(Daily Caller)—Democratic lawmakers privately negotiated with the nation’s largest teachers union to craft a bill intended to combat bans of sexually explicit books in schools, according to a letter obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Right To Read Act was reintroduced by Democratic Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva and Democratic Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed in April 2023, and is intended to rebuff efforts by parents and Republican lawmakers to remove sexually explicit content from school libraries, according to a press release from the lawmakers. The bill also authorized $500 million in funding for school libraries and provides liability protections to school librarians and educators providing sexually explicit books to students.
A February 2023 letter signed by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Board of Directors outlines Sen. Jack Reed’s involvement with the National Educational Association (NEA) in crafting the Right To Read Act, suggesting Sen. Reed revised the bill’s language in response to comments from the teachers union. The revisions also removed language defining a “state-certified librarian” as responsible for curating library materials, according to the letter.
The DCNF previously reported that the American Library Association, of which the AASL is a subdivision, worked with Reed and Grijalva to help craft the legislation.
The letter, which was obtained through a public records request and addressed to former ALA President Lessa Pelayo-Lozada and the ALA Executive Board, suggests the NEA was advocating for paraprofessionals, not state-certified librarians, to perform the role of a school librarian.
“In early September 2022, Senator Reed’s office reached out to inform NEA via email they were working on the Right to Read Act, a ‘right to read legislation’ that would ‘include a definition of right to read, amendments to strengthen and expand access to school libraries and literacy programs, liability protections for librarians and teachers from state laws on book banning, etc,’” the AASL Board wrote. “Subsequently, Senator Reed’s office revised language in response to NEA comments about liability. AASL was not made aware that updated language in the definition of the right to read also removed the ‘state-certified school librarian’ responsibility for selection and curation of library materials.”
The AASL board disapproved of the revisions, writing that “the need for professional curation of school library collections is already under attack and this omission removes support expected by AASL members.”
Both the NEA and AASL support the Unite Against Book Ban campaign which advocates for sexually explicit books, such as Gender Queer, All Boys Aren’t Blue, and Lawn Boy, to remain in school libraries.
The letter states that representatives from ALA, AASL, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and NEA privately met to discuss the language of the Right To Read Act in December 2022. Per the letter, the teachers unions advocated to, “…enable paraprofessionals to work in the role of a fully certified school librarian,” which the School Librarians Association opposed.
The letter does not indicate that individuals representing Reed or Grijalva were present at this meeting, but states the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office recommended that future meetings between the library associations and teachers unions should be “lobbyist to lobbyist.”
As battles over the content standards of school libraries have erupted across the nation, some of those defending the right of minors to access sexually explicit content have cited the need for communities to trust the expertise of librarians to curate age-appropriate school library collections.
For example, ALA President Emily Drabinski was recently asked about the role of librarians in curating books with sexual content and said, “Librarians are professionals, we have master’s degrees.”
“We are experts in thinking about books and thinking about collections we build for everybody, not just the individual reader,” she continued.
In 2013 Drabinski, who has advocated for sexually explicit books to remain in school libraries, authored the academic paper, “Queering the Catalog: Queer Theory and the Politics of Correction,” which encourages librarians to incorporate Queer Theory into their curation practices.
Drabinski has also drawn criticism for openly identifying as a Marxist. In July, the Montana State Library Commission left the ALA stating, “Our oath of office and resulting duty to the Constitution forbids association with an organization led by a Marxist.”
State legislatures across the nation have engaged in legislation addressing the content of school libraries.
In an interview discussing Illinois HB 2789, a bill which prohibits alleged ‘Book Bans’ and requires libraries adopt the ALA’s Bill of Rights, Governor J.B. Pritzker was asked about parental objections to children accessing Gender Queer, a book known for its sexually explicit content, without their permission.
“Communities hire the librarians in their libraries, they’re experts at this and all we’re really saying is that the libraries need to adopt a standard,” Pritzker replied. “There has to be some kind of a standard that they are living by and that bill of rights that the American Library Association has put forward is one that simply says you can take a book of the shelf simply for personal disapproval. Remember there is some other family that might think that book is just fine.”
Conservative groups, such as Moms For Liberty, have advocated for school libraries use objective standards to determine the age-appropriateness of school library materials.
In a private ALA member forum Christopher Harris, an ALA Senior Policy Fellow, raised concerns over the use of the word ‘appropriate’ writing, “..school libraries are taking a beating right now over the word appropriate.”
“My concern is that the word appropriate is subjective and personal. Each person will have a determination of what they consider to be appropriate. The word relevant is more objective and norms-based. Relevance feels more like a condition that is set from the outside rather than determined from internal consideration. And so, I would like to invite some feedback on possibly asking ALA and OIF to switch from “developmentally appropriate” to “developmentally relevant” as the phrase of choice for discussing book selection and placement.”
The Right To Read Act was reintroduced in April 2023 with the full support of the AASL. The AASL, ALA, NEA, and Senator Reed did not respond to a request for comment.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
