Stockard on the Stump: Book challenges becoming the rage in Tennessee schools

Book banning is in vogue, and I’m not talking about Madonna. 

Anyway, the Sumner County School Board is set to consider a request to remove an elementary school book, “A Place Inside Of Me: A Poem to Heal The Heart,” because of references to Black Lives Matter and a portrayal of police handling a riot, the Hendersonville Standard reports.

And, get this, it isn’t even using a new state law setting up a process for school boards to remove books. That’s because school districts, including Sumner County’s, already had rules in place to ban books. It just didn’t become popular until groups such as Moms Against Liberty, sorry, Moms Demand Liberty, sorry, Moms For Liberty, started calling on the Williamson County School Board to castrate every sexually overactive sea horse in the sea.

But getting back to this deal in Sumner County. A parent complained about the book, which is in the library at Jack Anderson Elementary School in Hendersonville. The story, written for ages 4-8, has an urban setting and details the death of a young girl and subsequent protests and quelling of angst by faceless police officers. Ultimately, it helps children find a way to heal themselves. 

Unfortunately for the book, it has a couple of references to Black Lives Matter, one on the bottom of a boy’s skateboard, and it shows police with batons holding back a riotous crowd. Maybe the artist should have drawn smiling police officers to allay any fears that they were mean, vicious or even without emotion.

Jack Anderson Elementary School turned down the parent’s request to remove the book from school. Not that Hendersonville has many race riots, but they do happen in America, especially when police officers kill innocent Black people.

Nevertheless, in a recent meeting, new school board member Andy Lacy from rural Westmoreland complained about the references to Black Lives Matter and the depiction of police and argued that the book is inappropriate for young children.

Board members discussed the matter in a work session this week, and they’ll vote on it Tuesday.

Readers might remember the attack on school librarians during this year’s legislative session, one in which country music star John Rich accused them of grooming children for sex and saying they have easier access to kids than perverted men who drive around in white vans. After all, kids can run from a perv in a van.

Librarians escaped an effort to have them charged for allowing pornographic literary works to sneak into their libraries (don’t mention the Bible and all of its sin). But they’ve spent considerable time this year cataloging every book for a list to be placed on the school district’s website and to keep themselves out of a political sling.

The legislation came from Gov. Bill Lee’s desk, largely in response to roving patriots in Williamson County. It drew wide support from House and Senate Republicans.

“Parents should be in charge of their child’s education, and they have a right to know what books are in our public schools, whether they are age-appropriate for students, and an ability to seek action,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said in a statement this week. “So yes, the legislation accomplishes its goal. First, it establishes transparency between local school systems and parents. Secondly, it sets up a process for parents to address and request action from their local school board. Finally, it establishes an appeals process for either side to the State Textbook Commission if they disagree with the local school board’s decision.”

The Department of Education, however, doesn’t compile a list or receive challenges to books or materials made on the basis of age-appropriateness, according to spokesman Brian Blackley. 

The Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 outlines school board duties for reviewing materials, including setting a policy for developing and reviewing school library collections, handling feedback and removing items.

Determining whether something is appropriate, though, lies with the school board, and the department encourages districts to work with their attorneys on setting up policies and procedures for reviews, according to the Department of Education.

The Sumner County School Board apparently isn’t finished doing that. Yet it could be on the verge of banning this book, mainly because one of its board members doesn’t like it.

Granted, it’s not “Fun with Dick and Jane.” But how many people who read Dick and Jane could stand those books? “See Spot run. Run, Spot, run.”

Talk about banning books, that would have been a good place to start. 

How did we get to this place?

State Rep. John Ray Clemmons points out parents in most school districts already had a process to challenge books they considered beyond the bounds of their children.

“Nothing has changed except for a bunch of politicians overreacting to a vocal minority, consisting mainly of anti-public school groups posing as concerned parents, who are trying to instill an unnecessary sense of fear in communities, remove local control, and undermine our teachers and schools,” Clemmons says.

They make it seem as if a bunch of vulgar books sneaked into schools overnight, which simply didn’t happen, Clemmons says, calling the mess “an insult to teachers and librarians who deserve our full trust and support.”

