St. Johns County school board still reviewing books on race and gender

Last month, Action News Jax brought you the news that Florida educators could face legal consequences if they did not ensure that books on race and gender were in compliance with new state law.

Now, we’re seeing local checks and balances.

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On Tuesday, Tim Forson, the Superintendent of the St. Johns County School District, updated staff about a library book review process. This review follows guidelines from The Florida Department of Education.

The St. Johns County School District made it clear Tuesday morning, books restricted in your child’s media center are also restricted in the classroom.

According to Forson, the Florida Department of Education explained that the criteria for restricting books that talk about gender and race are going to vary depending on grade level.

For example, in elementary school, or grades K-3, books about sex or gender, books that have or show kissing beyond a “friendly peck,” or books that use cursing or racial slurs aren’t allowed.

RELATED: St. Johns County School Board will decide again whether to ban another list of books

In middle school, slang to describe the usage of male body parts will not be allowed.

In high school, books with profanity, racial slurs or graphics of sexual activity will not be allowed.

Carol Holts has a granddaughter at a St. Johns County high school. She thinks this is all wrong.

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“What is relevant content to you may not be relevant content for me. I don’t see how anyone, including The Superintendent, can be in a position of deciding what’s relevant for all,” Holts said.

Forson said the district is reviewing and removing certain books, including “All Boys Aren’t Blue.” It’s about the journey of a queer black man trying to grow up in Plainfield, New Jersey and Virginia.

Forson said more books like “All Boys Aren’t Blue” that were previously approved by the district are now under review. The books under review came after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act” in 2022. It stands for Stop Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees. The law stops school faculty from sharing viewpoints on sex and race.

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“I would rather just have the opportunity to choose and let the parents review with their children when they come home from school and find out what they’re learning,” Holt said.

The law states that all books must be reviewed by a media specialist.

Forson said there is a deadline to review and remove any and all books on race and gender that do not align with its grade levels criteria. That deadline is July 1st.

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