Book banning undermines teachers and schools and continues to confound taxpayers, too | Opinion

Policies undermine schools

Way to go, School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties.

You went through your book challenge process correctly, and then capitulated to a single voice, thus nullifying the process and setting a dangerous precedent not only for book challenges but for any other challenges.

You just made all of your policies null and void. But that’s your choice.

Unfortunately you did not stand up for your students’ right of choice of library materials nor did you support your school librarian’s book selection process.

Your certified media specialists have book selection procedures and policies that ensure the materials they buy with taxpayer money (including theirs as many of them live in the district) are worth purchasing.

They purchase based on reviews by trusted sources and often participate on the S.C. Association of School Librarians’ annual book award committees, reading many of the year’s most highly reviewed books. They don’t buy smut.

Your lack of support for your teachers and school librarians and for your own policies and procedures makes me see why there are job openings for certified staff in the district.

Elizabeth A. Russell, Columbia

Is Bible next?

Since Martin Luther translated the Bible from Greek into German in 1522, it remains the best-selling book in the world.

In spite of its controversy, the Bible can be found in homes, courtrooms, hospitals and libraries across the country.

From the debatable Romans Chapter 9 to the titillating Song of Solomon, the Bible has not been banned yet.

Some people agree that it has redeeming social value. It has lessons, laws, tales, truths and hope for the human race.

Some high schools, colleges and universities offer the Bible as literature.

Apparently, no one yet has gone before a school board and complained about stories of magic, such as some claim are the miracles of Jesus and Moses’ amazing acts.

Every time the media report about another book being banned in the local schools, this writer believes that challenges to the Bible in schools and libraries is nigh.

The teaching and learning of critical thinking requires material to engage the mind, yet people continue to call for book bans because of their personal biases.

Ban guns in schools but not books. Students need to read, think, discuss and grow. Do not ban them from it.

Elizabeth Jones, Columbia

Smart investments

New investments in building, repairing and modernizing South Carolina’s core infrastructure are helping create jobs, power a stronger economy, and improve the quality of life for South Carolinians in West Columbia (WeCo) and throughout the state.

As we continue to put these federal dollars to work, local residents and businesses alike can thank Sen. Lindsey Graham for working across the aisle to secure these much-needed investments through the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) he helped craft and pass.

South Carolina will receive at least $4.9 billion for our highways, roads and bridges.

These funds will help repair, rebuild and upgrade our aging transportation infrastructure in the Midlands, including building and improving interstate entries to WeCo along the I-20 and I-26 corridors.

These new investments will also help us resurface and reimagine WeCo’s Meeting Street – the central vein of the Columbia Vista-adjacent River District – making badly needed economic, safety and traffic improvements, including turning lanes, increased parking capacity, electric vehicle modernizations and beautiful landscaping to reduce rainwater impact on our system.

Graham should keep up the good work in Washington and bring more common sense policies to invest in South Carolina cities, towns and rural communities.

David B. Moye, West Columbia

A friendship revered

Who is Israel? For Moncks Corner, Israel in the 1960s was the Bakers.

The Bakers were salt-of-the-earth people, meaning they loved openly and earnestly.

Benny courageously invested capital in a trampoline center on Main Street near where the Changed Lives Mission store is now. He supported enthusiastically many worthwhile causes by the local Chamber of Commerce. He and Pearl attended and cheered and loved their children’s sports activities.

Once at a summer Dixie Youth Baseball practice, Neal Baker was pitching, David Page was batting, and I was catching.

Neal zinged a curve ball. David swung late and tipped it.

Said ball’s trajectory thus deflected, colliding not with my catcher’s mitt, but with my free hand’s little finger, dislocating it.

Pearl Baker took me in her car to Dr. Pete Meyer’s house where he was home for midday dinner.

Mrs. Baker explained the situation. Dr. Pete took my hand in his, pressed squarely down on my disjointed little finger, and presto, it was straightened out normally.

I cherish Pearl Baker’s loving care for me as a little boy then.

This, friends, is Israel to me today.

Joseph Wofford, Pawleys Island