Removing books because of the complaints of one person, Clemmons adds, is a “significant threat to society and humankind.”

Wearing rose-colored glasses

To hear TennCare Director Stephen Smith tell it, everybody is overjoyed with the state’s TennCare III waiver.

The “modified block grant” plan approved in the waning hours of the Trump Administration reshaped Tennessee’s Medicaid program for the state’s neediest residents, in part by allowing it to incorporate new methods for cutting expenses, from which it would use “shared savings” from the feds to put money into new services. 

Giving lawmakers an update, Smith recently told the House Insurance Subcommittee “the sky hasn’t fallen” and the state made “unprecedented investments” in TennCare since receiving approval in January 2020 from the Trump Administration. He detailed increases in dental benefits, elimination of a waiting list for disabled adults and increased time for postpartum care.

But alas, nitpickers such as the Tennessee Justice Center raised a ruckus about the TennCare III waiver, in addition to several other organizations such as the Tennessee Hospital Association. 

The Tennessee Justice Center filed suit to stop the program from taking effect but lifted the legal challenge until the Biden Administration can finish a review of the state plan. The group “strongly opposed” the state’s pharmacy formulary restrictions, which would limit the number of drugs available to enrollees. The state withdrew that provision.

But the center continues to object to what it calls “perverse financial incentives to cut care and divert federal Medicaid funding to other state budget priorities.”

The group also opposes the state’s request that it continue to be exempt from a federal law requiring TennCare to extend retroactive eligibility for medical coverage during the three months before an enrollee’s application. TennCare does provide retroactive eligibility for children and pregnant women, according to the Justice Center.

The eligibility policy “falls most harshly on Black Tennesseans, worsening troubling disparities in health and financial security. And the policy leaves providers with unpaid bills, further burdening rural hospitals, which is why the Tennessee Hospital Association objected,” the Justice Center says in a statement.

The group and several others also oppose extending the plan for 10 years, which it says is too long for testing a “legitimate pilot program.”

“It shows that this is not an experiment, but an effort to get around patients’ rights that are written into federal law,” the Justice Center says.

The state has a $13.9 billion budget for TennCare, two-thirds of which comes from the feds.

The state’s argument is that TennCare operates efficiently, creating savings for the federal government which it should be able to use for other services. Smith declines to estimate the amount of “shared savings” he expects in the next fiscal year.

Here’s a question, though, from the peanut gallery: Why not use all of the money the federal government allots for Tennessee and stop playing around with the rest? They send it here for a reason: to help poor people cover medical costs. Just use it.

The bid that won’t die

Rhythm Health, a part of Centene, the nation’s largest managed care organization, filed a petition Sept. 12 in Davidson County Chancery Court for judicial review of the State Protest Committee’s decision upholding TennCare’s selection of three other managed care organizations for state contracts.

The company has been battling for months to have TennCare’s bid process overturned after it selected three other companies to handle coverage for dual enrollees, those who are eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. The Fiscal Review Committee approved those contracts last week.

Efforts to write Rhythm Health (or Centene) into legislation and give it a contract it didn’t win failed in the Legislature this year after some lawmakers called it a form of “bid-rigging.”

Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, tried to persuade TennCare Director Smith during the recent House Insurance Subcommittee meeting to use more than three managed care organizations, saying it would improve “competition” and enable the marketplace to drive the decision.

Smith responded that TennCare has functioned better and saved more money by operating with three managed care organizations. The state would “risk” higher costs if it increases the number of contracts, he said.

After a couple of recesses to figure out what to do, Cepicky and subcommittee chairman Rep. David Hawk opted for a resolution to encourage the Fiscal Review Committee to extend existing contracts.  

Two days later, the Fiscal Review Committee approved the new contracts. Members really had no choice.

Our readers thank you

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, who has rejected interviews with most media outlets, told a conservative radio host this week he refused to talk to liberals such as National Public Radio because he’s too busy hitting the campaign trail to meet “real people.”

