Footloose in Polk County

Footloose is a film known for its portrayal of a town in which music was prohibited by law. This premise for the movie was based off of an actual law prohibiting music in Elmore City, Oklahoma. Polk County school board in Florida is having a similar issue with a different form of media.

Florida Citizens Alliance and County Citizens Defending Freedom contacted the Polk County School Board superintendent, Fredrick Hied, about a list of books contained in middle and high school libraries that they deemed to be “pornographic.”

According to Kimberly Moore’s article, “Polk schools superintendent announces months-long process to review 16 books in question” here are the books in question,

“Books County Citizens Defending Freedom want banned from Polk County Public Schools:

“Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan

“The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer

“Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher

“The Vincent Boys” by Abbi Glines

“It’s Perfectly Normal” by Robie Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley

“Real Live Boyfriends” by E. Lockhart

“George” by Alex Gino

“I am Jazz” by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

“Drama” by Raina Telgemeier

"Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult

“More Happy Than Not” by Adam Silvera

“Beloved” by Toni Morrison

“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

“Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins

“Almost Perfect” by Brian Katcher”

A plan has been established in which a committee will review these books. This will be a 14 week long process. However, many have already stated their views on the issue. Moore provides a statement by PCSB member, “Lisa Miller noted that children now hold the ability in the palm of their hands via cellphones to access videos of precisely what the CCDF and FLCA are complaining about – pornography.” Miller gives the notion that children have access to material that the groups are complaining about. In Footloose, the main characters being four young high schoolers found countless ways to listen to music. They went to the extent of driving to a bar outside of town to go dance with inebriated adult strangers. When a man starts trying to get a little too friendly with Rusty (Sarah Jessica Parker), then Willard (Chris Penn) stepped in to punch the man. This situation could have ended much worse. Footloose is a fictional story that includes great examples of how children will find someway to find the content that they want to find regardless of how unsafe the situation might be.

Many have mentioned the list targets experiences of minorities and LGBTQ+ people. Moore contributes the views from Paul Corrigan, English professor from the University of Tampa, “Corrigan said he has taught Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” which contains a brief mention of one of the main characters having sex with a calf rather than rape a teenaged girl. Experts say it was meant as a literary device to do what Southern whites did in the 1800s – equate slaves with cattle.”

Moore includes that one title being targeted, “It’s Perfectly Normal,” a sex and reproductive health education book intended for ages 10 and up,“the author, is trained in child development, said when her children started asking questions, she realized there was a critical need for the book.”

The American Library Association states that, “The First Amendment prevents public institutions from compromising individuals' First Amendment freedoms by establishing a framework that defines critical rights and responsibilities regarding free expression and the freedom of belief. The First Amendment protects the right to exercise those freedoms, and it advocates respect for the right of others to do the same.” Therefore, banning books within public institutions such as school libraries violates the students and United States citizens First Amendment.

As with other forms of media, there are options put in place enabling parents to restrict material they deem to be unsuitable for their children. For example, movies, television shows, and video games have a rating system. A 17-year-old that wants to go see Deadpool at the movie theater has to have a parent or guardian with them to see it, but they do not prohibit showing the movie at all. Music with certain words are required to have a parental advisory label. Most phones and other internet devices have parental controls that enable the parent to restrict their children from viewing certain websites. Measures can be put in place to respect the concerns of the parent, without banning these books.

Resources

Moore, K. (2022, February 9). Polk schools superintendent announces months-long process to review 16 books in question. The Ledger. Retrieved February 12, 2022, from https://amp.theledger.com/amp/6706072001.