News Column

Ban of Pro-Cuba Children's Book from Miami-Area Schools Will Stand

Nov. 16, 2009

Rob Kuznia -- HispanicBusiness.com

After three years of legal wrangling, the Miami-Dade County Public School District has officially succeeded in its quest to ban a children's book that portrays communist Cuba in a favorable light.

The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to hear an appeal -- filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida -- of a federal appeals court ruling in 2006 stating that the ban did not violate the First Amendment.

A majority opinion said the book inaccurately portrays life under Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro, according to the Miami Herald.

The book, Vamos a Cuba -- translated in English as "A Visit to Cuba" -- is geared toward second- and third-graders, and depicts smiling children wearing the uniforms of Cuba's communist youth group. It also depicts a celebration of the Cuban revolution of 1959.

The book was first pulled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Elementary School when a parent who emigrated from Cuba said the book doesn't present an accurate portrayal of life in the country.

In June of 2006, The Miami-Dade County school board removed the book -- and 23 others in the travel series about different countries -- from the library shelves of all the district's schools.

The ACLU argued that the books were banned without due process, and will open the floodgates for the district to ban other books even when no complaints have been lodged.



Source: HispanicBusiness.com (c) 2009. All rights reserved


Comments

Total Comments: 2 | Pending Comments: 0

MariaVictoria
11/17/2009 9:26:24 AM PST
Good news! Kudos !The book misportrays the facts. People and children have the right to read the truth.


librarygirl
11/17/2009 6:30:26 AM PST
This book was for young children. How much do you want them to know about the evil of the world? They will learn soon enough. I never even heard of the holocaust until high school. Instead of removing a book that doesn't support one's view, why not contribute books that present other sides. Oh, and Georgia consists of more than Atlanta, Savannah and South Georgia.


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