and expertise of librarianship. Public and school libraries are safe places for children to encounter ideas in an environment that nurtures curiosity.

Occasionally these encounters will include ideas that might be challenging. We support the right of readers to be challenged, to learn, and to grow. Librarians and educators are the critical connection between readers and their books. (11 of 14)

It is our responsibility to champion these rights.
We support the expertise, thoughtfulness, and care exercised by thousands of librarians, library workers, and educators in the state of Missouri to foster the curiosity and inquiry that lives in young people. (12 of 14)

Signed Cindy Thompson, Missouri Library Association President
Members of the Missouri Library Association Board
Members of the Missouri Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee

[….]

To do otherwise would be…uncivilized.

HB 952: making the trains run on time

19 Monday Apr 2021

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

So much for local control.

Apparently, for right wingnuts, there is only the one true amendment.

A bill, sponsored by Brian Seitz (r)

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 952 {pdf]
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE SEITZ.
2087H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 170, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the 1619 Project in school districts and charter schools.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 170, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 170.352, to read as follows:

170.352. 1. As used in this section, “1619 Project” means the 1619 Project initiative of the New York Times.

2. No school district, charter school, or personnel or agent of such school district or charter school shall:
(1) Teach, use, or provide for use by any pupil the 1619 Project as part of any curriculum, course materials, or instruction in any course given in such school district or charter school; or
(2) Teach, affirm, or promote as an accurate account or representation of the founding and history of the United States of America any of the claims, views, or opinions presented in the 1619 Project as part of any curriculum, course materials, or instruction in any course given in such school district or charter school.

Is there a grading rubric if it’s used as a reference in a student research paper?

Be afraid, be very afraid.

When knowledge is outlawed, only outlaws will have knowledge.

HB 2044: Wouldn’t it just be easier to burn all of the books?

16 Thursday Jan 2020

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Just asking.

A bill:

HB 2044
Establishes the “Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act”
Sponsor: Baker, Ben (160)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2020
LR Number: 4634H.01I
Last Action: 01/09/2020 – Read Second Time (H)
Bill String: HB 2044
Next House Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar

The devil is in the details:

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2044 [pdf]
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BAKER.

4634H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To repeal section 181.060, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to parental oversight of public libraries, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

[….]

5. No public library shall receive any state aid under this section if such library allows minors to access age-inappropriate sexual materials in violation of section 182.821.

182.821. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act”.

2. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1) “Age-inappropriate sexual material”, any description or representation, in any form, of nudity, sexuality, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse, that:
(a) Taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of minors;
(b) Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is appropriate material for minors; and
(c) Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors;

(2) “Geographical area”, any village, town, city, county, library district, or other area with established boundaries in which a library is established or for which a library is established to provide library services;

(3) “Public library”, any library that receives state aid under section 181.060 and that provides public access to age-inappropriate sexual material.

3. Each public library shall establish a parental library review board as provided in this subsection.
(1) At least thirty calendar days before the election of a board under this subsection, the governing body of the public library shall notify all qualified voters residing within the library’s geographical area that an election for members of the library’s parental library review board will be held at a regularly convened hearing of the village, town, city, or county in which the majority of the library’s geographical area lies. At such hearing, the qualified voters present shall elect the members of the board by a majority vote. The five individuals receiving the highest number of votes cast by the qualified voters present shall be members of the board.
(2) The board shall be composed of five adult residents of the public library’s geographical area. Each board member shall serve a term of two years. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner in which the member was initially elected, except that if a member vacates the office before the end of the member’s term, the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term only. No member of the board shall receive any compensation for any actions related to fulfilling board duties. No member of the board shall be an employee of the library, the state, or any political subdivision thereof.
(3) (a) The board shall determine whether any sexual material provided to the public by the public library is age-inappropriate sexual material. To make such determinations, the board shall convene public hearings at which members of the community may present concerns to the board. After receiving comments from the public, the board shall examine individual instances of the questioned sexual material to determine whether it is age-inappropriate sexual material under this section.
(b) The board may order any material deemed to be age-inappropriate sexual material to be removed from public access by minors at the public library.
(c) Any such determination or order made by the board shall be the final determination or order on such materials, and shall not be subject to any review by the governing body of the public library, the state, or any political subdivision thereof. This subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit judicial review of any determination or order made by the board under this section.

4. Each public library shall, on or before June thirtieth of each year, verify compliance with this section on any form created by the board. After such compliance is verified, the library shall post the verification in a conspicuous place for public viewing at the library.

