Book Ban Conversation Continues

Dear Editor,

I’m grateful to Ben Hartman for taking the time to read and respond to my Aug. 27 op-ed (“Radicalization of Household Pets,” Feedback, Sept. 11).

In answer to his pointed questions, my initial exposure to Mein Kampf came roughly at age 9 in Hebrew School, where I also viewed Triumph of the Will and read excerpts from, yes, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which was absolutely available to me.

Do I really think there is no risk of harm in exposing a child to radical propaganda at an early age? In an honest, open marketplace of ideas, that’s correct! Absolutely there’s no risk, and if I had the privilege of being a teacher for one of the Hartman children, I would not hesitate one second to assign them reading from the likes of Mein Kampf, The Turner Diaries, or The Clansman.

I’m grateful that Mr. Hartman concurs with me that book bans serve nobody and harm everybody, but I hope he’ll come to realize what the real dangers to American youth are, his kids included: the dismantling of public education and the death of critical thinking.

Liam Mathison Farmer

Shame on SBOE

Dear Editor,

Thank goodness my son and daughter-in-law are well-educated people who will ensure their kids (who attend public schools) receive all the facts and proper information despite what the Republican-controlled State Board of Education has done to “whitewash” history and reality [“Texas U.S. History Curriculum Will Only Mention Islam in Relation to Terrorism,” News, Sept. 11]. It was very disheartening and disturbing to read how Texas is continuing to polarize our American citizens and cast anyone who is different from their vision of what we should be as evil. Schools should not teach hate, which is what the SBOE is promoting. Our country has a rich heritage comprised of contributions from people from all walks of life. Shame on SBOE. Shame on those inside and outside of government who support this abomination. Educators need to stand strong together and continue to fight these mandates and condemn these changes as unacceptable and frankly un-American!

Name withheld

This article appears in September 18 • 2026.

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