Florida Department

• Australian author Mem Fox’s 1988 picture book Guess What?, illustrated by Vivienne Goodman, has been banned in Duval County, Florida over allegations of “pornography”.
• Because one illustration depicts the main character, “old witch” Daisy O'Grady, taking a bath.
• Failure to comply is a third-degree felony, which can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.
• Read more:
  Teacher sacked for reading bum book to students: the latest conservative book ban

Bodies are not ‘inherently sexual’

• In one illustration, Daisy sits across a double bowl sink (that she is comically too big to fit in) wearing a scuba mask.
• The bowls are filled with water, and she sits sideways in one with her feet splashing in the other.
• The irony, of course, is that by trying to shelter children from sex – and from material that “sexualises students” – the law itself is sexualising children’s bodies.
• By implying that nudity in a non-sexual context is “pornographic”, the Florida government and Department of Education is teaching children that their bodies are inherently sexual.

Australian attempted book bans haven’t worked

• In the US, Gender Queer was 2021’s “most banned book in the country” and topped the American Library Association’s “Most Challenged” list in 2022 for “sexually explicit” content.
• However, after review here by the Australian Classification Board, the book was given an “unrestricted classification” and consumer advice that it is “not recommended for readers under 15 years”.
• While Australian legislation still allows books to be banned – and it does occur – book banning is much rarer here, and more likely to be focused on topics like euthanasia and terrorism.

Book banning as a presidential tactic

• The surge of book banning in Florida appears to be political.
• As The New Yorker has noted, the Florida law changes – and subsequent mass book removals in schools – have come in the wake of Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s bid for the US presidency.
• In order to comply with government requirements spearheaded by DeSantis, the Florida Department of Education has put together strict, somewhat “confusing” criteria for book selection that all schools must follow.

Prison for violating book removal law

• – and countless other banned books – do not actually fit the requirements for removal, but they are removed regardless.
• This is because the law is vague and the penalty for violating it – a potential prison sentence – is severe.
• Understandably, the ambiguity over what is and isn’t okay has led to mass book removals across Florida schools.

• The Company’s average realized/blended price per pound solids for the six months ended March 31, 2023 increased by approximately 3.1%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.
• Income from operations for the Land Management and Other Operations Division decreased for the six months ended March 31, 2023 by $0.4 million, compared to the six months ended March 31, 2022.
• Other income (expense), net for the six months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was approximately $2.4 million and approximately $33.3 million, respectively.
• On April 14, 2023 the Company paid a second quarter cash dividend of $0.05 per share on its outstanding common stock to stockholders of record as of March 31, 2023.

• Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, is supplying 60 electric school buses to Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) in Florida.
• The delivery represents the largest electric school bus fleet purchase in Blue Bird’s history.
• View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230427005739/en/
  Blue Bird is delivering 60 electric school buses to Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) in Florida to help the school district accelerate its transition to clean student transportation.
• (Image provided by Broward County Public Schools)
  Blue Bird will provide its most advanced Vision electric school buses to BCPS.

• “Both Fanatics and Special Olympics Florida believe sports have the power to break through barriers and bring people together,” Shaffer said.
• “For more than 50 years, Special Olympics Florida has worked to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities,” Aune said.
• “We are honored to welcome Marsha, Victor, and Peggy to our board,” said Special Olympics Florida President and CEO Sherry Wheelock.
• “They are longtime, enthusiastic supporters of Special Olympics Florida and champions of our mission to create more inclusive and accepting communities.