Op/Ed
Letter to the editor: Healthcare pros pan potential book banning
Editor’s note: This is a letter sent to the Addison Central School District Board and cc’d to the Independent.
Dear Members of the Addison Central School District Board,
We are writing as a group of healthcare professionals — physicians, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and nurses — who are deeply concerned about the proposed ban of books such as “Fred Gets Dressed,” “Bodies Are Cool,” “Julian Is a Mermaid,” “Introducing Teddy,” “Sparkle Boy” and “They, He, She, Me: Free to Be!” This proposed ban raises significant concerns about the health and well-being of children in our community and undermines core values of freedom, diversity, and education.
As healthcare providers, we have seen firsthand the importance of representation and acceptance in promoting the mental and emotional health of children. Books like these are powerful tools that allow young readers to explore themes of identity, inclusion, and self-acceptance in developmentally appropriate ways. The impact is profound for children who see themselves in these stories — helping them feel validated and understood. For other children, these books foster empathy and teach the value of kindness toward people with diverse experiences.
Banning these books sends a harmful message that these themes, and by extension the children they represent, are not welcome or valued in our schools. For children who already feel marginalized, this lack of representation can lead to feelings of isolation, shame, and poor mental health outcomes. From our professional perspective, such actions could have long-term consequences on the health and resilience of these young individuals.
Additionally, banning books undermines one of the fundamental principles of our country: freedom of thought and expression. Censorship, especially in schools, is a slippery slope that risks suppressing critical conversations and silencing voices that encourage understanding and growth. Today, it may be books about gender identity; tomorrow, it could be literature addressing race, history, or other vital topics. Schools should equip children with the skills to engage with a complex, diverse world — not shield them from it.
We urge the board to reject this proposal and instead affirm the role of schools as spaces for open learning, inclusion, and dialogue. Let us work together to create an educational environment where all children feel respected, valued, and prepared to engage with the world around them.
Thank you for considering our perspective as healthcare providers committed to the well-being of the children and families in our community.
Sincerely,
Erik K. Koskinen, DDS, MiddTown Dental PC, Resident of Middlebury
Jodi Brown, DO, FACOG, OB/GYN, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, New Haven
Emma Radler, PA-C, Porter Emergency Medicine
Heather Kidde, CNM, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Vergennes
Katherine Howard, FACOG, OB/GYN, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Middlebury
Molly Brown, WHNP, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Middlebury
Kate Donovan, DNP, CNM, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Vergennes
Jenny Bates, CNM, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Lincoln
Rebecca Willis, CNM, MPH, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Weybridge
Catherine Cannon, RN, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Cornwall
R. Mariah North, MD, FACOG, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Middlebury
Anna Benvenuto, MD FACOG, Dartmouth Health Ob/Gyn, Cornwall
Monica Benjamin, DNP, MBA, MSN, FNP-BC, RN, Porter Pediatric Primary Care, Middlebury
Elizabeth Hammel, RN, Porter Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology, Weybridge
Brian Bates, MD, Mountain Community Health, Lincoln
Amanda Young, MD, Porter Medical Center Emergency Department Medical Director, Cornwall
Francisco Corbalán, MD, Porter Pediatric Primary Care, Shoreham
Elizabeth Knuff, DMD, Mountain Community Health, South Burlington
Rachel F. Rivard, DDS, MiddTown Dental PC, Weybridge
Julie Iskra, DMD, Milton Family Dentistry, South Burlington
Robert L. Rivard, MD, Emergency Physician, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Weybridge
Marion Atocha, RN, Mountain Community Health, Lincoln
Lindsay Soares White, NP, Mountain Community Health, Lincoln
Joseph Rosenberg, MD, Porter Emergency Department, Shelburne
Breezy Salmonsen, PA-C, Mountain Community Health, Richmond
Melanie Connah, MD, Mountain Community Health, Bristol
Diana Tutelo, DNP, AGACNP, FNP, ENP, Porter Express Care, Salisbury
Kelly Needham, RN, Rutland Hospital ICU, Salisbury
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