5. Any public library personnel who willfully neglects or refuses to perform any duty imposed on a public library under this section, or who willfully violates any provision of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year.

Wait, how are we supposed to elect the book burning brigade?

“…At least thirty calendar days before the election of a board under this subsection, the governing body of the public library shall notify all qualified voters residing within the library’s geographical area that an election for members of the library’s parental library review board will be held at a regularly convened hearing of the village, town, city, or county in which the majority of the library’s geographical area lies. At such hearing, the qualified voters present shall elect the members of the board by a majority vote. The five individuals receiving the highest number of votes cast by the qualified voters present shall be members of the board…”

Uh, who counts the votes? What happens if there’s a dispute about the election or the vote count?

“…To make such determinations, the board shall convene public hearings at which members of the community may present concerns to the board….”

Ah, public governance by pearl clutchers.

That’s never a good idea.

Wait, if a member of the public is not a parent can they run for the book burning “parental” review board? Just asking.

“…Any public library personnel who willfully neglects or refuses to perform any duty imposed on a public library under this section, or who willfully violates any provision of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year.”

First they came for the librarians who made classic and new juvenile literature available to juveniles…

Meanwhile, in Jefferson City

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

What is it with parades in Jefferson City? Yesterday, a Labor Day parade (think about that for a second).

The evil red t-shirt:

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – the red t-shirt [2018 file photo].

We received the following account via e-mail:

Members of Jefferson City Moms Demand Action went to the Jefferson City Labor Day parade Saturday, September 8th in our red t-shirts to split up and march with the various candidates for public office who have earned our Gun Sense Candidate of Distinction designation.

I was told by a parade organizer that we were not welcome to wear our t-shirts in the parade. I thought maybe he had misunderstood our presence and thought we were planning to march as a contingent without a permit. I went over and over the distinction with him to no avail; he wasn’t budging. The police were consulted and threatened us with a citation if we wore our shirts without turning them inside out or covering them with a jacket.

We complied because we didn’t want to cause a scene which would reflect poorly on our candidates or our organization.

It is surely unconstitutional for anyone to have to give up their freedom of speech to participate in a parade supported by city funding for police presence and logistics.

As a private citizen (not a Moms Demand official), I have demanded a public apology from the mayor, city council, and chief of police; and a public reprimand of the parade organizers and police department be printed in the newspaper on the editorial page post haste and repeated in the subsequent Sunday edition. I have also submitted my complaint to ACLU Missouri.

Sue Gibson
Jefferson City

Somebody has some explaining to do.

Labor Day, huh? What ever happened to solidarity?

And, well, newspapers never do anything they don’t want to do.

Previously:

On understanding what it is to be patriotic (July4, 2018)

The Post-Dispatch censors Kinder’s stream of twitter consciousness

15 Friday Oct 2010

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

If you think that the Post-Dispatch is still a significant source for local and state information, take a look at this posting from FiredUP Missouri. In short, it seems that the editors at the Post-Dispatch trimmed an article by Tony Messenger about the poor relations between Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and Governor Nixon, deleting references to some very extreme and inflammatory statements that Kinder has sent out on twitter. Read the FiredUp post for the details. To say the least, the account does not inspire confidence in the Post-Dispatch.

The bowdlerized Post-Dispatch article that appeared in the print edition (as opposed to the original online article that was also cut significantly) did leave in a tidbit that struck me as revelatory. Kinder opposed a transfer of $9 million dollars from a first-time home buyer tax credit program that Nixon wanted to use to help pay for work at the the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center in St. Louis. The tax credits were not being used and the transfer had been approved by the legislature. After Nixon broached the issue with Kinder, Kinder did an about face and the Housing Commission Board on which he serves voted to okay the transfer, but not without Kinder petulantly declaring:

Had Gov. Nixon merely explained the request and shown up in person to ask for $9 million, it would have passed the first time it came before the commission.

A little arrogant maybe? Does Kinder think he’s Don Corleone holding court for supplicants?

Why did Kinder, or the Board, for that matter, require a special, personal visit from the governor to explain the situation. I may not understand how things work in Jefferson City, but in my past work life, I distinctly remember firing off emails to my Director or even requesting meetings when I had concerns abut her proposals. Maybe I’m naive, but I’m willing to bet that Kinder could have managed to do something like that if he were interested in getting things done rather than grandstanding.