Miami-Dade Schools ban book about Cuba

'A Visit to Cuba' removed from school bookshelves
WTVJ: Miami
Last updated on: 4/6/2006 2:58:21 PM

CORAL GABLES: A Spanish language travel book about Cuba was pulled from elementary schools in Miami-Dade after some parents complained. Now others are complaining that it should be put back.

The book, called "Vamos A Cuba," is part of a series about travel around the world geared for children.

The book, which has been removed from the shelves of Miami-Dade County School District libraries, was a hot topic on Spanish-language radio on Wednesday.

"When it talks about education, it depicts a normal educational process, where children in Cuba are subjected to propaganda and Communist indoctrination," said school board member Frank Bolanos.

Parent Juan Amador said he did not want his children reading what he called a book of lies. In his request to have the book removed from the schools, Amador said, "As a former political prisoner from Cuba, I find the material to be untruthful. It is a Cuba that does not exist."

Amador said that, for example, pictures of a full plate of food are a lie because no one eats that well in Cuba. He said no one has an individual farm because Fidel Castro owns them all and no one has an apartment, NBC6's Hank Tester reported.

Amador said the book is confusing to students who have grown up in the U.S.

The Miami-Dade County School District released a statement.

"The book has content and pictures that are reflective of the current Communist regime," the statement said. "Staff is following approved School Board rules to remove the book from all libraries."

"Clearly, we have a board rule in place because we don't want to censor. At the same time, we don't want to have material on our shelves that is offensive," said Joseph Garcia, of the Miami-Dade County School District.

Virginia Rosen, of the Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, also issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

"While I understand the hurt of Cubans who have lost their homeland, this is a very backward and regrettable decision which we can only hope will be immediately reconsidered. Censorship of the truth, even to young minds, is neither wise nor permitted by our laws," the statement said.