Hope I captured 'letters to editor'. Gives a sense of a strong 'Christian' (Amish region) community views on library books. (wokeness)
I highlighted some but not necessarily effectively. Some sense of Americans in 'Conservative' influenced region.
Libraries at epicenter of local debate
THE ISSUE
Controversies surrounding libraries are making news around Lancaster County. In the Donegal School District, librarian Matthew Good said he resigned from his position because he was compelled to enforce a restrictive policy that “I fundamentally believe is wrong.” As LNP | LancasterOnline reported Monday, that policy requires seventh and eighth grade students to provide signed permission from their parents or guardians to access young adult books in the school library. A front-page article in Tuesday’s edition detailed public anger over Akron Borough Council’s proposal to cut funding to Ephrata Public Library in 2023. And a pair of LNP | LancasterOnline articles this week have chronicled efforts by a group of Warwick School District parents to combat what they describe as “woke” curriculum and library materials in the district — and the community pushback against those efforts. On today’s Opinion page, letter writers respond to all of these issues. Additional letters will be published Friday.
Supports decision by school librarian
After reading the Nov. 28 article “Opting out of Donegal library,” I wanted to write to express my support and appreciation for Donegal School District librarian Matthew Good.
I believe that Good made a brave choice in standing up for students and their right to have access to books, and I appreciate him speaking out on this topic. I am sure there are many students at Donegal Junior High School who will miss Good.
Communities across the country are waking up to the politically motivated, extremist attempts to restrict access to books, and it’s great to see leaders like Good standing up and saying “Enough.” I hope that his decision will wake up more members of the community and get them to realize what is at stake in this war that has been declared against our children and their right to read.
James Senft Lititz
Thankful for our libraries
Public libraries do so much with so little. I’m grateful for all that my family gains from frequent visits to our local branch. I could never afford my own voracious appetite for books without the library, and now I’m raising two avid readers.
I’m so thankful for a library where my kids can ask about a certain interest and be given multiple ideas of books they may like. They run in, excited to find the latest in a series they’re reading or the newest of the beautiful and diverse picture books.
Shame on the shortsighted leaders of the Akron Borough Council for making damaging decisions — seemingly without bothering to look at the full picture.
The public library agenda in question has always been the same: make information accessible to those who seek it and thereby empower people to think for themselves. When that is scary to your leadership, the real question is the agenda of those leading that charge. Why are they afraid of an informed and empowered public?
In this season of thanks, I’m hopeful that others will recognize all they have to be thankful for in our libraries. Perhaps find a moment to share a kind and encouraging word to the amazing and selfless people doing the heavy lifting to stretch those meager budgets.
And, if you can take just a few moments to do so, encourage your own local leaders to make decisions to support the library — rather than make decisions based on misplaced fear.
Erin Byrnes Martic Township
Is book-burning the next step?
I read with dismay that Akron’s doughty borough council seemingly feels that the Ephrata Public Library isn’t properly pandering to its prejudices and thus the council will be withholding funding from the library.
I assume that any “conservative” malarkey in the library stacks is of no bother. Will the borough council be calling for the burning of science, art and “liberal” holdings next? I read somewhere that books ignite at Fahrenheit 451.
Quentin Furlow Akron
Donegal stands up for parents’ rights
This is in response to the Nov. 28 article “Opting out of Donegal library.”
I understand librarian Matthew Good’s desire to opt out of his job as the librarian at Donegal Junior High School if he disagrees with the school district’s policy limiting access to certain library books. If he objects to this policy, then he is standing up for his beliefs.
That being said, I believe that parents of 12- to 14-year-olds have the right, as parents, to object to their children having access to certain books that they feel are inappropriate.
I agree with the policy that is in place in the Donegal School District and applaud its stance in standing up for parents’ rights.
Joan Saunders East Hempfield Township
Fighting ‘wokeness’ is not Christian
Regarding some Warwick School District parents and their anti“woke” agenda (“Parents to fight ‘woke’ culture,” Nov. 29 LNP | LancasterOnline): Keep your view of Christianity out of public schools and libraries. Jesus led with peace and tolerance. You are doing neither. Do better.
Leave other people’s kids alone to find their way. There’s separation of church and state because of people like you.
Kudos to the Rev. Matt Lenahan of Zion Lutheran Church in Akron Borough for standing up to this nonsense.
Mike Eichenlaub Ephrata
Solutions to school, book issues
My solutions to school controversies:— Provide a “third team” opportunity in each sport for transgender student-athletes.
— Place books that are “banned” or considered to be dangerous in a secured repository, to be loaned out to students with permission slips signed by a responsible party.
— Let’s help all students by focusing on and getting back to teaching basic subjects — inculcating, emphasizing and utilizing critical-thinking skills.
Tom Hoober Lancaster
Some parents should consider Matthew 7
I am both amused and disgusted by the attacks on libraries — both public and school-based.
I grew up in Dallas, Luzerne County, and every summer there was the library auction. But it was more than just an auction — it was more like a three-day community carnival. Everyone looked forward to it and supported the library in any way they could.
Now, it seems that some parents want to demonize the school library. If — as asserted by some Warwick School District parents — the school library has caused the kids to lose their way (“Parents to fight ‘woke’ culture,” Nov. 29 LNP | LancasterOnline), then perhaps the parents should focus more on their own parenting than blaming the Dewey Decimal System.
Let us go into these parents’ homes and see how they manage their child’s screen time, use of websites and playing of violent video games. As many of these folks claim to be so religious, please enjoy the following from Matthew 7: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Bruce Riefenstahl Mount Joy
Keep religion out of public schools
It is disheartening to hear how many people seem to want to censor school libraries and Christianize their content.
Religion should be taught at home, not at a public school. Your child’s morality should be taught at home, not at a public school.
Muslim students and Jewish students do not have to be “Christianized” by you. You do not have that right.
What your child reads and believes is up to you when in your home. They are not a function of the school library. The library is a place where your child can go to learn and widen his or her intellectual horizons. I believe that it can lead him or her away from the narrow-mindedness that you apparently possess. To school librarians I say, “Hang in there. Your work is of great value.”
Brad Tinkham Elizabethtown
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