On March 19, the documentary "Banned Together," about books banned in Beaufort schools, was shown in Aiken. This is only 13 days before the S.C. State Board reviews 10 more books they are considering banning across all state school districts. A rule which passed in 2024 allows for the state board of education to set a statewide policy with any book reviewed by their committee, which is an overreach of government in the lives of South Carolinians.
When the state bans books from all state public schools, they impede the freedom of parents to choose for their own children in their own school districts in a democratic manner (i.e., by a majority vote) by letting one parent and several committee members dictate for all parents in the state.
Parents will always have the right to choose for their individual children, it is the states desire to turn those rights into a mandate over other parents’ children that is anti-American.
The America I grew up in was strong and the people in it were confident in the constitution and that the lawmakers would defend those rights. Freedom does not come without a cost or a risk, and if a book or the word diversity scares you, then perhaps you are too afraid to really be free. Voice your support for free libraries to your local school boards and support H. 4059, which would return these decisions back to the parents and professionals in their own school districts.
Ben Rogers
Graniteville