"Vamos a Cuba" Banned
June 17, 2006
Remember Vamos a Cuba, which I mentioned in April? The Miami-Dade school board banned the informational picture book this week. Going against the recommendations of school chief Rudy Crew and two advisory committees, the board voted on Wednesday to remove it from all schools in the Miami-Dade County school system. Terry Aguayo reports in the New York Times,
The book is part of a 24-book series for children in kindergarten through second grade that teaches about travel around the world and different cultures. The other 23 books will also be removed, though the board received no complaints about them.
What in the world? As Book Moot would say, the know-nothings strike again.
Update, 6/22. Click here for information about a law suit being filed by the ACLU and others.
At least their know-nothingness made the paper. The world can as least point and laugh and shake their head and cry.
It is even more horrible when bannings happen behind the scenes, out of public view; when it does not make the paper, when employees are afraid to talk about it for fear of losing their jobs. The frustration of it all, hoo boy.
Posted by: Camille | June 17, 2006 at 07:47 PM
Yes, good point, Camille.
A whole series of books removed from schools because of one parent complaint. Idiotic.
Posted by: Susan | June 17, 2006 at 07:51 PM
Why doesn't anyone sue these idiots for wasting their tax money?!
Posted by: web | June 17, 2006 at 09:48 PM
There are folks, in the know, who are removed enough to set things in motion but then the troops on the frontlines would be in the crosshairs for leaking what happened. Revenge would be swift.
I still think there should be a "book challenge fee" charged for anyone starting a challenge. The fee would cover the cost of new books to replace the ones the criminally-knowledge-challenged want removed. They should have to pay for their fun.
Posted by: Camille | June 19, 2006 at 11:39 AM