Publisher's journal: We need to remove politicians from the education business

Late last year, the question began circulating among respected members of our community: Is it true Clovis Municipal Schools is placing litter boxes in restrooms to accommodate students who identify as cats?

The answer is no, CMS was not, and is not, placing litter boxes in restrooms.

I know this because I asked students and teachers and volunteers in multiple schools. None of them had ever seen a litter box in a school restroom for any reason. None of them knows anyone who identifies as a cat.

I don’t think this is a thing anywhere except in the minds of a few nutty politicians who have declared this practice – which doesn’t exist – must stop, immediately.

I thought about the cat people last week when I received an unsolicited email from the California Democratic Party “asking for input, not money.”

The email wanted to know if I support prohibiting extremist book bans in California schools.

“In the past year alone,” the request for input reads, “extremists nationwide have passed 1,477+ book bans in public libraries and schools – a 21-year high.

“These bans are a clear effort to target and silence voices of color and LGBTQ+ stories …”

Then it went on to say “Republicans are sprinting to erase diversity from our schools.”

I missed the “before midnight” deadline to respond, but somehow I don’t think my participation would have changed the outcome of that poll.

For those who really want to know what I think …

I think the mind control of children – like the litter boxes that aren’t in school restrooms -- is another example of politicians rushing in to solve problems that don’t exist.

Oh, I think nut jobs all over the United States are going through public libraries and school libraries and trying to remove books they don’t like for any number of reasons, which is frightening.

The part I don’t believe is the suggestion that these efforts will silence voices of color and LGBTQ+ stories or erase diversity from our schools.

I think the idea that 21st-century children in a free society are somehow being kept from exposure to anything is ridiculous.

More importantly, I think Republicans and Democrats should be forced out of the education business. School librarians, for example, are plenty qualified to make informed, responsible decisions about what’s on their bookshelves.

I think teachers and school administrators are more mindful than they’ve ever been of the public scrutiny they’re receiving. Most strive to present fair and balanced information that encourages thoughtful discussion, also known as learning.

And I think parents have the ultimate responsibility to help their children maneuver through this complicated world that envelopes them, helping them understand it all and make decisions about the best ways to address what impacts their lives.

Politicians’ roles in all of this? They have no roles.

David Stevens is editor and publisher of Clovis Media Inc. Email him at:

[email protected]

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