ACPS says viral social media post regarding pornography in schools was 'taken out of context'

Alachua County Public Schools released a statement on Friday in response to a "misleading" social media post about the decision to keep a book in school libraries.

An account called "Libs of TikTok" on Friday posted a 50-second clip from an Alachua County Public Schools book banning hearing held last month, with the caption, "UNBELIEVABLE. Garrett Jones, assistant principal for an elementary school in @AlachuaSchools says he thinks it’s appropriate for 8-year-old kids to be reading p*rnogr*phy and dirty magazines in school."

The clip, however, is just a snippet of a longer video from a hearing held Jan. 23 regarding the book "Melissa" — formerly titled "George" — by author Alex Gino. In the clip, community member Crystal Marull, who petitioned to have the book removed from Terwilliger Elementary School's library, is seen questioning Jones.

The ACPS statement on Friday said the "video was taken out of context and was misleading."

"The parent (Marull) asked the ACPS witness (Jones) several questions, including whether he felt it was appropriate for an 8-year-old to read 'about pornography and dirty magazines.' However, the witness did not intend to convey that this book was, in fact, about pornography and dirty magazines. He certainly does not agree that it is appropriate for an elementary school student or any student to read pornographic materials. It is rather his belief that this particular book is not pornographic, does not violate state statutes and can therefore be read by elementary school students in grades 3-5," the statement said.

"The parent (Marull) never actually asked the ACPS witness (Jones) if he believed this book is pornographic. The witness did clarify later in the hearing that he did not believe this book is pornographic."

The shortened video has received nearly 2 million views, 12,000 shares and 3,500 comments on X. The post also was shared on the Libs of TikTok Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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Marull, who has challenged other books in the district, created a presentation which was on the Feb. 6 meeting agenda's documents and highlighted her issues with the "Melissa." She believes the book contains references to pornographic materials, magazines and "indoctrination of gender ideology," including a transgender person's surgical transitioning.

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After the hearing, the district's hearing officer recommended the book be kept and the school board voted 4-1 on Feb. 6 to adopt the recommendation. Board member Kay Abbitt said she previously voted to keep other books in libraries but called herself "old-fashioned" and was the only one to vote against keeping "Melissa" available in the library.

The district said if a parent doesn't want their child reading a certain book, they can request that their child not be allowed to check that book out from the library. However, they were not going to take away the book because it was supplemental and did not relate to classroom instruction.

"Dr. Marull is certainly welcome to tell us to keep that book away from her child, let her child not check it out, and we have a system that's very easy to use," said Staff Attorney Susan Seigle during the Feb. 6 board meeting. "But she should not be permitted to come in here and tell every other parent in this district what their child should not read."

Multiple community members spoke Feb. 6 in support of keeping the book in the school library. Board member Sarah Rockwell also voiced her support, saying she read the book in its entirety and then offered it to her daughter who is in fourth grade to read, as the book is recommended for grades 4 through 8.

"I support parental rights," said Rockwell on Feb. 6. "Parental rights, to me, means my right to parent my children and your rights to parent your children. Telling my child that she can't have access to an age-appropriate book that does not violate state statute violates my parental rights."

The book was temporarily removed from the Terwilliger school library on Nov. 9, 2023, and the district's Library Advisory Committee met to discuss and review the book on Dec. 7. The initial hearing was meant to take place on Jan. 18, 2024, but was moved to Jan. 23.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Alachua County schools statement on false social media information