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