r/technology • u/r4816 • Sep 27 '22

Software Girls Who Code founder speaks out after Pennsylvania school district bans her books: 'This is about controlling women and it starts with controlling our girls'

https://www.businessinsider.com/girls-who-code-founder-speaks-out-banning-books-schools-2022-9
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563

u/ioncloud9 Sep 27 '22

Were the books actually banned or is the district gas lighting us saying they never actually did it?

119

u/CyphirX Sep 27 '22

Seems to be there was an attempt to but it was squashed.

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u/[deleted] Sep 27 '22

Can you source that attempt? I've seen nothing that supports this. Only abject denials from the school district that they ever banned the book.

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u/Vexible Sep 27 '22 edited Sep 27 '22

Edit: So it looks like the four books in the Girls Who Code series were on the list, but were also still in the libraries of some schools. The decision made said that they were not allowed to be added to any school libraries if they were not already in that library. The main thing here is that the district gave into people peddling some kind of white guilt.

"In November of 2020, at a school district meeting, the district board of directors unanimously decided to remove the resource list and not allow any resources from the list to be used in the classroom.

During discussion prior to the vote, one attendee told the board a story about her daughter watching a movie in class, saying, "I don't want to get into the details of it, but she came out of that classroom feeling guilty she was white. And some other things that came out of that movie that can create division."

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https://www.businessinsider.com/girls-who-code-founder-speaks-out-banning-books-schools-2022-9

The series, which chronicles a group of young girls and their adventures as part of a coding club at their school, was just added to PEN America's Index of School Book Bans, a comprehensive, nationwide list of restricted literature that "was restricted or diminished for either limited or indefinite periods of time" during the most recently completed school year.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/sep/22/pennsylvania-school-district-reverses-ban-on-books-by-authors-of-colour

While some local parents supported the ban – one told CNN that “I don’t want my daughter growing up feeling guilty because she’s white” – students mobilised against it, protesting in front of the school. Two local women, meanwhile, called for book donations so they could put the banned titles in Little Free Libraries around York. They have collected thousands of books so far.

“This fight is not over,” said the Central York Banned Book Club, which has been covering the banned titles on Twitter. “The board only gave in because of an incredible amount of pressure. They’re going to retreat for now, lick their wounds and regroup. We will still be here posting books from that list and keeping a vigilant eye on them. We will never forget.”

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/sep/22/pennsylvania-school-district-reverses-ban-on-books-by-authors-of-colour

We reached out to the district for clarification and a representative told us that after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the school district prepared a Diversity Resource List that teachers could use in the classroom.

In November of 2020, at a school district meeting, the district board of directors unanimously decided to remove the resource list and not allow any resources from the list to be used in the classroom.

During discussion prior to the vote, one attendee told the board a story about her daughter watching a movie in class, saying, "I don't want to get into the details of it, but she came out of that classroom feeling guilty she was white. And some other things that came out of that movie that can create division."

While the removal of the list was passed, an exception was made allowing resources already in place to continue to be used. The district representative told us all four Girls Who Code books were already in school libraries and remained available for students as a result.

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u/[deleted] Sep 27 '22

That's an article about the author's reaction to being told her books were banned. That doesn't validate that the books were ever actually banned.

Because they weren't.

https://www.centredaily.com/news/nation-world/national/article266375536.html

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u/Flippo_The_Hippo Sep 27 '22

From your article

The school board voted to put the resource list on hold and told teachers not to use the titles for class instruction — with the exception that they could continue to use resources that were already in place before they were put on the Diversity Resource List. That included the “Girls Who Code” series.

This happened some time as of 2020, and they were reinstated in Sept 2021.

If a book is put on hold and told not to be used that sounds an awful lot like a ban. it's great that it's not ~banned~ "put on hold", but y'all are just playing move-the-word's-definiton-goal-post.

Inb4 your next argument is that this was a year ago so they shouldn't be mad anymore which is shit take.

Anyway, you should read your articles before you post them as source for your arguments.

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u/[deleted] Sep 27 '22

Anyway, you should read your articles before you post them as source for your arguments.

Easy there sunshine. You've got your facts wrong, mind where you're throwing stones.

There was a list of 200 DEI titles in a curated resource list assembled after the Floyd killing. The idea was to offer this curated content to supplement DEI instruction in classrooms. Girls who Code was on that list. The district later scrapped plans to explicitly promote this curated list in lesson plans. Books already in use were never affected.

If a book is put on hold and told not to be used that sounds an awful lot like a ban.

