Bill to criminalize educators must be stopped

Why are we fighting harder to keep books out of kids hands than guns or drugs?

What do we fear in having access to age-appropriate materials that encourage students to think, question and learn to reach decisions on their own?

A bill, co-authored by state Sen. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere, and state Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, claims to want to “hold educators to the same level as other Wisconsinites” by allowing educators to be prosecuted for giving obscene materials to minors.

Let’s disregard for the moment that it is already illegal for adults to distribute obscene materials to minors, regardless of what their job title is. Let us also disregard the fact that there are robust systems in place at every school district across the state for parents to challenge books and other materials as being objectionable as well as full adoption at the state level of a community-standards measure for what is considered obscene. Let us further disregard that parents can put additional limits on what their child is allowed to have access to within a school library or classroom setting.

Disregarding all of these things, the proposed bill is still more about imposing control than it is an attempt to protect anyone’s children from free-thinking, fanciful boogeymen. It has more to do with creating political campaign talking points than it is any real attempt to protect children from harm.

If, as a society, we truly cared about protecting children from harm we would be focusing on limiting youth access to drugs and weapons. If we cared about the welfare of children as much as the authors of this bill claim, we would be fully funding mental health initiatives at the local level to address the root causes of anxiety, depression and other mental illness that has led to horrifying increases in suicides among young people. If we cared about what our children are seeing and doing, then we would demand that social media companies are held accountable for rampant online bullying and harassment.

The proponents of this unnecessary bill will tell you they care about the children. They will claim to have the best interests of the children at heart and that only by following their brand of morality can children be protected from harm.

There is a vast difference between protection and control.

Children should be protected, they should be sheltered from societal storms. They should know that they have safe and nurturing places to come back to when they explore and push the envelope.

Young people should not lose out on reading books because another parent finds them offensive. Sometimes reading about something gives a child a safe opening to ask a parent or trusted adult about topics like sex, drugs, rape, bullying, suicide, child abuse or race. As parents and adults we must be ready to have those conversations and answer those questions.

At the same time, we need to look beyond our own narrow horizons and recognize that there are diverse cultures co-existing in a world that is growing ever- smaller. We would rightfully balk and resist if the rules and dictates of those cultures and religions were being forced on all of us, regardless of our beliefs.

Knowledge is power. It is the power to stop tyranny. It is the power to overcome obstacles. It is the power to make a positive change in society.

Attempts to brand educators as criminals because a vocal minority disagrees with content they were told is objectionable weakens us all.

Members of The Star News editorial board include Co-Publisher Carol O’Leary, Publisher Kris O’Leary and Editor Brian Wilson.