Dear Miami-Dade School Board,

My name is Karla Flores and I am a mother of a 4 year old. I have read the article about your school banning the book "A visit to Cuba," and I completely disagree to what your actions implied to. Although the parent that wanted the book banned because of his experience in Cuba doesnt mean that the children can't learn about the country. Children from the ages of 5 to 7 doesnt know the history and the politics from Cuba and I feel that they don't need to know about it because they wouldn't understand it. Children should be able to explore and expand their minds into different places of the world other than the city and country they live in. They should be aware that there is a whole different side of the world completely opposite from us that can also be fun and entertaining. Children might have minds of their own but they dont completely understand the political issues going on in that country and I feel that they don't need to know about it until they are mature enough to talk about it. A person does not stay a between the ages of 5 and 7 long so I believe that they should be able to be creative and think what they want to think about the country or any other place in the world. One day they might be opposing to your side but since they're children, I believe that their imagination and creativity should be expanded and banning this book and any other book that relates to different third world countries will prevent them from doing so. Taking this first step of banning this book and the other books related to it has opened doors for parents such as this one to step up to yours or anybody else's school board to prevent their child from learning an important aspect to the world. I have a daugther who is 4 years old and I want her to learn about the rest of the world and how the rest of the world is living not just ours. I want her to expand her mind and explore the world because I know that eventually she would want to visit these places. Imagination is the key to these books and that's why these books are created to give imagination to the children and let their mind explore the life at Cuba, for instance. Let children be children while it lasts, don't prevent things like this parent wants you to do to children and keep them from learning. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Karla Flores