In Oklahoma and across the other 49 states an outfit commonly referred to as simply Scholastic is a major vendor to school districts. They publish children's books and provide all manner of school supplies to districts, both urban and rural. They also conduct book fairs across the country so educators and parents can see what is in their current inventory. They've been hosting the book fairs in Oklahoma for a little over 40 years.
On Friday the Oklahoma chapter of Moms for Liberty announced they want Scholastic run out of the state on a rail. According to a press release by the organization, "Scholastic, once a trusted company that happens to be one of the one of the top publishers of children's books, now appears largely focused on indoctrinating youth with radical viewpoints and sexual ideologies from a very young age at an increasingly rapid rate."
The press release prompted one local media outlet to ask a Moms for Liberty spokesperson to provide examples of these radical viewpoints and sexual ideologies that are fanning the flames of commie perversions within Oklahoma's children. The answer was basically, "We will have to get back to you."
Translation: Moms for Liberty doesn't have any proof. It doesn't matter though, in their collective heart of hearts they know it is out there.... somewhere.
Prior to last week's elections Moms for Liberty--recently awarded the status of right wing extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center--backed slews of candidates for school board seats in a number of states. The most polite way of describing what happened is they got their asses kicked. So much so the group deleted newsletters containing the names of their preferred stooges, presumably not to incriminate them any further.
Unfortunately for those of us in the Sooner state the local version of Moms for Liberty didn't take the hint and is plowing ahead. Luckily for them they have an influential ally. The state Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters thinks they are his kind of women. He even spoke at one of their national gatherings a while back so he could tell them how great they and their 1600's Salem like hysteria is.
As soon as the press release was--well--released one of his mouthpieces told the media there would be an immediate investigation of Scholastic. According to spokesperson, Dan Isett, "Superintendent Walters is always concerned and vigilant about eliminating woke indoctrination in the classroom."
Of course he is. And now that he is on the lookout he will no doubt find all that radical viewpoint and sexual ideology shit Moms for Liberty haven't been able to track down.
Still not wanting to offend anyone, Scholastic's response was pretty bland for people being slandered. "Scholastic is committed above all to supporting every child's journey to learn to read and love to read, in its partnership with schools and families," they said. Like many they don't seem to realize crazed rubes like Moms for Liberty are perpetual victims and once they go after you any attempt at a civil response is considered an admission of guilt.
Moms for Liberty plan to protest at the next Tulsa School Board meeting while they demand Scholastic be banned from book fairs in the state. According to them the board should seek out other vendors. It is unknown at this time whether they have a list of preferred ones, or if they had to delete those from their newsletters too.
In any case it is clear the only people around here trying to indoctrinate children with radical viewpoints are Moms for Liberty and Ryan Walters.
But that, of course, is understood. Or at least it should be.
11-14-23
Some things never change. The best way to get people interested in a book you want them to ignore is, ban it. Especially if the offending passages are sexual in nature.
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