The Roane County Board of Education heard from a student on the library books controversy during its March meeting.
Alyvia Bitterly, a junior at Roane County High School, addressed the board during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“Every book within not just our libraries but the United States of America is written with meaning,” she said. “Books within our system are picked out to provide interest, information and enlightenment to all students.”
Library books and what’s appropriate and what’s not has been a hot topic this school year. Things have gotten so heated that Director of Schools Russell K. Jenkins reported librarians and principals being harassed at church and at the grocery store.
“I had multiple things that prompted me to speak out on the book issue,” Bitterly said. “However, the most prominent one is the lack of understanding of the challenged books. The books being challenged have topics that require critical thinking and awareness. Another thing is the effort to censor students which can affect their education.”
More than a dozen library books have been removed by the school system because of citizen complaints.
“Concealing our students will hurt them in the long run,” Bitterly said. “It’s a school’s job to prepare each child for the real world. Libraries are supposed to be a place to educate yourself freely on whatever topic you desire.”
The American Library Association has a Library Bill of Rights. One of the tenets states that libraries should oppose censorship in order to fulfill their responsibility of providing information and enlightenment. Bitterly cited that in her remarks.
“There’s a reason why we have the American Library Bill of Rights,” she said. “It is the libraries responsibility to challenge censorship to provide information and enlightenment.”
Bitterly concluded her remarks by comparing a library to a bakery with cookies.
“It’s up to the student to decide which cookies they want and a library or people working at a library do not push any cookies on the students,” she said. “Just because you may not like a cookie flavor does not mean it should be permanently taken away.”
School board members said they appreciated Bitterly addressing the board.
“Young lady, I want to tell you anytime you want to come to this meeting, you have the right to speak your mind,” Board Chairman Mike “Brillo” Miller said. “And I want you to know that because someone doesn’t like what you’re saying doesn’t mean that they can say things about you. I’m proud of you for having the courage to come, even though you may disagree with me or anyone here.”
Board Member Jessica Hunsaker called Bitterly prepared, poised and professional.
“It really warmed my heart to see a student come in and say this is what I think, this is my voice,” Hunsaker said.
The school board may not have heard the last of Bitterly. She said she plans to be back for the board’s April meeting.
“Unfortunately, this issue has turned political and my goal is to suggest a compromise at the next board meeting,” she said Wednesday.
