ROCKWOOD COMMITTEE NOT TOLD ABOUT THE 2ND GRADER WHO WAS CONFUSED AND UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS GENDER IDENTITY BOOK?

COMMITTEE COMMENT:

"I think them picking up the book and thumbing through it is not going to hurt anything."

The mom of a Rockwood 2nd grader disagrees. Her daughter read the book in her school's library and was confused.

"It was weird and talked about how if you are a girl and feel like a boy you can become one. And that sometimes doctors and parents make mistakes.

She said 3 times it was weird and she couldn’t seem to understand how parents and doctors could be wrong.” --Rockwood elementary school parent

The  book is called, "It Feels Good To Be Yourself."

As we previously reported, after consulting "experts" about whether this book should only be in a counselor or therapist's office, Rockwood will announce at tonight's school board meeting that it is keeping this book in Rockwood's libraries. 

INFORMATION THE COMMITTEE USED 

Who are the experts and why doesn't the committee mention what happened to the 2nd grader?

According to the committee report, the experts are 3 of Rockwood's elementary school counselors. Nowhere in the report is anything about the effect this book has already had on a Rockwood student.

Why?

We emailed Dr. Shelley Willott. She's in charge of the book review process. She never replied.

The parent above, who did not want to draw attention to her daughter, asked not to be named. Here's more of what she says her daughter told her:

"She has no clue what gender identity is. She said the book made her feel weird and she did not like it. She was confused. That is the part that makes me so upset." 

—Rockwood elementary school parent

 EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK

"Alex is both boy and girl. This is Alex's gender identity."

"JJ is neither a boy or a girl. This is JJ's gender identity."

"Alex and JJ are both non-binary."

A different parent (not the mom above) submitted a formal challenge of the book last December.

EXCERPTS FROM THE COMMITTEE REPORT:
ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE COMMENTS

"The book takes away the stereotypes of boy vs. girl."

"It's censorship and a it's a huge red flag if we put it behind a counter."

From the committee report.

The decision basically says Rockwood librarians may now let parents know if their child checked out the book. (Already checked it out.)

Or, the librarian might alert the teacher.
Or, the counselor at school. 

For more information on why Rockwood's policies don't do what they claim, click here.

For more on how the district never warned parents about this book, click here.

The book will remain in 17 Rockwood libraries. 

16 Rockwood elementary school libraries and one early childhood center at Lafayette high school.

Babler Elementary Geggie Elementary

Ballwin Elementary Green Pines Elementary

Blevins Elementary Kehrs Mill Elementary

Bowles Elementary Kellison Elementary          

Chesterfield Elementary Pond Elementary

Ellisville Elementary      Ridge Meadows Elementary

Eureka Elementary Westridge Elementary

Fairway Elementary Woerther Elementary

Lafayette High School

Source: Destiny library database

ALSO IN THE BOOK:

It introduces these terms:

Cisgender, transgender, non-binary, gender identity. intersex, gender expression.

NOT ABOUT BANNING; IT'S ABOUT OVERREACH

More than one parent complained about this book. Not because they want to ban the book outright, but, because they feel the topic is for parents to handle. Not schools. 

The mom above said the librarian told her the book was displayed prominently in the library because it’s a Dogwood award winner.

Missouri Dogwood Nonfiction Book Award Nominee List (K-2) (MASL) 2020-21

“That is how my daughter found it and checked it out- title and pics would be very appealing to her.”

 

To view a read aloud of the whole book:

 It Feels Good to be Yourself - Read Aloud Book

Screenshots of pages below.