Ogles, who is considered the Republican MAGA favorite to win the race, recently refused to be interviewed by the Tennessee Lookout, and his campaign manager declined to answer a few simple questions emailed to him. 

In contrast, Democratic state Sen. Heidi Campbell talked to the Lookout after a legislative committee meeting, taking time for an interview in the hallway. No big deal.

Campbell also recently ran her first TV ad detailing Ogles’ plans to undermine Medicare and Social Security, as well as same-sex marriage.

Ogles, in contrast, is selling inflation and Southern border controversy to win votes.

Apparently, he figures he won’t have to work hard to win because he’s got an 8-point to 9-point Republican voter advantage. Some might call that gerrymandering, but we’ll give him and the Legislature the benefit of the doubt.

Meanwhile, Campbell announced Thursday she will report a $533,000 fundraising haul from 3,100 contributions during the third quarter. All told, she’s raised $862,486 from 4,354 contributions.

(We’re not certain, but sources tell us some of those come from “real people.”)

Ogles has not made a similar announcement.

The Federal Election Commission’s filing deadline is Saturday, Oct. 15, and another filing has to be made shortly before the Nov. 8 election.

Given his recent track record of tardy financial reporting, will he make the deadline?

Gant on the mend

State Rep. Ron Gant, who was seriously injured in a head-on crash last week, is making progress.

I’m told he was able to sleep through the night for the first time Wednesday and had breakfast Thursday morning. He was to be going to skilled care and rehabilitation by the weekend and doesn’t need more surgeries after undergoing work to repair his arms and a shattered hip. 

The crash was so violent it killed the other driver when his vehicle slammed into Gant’s car on Highway 18 in Hardeman County.

Constitutional officer pleads to DUI charge

Secretary of State Tre Hargett entered a best interest plea to a DUI charge this week after being arrested following Bonnaroo this year in Tullahoma.

The Tennessee Journal reported that he already served 48 hours in jail, took a victim impact course and gave up his state car for a year but doesn’t plan to resign.

In a statement, Hargett said, “My counsel believes I had a strong case to argue before the court, and I have been surprised by some events and actions during this experience. However, my desire is to accept responsibility for my actions and move forward and to focus on how God can use me to make something positive from this difficult time.

“The last few months have been humbling and at times very dark for me. I am deeply grateful to my wife and family for their support. Additionally, I have been overwhelmed by the kindness, grace, and forgiveness offered to me by so many people. Your consideration and courtesy will always be remembered. It is wrong to drive any vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and rest assured this is a mistake I will never make again.”

A best interest plea is not an admission of guilt but one that acknowledges the case against the defendant is so strong he would likely be convicted.

How long can Kelsey hold out?

The Standard club owner Joshua Smith is set to plead guilty in a campaign finance scheme to funnel money from state Sen. Brian Kelsey’s state campaign fund to his failed congressional bid in 2016.

The question is: How long can Kelsey hold out in light of Smith’s plea deal?

Smith’s attorney, Phillip S. Georges said in a statement this week, “Mr. Smith accepts responsibility for his involvement and if he is called to testify he will be truthful regarding the activities that took place.” 

Kelsey, who is scheduled for a January trial, already accused the Biden Administration of going on a “political witch hunt” against him, even though Donald Trump was in office when the investigation started. 

The feds say Kelsey and Smith broke federal laws by shifting $91,000 from his state account through The Standard’s political action committee as well as Citizens 4 Ethics in Government to the American Conservative Union, which bought radio and digital ads backing Kelsey.

Two of the unindicted people mentioned in the feds’ investigation are believed to be expelled state Rep. Jeremy Durham and Kelsey’s wife, Amanda Bunning Kelsey, who worked for the American Conservative Union but is now a principal at The Ingram Group in Washington, D.C.

We’ll see if Kelsey cops a plea in the next three months or holds out, potentially forcing the feds to put Durham and/or Bunning Kelsey on the witness stand.

I’m told media types would like to cover a trial, for the simple fact it would give them an excuse to skip early-session legislative meetings.

“And so it was that later/ As the miller told his tale/ That her face, at first just ghostly/ Turned a whiter shade of pale.”