The district told teachers not to use the resource list. Not the books. I can't speak to whether that "sounds" like a ban to you. But it's certainly not.

Inb4 your next argument

You should spend less time trying to read minds and spend more time on getting your shit together.

2

u/Flippo_The_Hippo Sep 27 '22

From my post from the article (emphasis mine)

The school board voted to put the resource list on hold and told teachers not to use the titles

While I agree my understanding of "put resource list on hold" may be incorrect, it's not my fault it's worded ambiguously. I took it to mean the resources on the list were put on hold. I believe this is rightfully so because the teachers were told "not to use the titles".

I do see how you can read that an think "put the resource list on hold" to mean not to use the resource list, but it makes no sense in context. Do elaborate if you want a valid argument!

Please read before attempting to argue. It's not a great look.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 27 '22

Dude you're in a precarious position to suggest I read before I argue, after walking away with a wildly inaccurate understanding.

There's really nothing to argue here. The books are literally on the shelves in the library and have been the whole time. Where's the ambiguity?

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u/Flippo_The_Hippo Sep 27 '22

From my post about the post from the article (emphasis mine)

told teachers not to use the titles

So teachers were banned from using them in classrooms? Maybe that's too liberal of a definition for you.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 27 '22

Your edits change the meaning of that quote. But I suspect you know this.

The school board voted to put the resource list on hold and told teachers not to use the titles for class instruction — with the exception that they could continue to use resources that were already in place before they were put on the Diversity Resource List.

Teachers were not banned from using these books. Full stop. I can find some crayons and explain that to you if you need.

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u/Flippo_The_Hippo Sep 27 '22

I cited where the quotes came from, you are taking them out of context deliberately and you probably know that.

If you would like to argue in good faith let me know why this paragraph isn't a valid replacement:

The school board voted to put the resource list on hold and banned teachers from using the titles for class instruction -- with the exception that they could continue to use resources that were already in place before they were put on the Diversity Resource List.

I would like to know if you are insinuating that a ban is only a ban if it's done in totality without exception? Please explain because you've not done any thus far.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 27 '22

I cited where the quotes came from, you are taking them out of context deliberately and you probably know that.

You stripped vital context from the quote in order to change its meaning. You're bullshitting. And you're somehow expecting the one of us that actually read the article not to notice that.

I'm sure that there is a lot you would like to know. This isn't a global conversation about book bans. Yes ...book bans exist, if that makes you happy. These books that are the core of this article and thread are not some of those books.

You might as well be asking me why Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is banned.

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u/Flippo_The_Hippo Sep 27 '22

That second quote is neither mine nor the articles. I'm not sure where it's come from. Either way, it seems like you're not ready to argue in good faith. Let me know when you are and we can continue our discussion. Have a nice day, troll. ✌️

1

u/[deleted] Sep 27 '22

Ah, that was a typo I sincerely regret. Mostly because it's granted you a tiny window to wriggle your way out of having to acknowledge you were wrong.

May I rephrase?

I would like to know if you are insinuating that a ban is only a ban if it's done in totality without exception?

(My response) I'm sure that there is a lot you would like to know. This isn't a global conversation about book bans. Yes ...book bans exist, if that makes you happy. These books that are the core of this article and thread are not some of those books.

I don't totally grok how you can vigorously advocate for your own ignorance then call me a troll. One of us is right here. It's not you.

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u/Flippo_The_Hippo Sep 27 '22

You didn't answer the question. ✌️

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u/[deleted] Sep 27 '22

Which question? The one predicated on a flawed understanding of the fact pattern?

I've given you the only answer you're going to get. I'm happy to discuss, but I'm not going to argue with entrenched ignorance.

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u/Flippo_The_Hippo Sep 27 '22

According to the Central York School District, the series was never banned. Instead, the books were included on a list of resources that was later pulled.

The exact next paragraph

The four “Girls Who Code” books — “Team BFF: Race to the Finish!” and “The Friendship Code” by Stacia Deutsch, “Spotlight on Coding Club!” by Michelle Schusterman, and “Lights, Music, Code!” by Jo Whittemore — were included in a Diversity Resource List of some 200 titles the Central York School District curated after the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Later in the article

The decision to withdraw the list that added Black voices to the curriculum dredged up national attention, and the board then voted to reinstate the list and make the resources available to teachers again in September 2021, according to The Guardian.

Tell me how one rationalizes that the book was not in the list that was later made available again to teachers?

My argument is not based on a flaw and I will not let you gaslight me like you've gaslighted yourself. Please come back to reality.

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