U-Turn in Education's Actions and History
U-Turn in Education is a relatively new non-profit activist in our area. They have been at Library and School Board meetings, along with local Pride Fests fighting for their beliefs. Who are they?
U-Turn in Education
I’m going to review the work of U-Turn in Education, in their own words. I’ll highlight the actions of the members and I’ll include references from their website. This isn’t a hit-piece. I will show their own words. I will only show counterpoints when appropriate and I believe the public needs more context than they provide from their website about certain books.
First Amendment on the Launch Page
They back the First Amendment as if it’s an absolute right. However, it’s not. The First Amendment has some limits. In the controversies U-Turn is often at the center of, many parents are upset about pornographic material provided to children by public schools or public libraries. Parents reason the material ought to be criminal.
They are often surprised that somehow it’s legal. I’ve covered this before, but a decision by the Supreme Court in 2003 (Not the Miller Test) confused the issue and that terrible decision provided publishers free reign to put what was previously pornographic material into children and teen books.
If U-Turn is correct, then the First Amendment is absolute and we can say anything we want. I have been in meetings though, where I read books at Library Board meetings with U-Turn members. The U-Turn members were upset when I read the passages from these books. To be fair, I found the passages to be offensive also.
The First Amendment is either absolute, or it has reasonable restrictions regarding minors and regarding causing physical harm to someone or financial harm such as Libel, Slander, or Defamation.
Links to the ALA
U-Turn in Education links to “Unite Against BookBans.” It’s sponsored by the American Library Association. They put out a press release last year in June stating they will distribute $1M to support the fight against “Book Bans”.
I looked for U-Turn’s 990 [tax form for non-profits] to see if they had received money from the ALA. However, it can take 12-18 months before that information is released to the public. ***As a side note that has nothing to do with U-Turn, that information should be released sooner as it can inform the public about a great many non-profits.***
In Missouri, Jay Ashcroft quietly severed our links to the ALA, though in practical matters, many of our executive directors and library staff still belong to the ALA and the Missouri Library Association, along with the Public Library Association. These little agencies are all Russian Nesting Dolls for the ALA.
We will have to wait to see why U-Turn links to the ALA toolkit when their 990 comes out.
I did see that in only a year of operation, and some change, as I can’t find an exact date, they have received an award from the Missouri Association of School Librarians.
Content of Books U-Turn Promotes
Under the Student Tab, they have in the green photo this list of books. In white photo, they have a tab linking to BannedBooksBookClub.
Here is their list and their links. I think it’s important for you to review their links and see what they exclude. Below, if BookLooks.org has reviewed the book, I’ve included their rating and a link to their website so you can review it. I have read from Gender Queer at a Library Board meeting. It’s a Pagan celebration (Ishtar) of gender dysphoria with very sexaul images. You have to feel for the Author who hates her own body so much—a body given to her by God.
Homegoing
https://www.readanybook.com/online/587779
Link to BookLooks for Homegoing
The Bluest Eye
Link to BookLooks for The Bluest Eye
13 Reasons Why
https://www.readanybook.com/online/565922
Link BookLooks for Thirteen Reasons Why
The Handmaid's Tale
Link to Booklooks for Handmaid’s Tale
Excerpts from Gender Queer
https://redgoldsparkspress.com/projects/6926504
Link to BookLooks for Gender Queer
The Hate U Give
Link to BookLooks for The Hate You Give
Looking for Alaska
Read Looking for Alaska online free by John Green - Novels80
Link to BookLooks for Looking for Alaska
The Giver
The Giver, Full Text - Google Docs
The only book on the list that isn’t being contested. It’s an older book by Lois Lowry about censorship in an authoritarian world that is strictly controlled. I enjoyed it. I would suggest everyone read it. I love books like this. I sometimes wonder if liberals misunderstand books like The Giver, Animal Farm, 1984, Brave New World, Anthem, That Hideous Strength, or Wounded World. (See what I did there? Nice plug for my own dystopian book).
In my research on these issues, there is usually a straw-man book. They’ll claim someone is trying to ban The Giver (maybe 40 years ago) and then make the case that everyone who is concerned about Gender Queer is really concerned about The Giver. In fact, U-Turn in Education actually highlights a woman on their website who makes straw-man arguments. For a detailed analysis of an MTV documentary about her weak arguments, go to my article here.
U-Turn Activism
U-Turn has been active in the local newspapers, often quoted by Springfield NewsLeader and Claudette Riley. What doesn’t make it to print is some of their social media posts and their member’s activities at different events throughout Greene and Christian County.
They aren’t a neutral activist group. They do seem to have a certain focus. Judge for yourself. All posts fall under Fair Use.
U-Turn’s Purpose in SW Missouri
Elizabeth Dudash-Buskirk has run for School Board for Nixa twice and is the current leader of U-Turn. [I wasn’t able to find a title or a board of trustees listed on their website.] She also teaches Journalism as a professor at Missouri State University. She’s well educated and intelligent.
However, I don’t think she, U-Turn, or her associates are right on these issues. I will grant she’s probably a much better journalist than I am—as one of her friends pointed out subtly last week. I’m not a trained journalist.
I want you to look at the work being done by U-Turn for yourself though and make your own judgement. I think their work and their words speak for themselves and you don’t need my opinion to fill in the details. Sometimes it helps when my opinion fills in the gaps. Here, I think it would get in the way.
I think we can have a conversation about humanely treating everyone in our society. Humane treatment though doesn’t start with the premise that any young child needs exposed to Gender Queer or The Bluest Eye.