S1289
NO, this bill is NOT good for Idaho Children
Denying children and families access to information and educational materials IS bad for children. It impairs the ability of children to learn about things that are and should be available in a public school or school library.
This bill still has the chilling effect of a civil cause of action. This situation may lead smaller libraries or school districts, lacking the time or resources for added bureaucracy, to opt for book removal to avoid public hearings and the threat of legal action.
This seems to be putting books on trial (as opposed to criminalizing librarians).
This will cost libraries staff and funds to set up “solutions” to problems that do not exist. (Children are not harmed by seeing classic art or by reading about gay families.) Children will be harmed because those who are marginalized (disabilities, people of color, LGBTQ+) will not be able to access materials that they can identify with and find community.
This bill harms children, denies parents control over their children’s education and is a coercive attempt to address a non-problem.