Wait until you see what she was up against...
Adrienne Martin of Granbury, Texas, stood up at her school board meeting and delivered a speech expressing her frustration at the board members' willingness to cater to vocal extremists at the expense of facilitating a safe school environment for staff and students.
Her speech asking members to reexamine their entanglement with extremist book banners and personal religious beliefs was recorded and has circulated on social media.
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In it, she also opposed those in her community and on the school board who argue, based solely on personal religious beliefs, that books and activities should be withheld from local high school students.
Martin questioned why the board allowed people without educational qualifications to hold disproportionate sway over district decisions merely because they are loud and willing to bully to get what they want. From her perspective as a parent, she questioned why these people get to decide what her child's education will look like.
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Here is what Adrienne Martin told her school board:
"I do not want random people with no education background or experience determining what books my child can read, what curriculum they learn, and what clubs they can join.
Just because you can get up at every meeting and rant and rave does not give you authority over my child's education.
Your personal religious beliefs- people in this room and on this board- should not be affecting my child's education either. Our schools are not to be used for personal political agendas. And our children are here for education, not religious indoctrination.
I implore the board to put an end to trying to appease these extremists. Focus on retaining staff, providing excellent public education, and a safe and welcoming learning space for all students.
The speakers speaking about what great Christians they are... Great! Go tell your pastor. Our schools are not your church.
Thank you."
"I implore the board to put an end to trying to appease these extremists. Focus on retaining staff, providing excellent public education, and a safe and welcoming learning space for all students." https://t.co/Y8glv7IGsL
— EveryLibrary (@EveryLibrary) July 7, 2023
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What She Was Up Against...
After the video went viral, a video post surfaced on Twitter to provide context for Martin's speech. "If anyone wonders why I said the things I said at our school board meeting, this is why," Martin said on Twitter. The clip is startling. In it, a book banner in Martin's community addresses what she believes are the results of not withholding and removing books from the local high school. "Because of the delay of this book issue, the progressives have grabbed the power in our high school." The book banner goes on to address what she perceives to be the shameful complicity of the board in allowing children to access books and resources, saying that "each of you personally allowed ["the progressives"] access to simply walk in the front door. They are now hurting confused children." "And I have a quote too," she declares, "it's by Jesus Christ: If anyone causes one of these little ones who have believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around your neck and drop to the bottom of the sea. Pray hard." She closes by thanking the board for their time as the room erupts into applause.
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Here is the video showing what Martin is up against in her community.
If anyone wonders why I said the things I said at our school board meeting, this is why. pic.twitter.com/Rwf61NVzWw
— Adrienne Quinn Martin (@MrsAMartini) August 25, 2022
The post drew comments from confused and alarmed viewers. "Calling "the progressives" evil whilst giving a biblical death threat is peak Granbury," Martin said in a comment. The audience applause floored many people. "This woman just said because I don't believe as she does I should have a millstone placed around my neck and dropped in the ocean, and they clapped," one commenter said, "This is public school. A place for all children not just one sect of one religion..."
This is what people like Martin and EveryLibrary are facing. Book banners hoping to strong-arm their way into controlling public education.