Students express dismay over book ban trend taking place in state’s public schools | Opinions

Bans undermine learning

The recent banning of books is undeniably a troubling development.

It undermines the fundamental principles of freedom of expression and access to information that are at the core of any democratic society.

Such bans limit the diversity of thought and ideas that students are exposed to, hindering their ability to develop critical thinking skills and engage with complex issues.

Additionally, book bans can disproportionately affect marginalized communities by suppressing narratives that reflect their experiences.

These bans not only infringe upon academic freedom, but also risk stifling intellectual growth and the development of well-rounded, informed citizens.

Embracing open dialogue and a wide range of perspectives in education is essential for fostering a more inclusive, tolerant and intellectually vibrant society.

Maroon Michal, West Columbia

Book bans hurt students

How would you feel if your children’s ability to learn and educate themselves was taken from them?

Within the past month, 93 books have been put on a list to be taken out of our school libraries. As a young adult who has used the library as an escape and a way to educate myself through reading, I am hurt.

As young adults, we have the ability to understand what we should and shouldn’t be reading.

If parents of younger students feel a book should not be checked out to read, they can return a book to the school.

If some school districts feel the need to remove books from schools, those districts should consider if those choices are hurting students.

Students, educators and parents need to speak up and fight for what we think should be done. Parents need to take the responsibility to educate their children about their reading choices instead of our school districts taking books away from every child.

Savannah Chappell, West Columbia

Sell Teslas in SC

I am a resident of South Carolina, and like many others, I aspire to lease a Tesla; however, current regulations prevent us from doing so. This is not just about personal preference. It’s about consumer rights and fair trade. The inability to buy or lease a Tesla in our state is a restraint of trade which infringes on our freedom of choice as consumers.

Tesla vehicles are renowned for their innovative technology, eco-friendliness and safety features.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla Model 3 has achieved the lowest probability of injury among all cars tested by the agency. Yet we are denied access to these high-quality vehicles due to existing laws.

South Carolina prides itself on being business-friendly with its low corporate income taxes and incentives for job creation.

But by preventing companies like Tesla from selling or leasing cars directly within the state, we are contradicting this stance.

We call upon our lawmakers in South Carolina to reconsider these restrictions that limit our choices as consumers while also hindering economic growth within our state.

Let’s allow innovation and free market principles to guide us toward progress rather than restrict us.

Mark Fagan, Greenville

Sad state of history

In 1856, a state representative beat a state senator with his cane.

Eighty years later, our U.S. senator twice walked out of the 1936 Democratic National Convention because a black minister delivered the invocation, and again when the only Black member of Congress was allowed to speak.

My congressman today, Joe Wilson, is best known for uttering “You lie” as our first Black president addressed Congress, but Wilson lost his voice as Trump lied.

Henry McMaster, governor of our Republican-dominated state, looks forward to Democrats becoming so rare that they must be “hunted with dogs.”

Former Gov. Nikki Haley, daughter of Indian immigrants, called for deporting Georgia’s U.S. senator, who was born in Georgia.

Haley appointed Tim Scott as the first Black U.S. Senator from the South since Reconstruction. Still the only black Republican senator, he recently called for the expulsion of the only Palestinian American in Congress and three others because of their views on an age-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Tragically, Haley and Scott are now seeking to be president of our diverse nation of immigrants where free speech for some is not tolerated.

Not long-ago, Scott and Haley’s predecessors would have supported expelling and deporting the Black and the Indian American South Carolinian.

Ernest Shaw, Irmo