Letter to the editor: Book-banning is way behind the times

There have been numerous recent attempts to ban books in Pennsylvania schools, including locally; book-banning is off-base and behind the times. Do parents really think that kids today can’t get any book they want through local libraries, downloads or online? (Many e-books can be downloaded for free!)

I don’t care what locks you’ve placed on your computer devices at home. Unless you are willing to lock your children up, they can always go to Billy’s house or use Billy’s iPhone and Google to access any information they want on any subject, including critical race theory if they have the curiosity and inclination.

Although Pennsylvania’s individual school districts have banned over 400 books from school libraries, that horse has left the barn. I am outraged that so many books are being banned in schools when we should be encouraging our kids to read. Removing books that address current issues of gender identity, reproductive rights, historic facts (like slavery) and diversity in our communities is un-American and smacks of Nazi tactics. If kids don’t get proper sex education is school, they will get it from other sources!

Elizabeth Veronica Weaver

Hempfield