At Thursday ‘s Shenandoah County Public Schools Board work session, a rather intense dialogue took place over graphic content available via library books in our public school libraries. New policies are being modeled regarding review of books used for instruction in the classrooms, yet library book review policy isn't clearly defined. Around the Commonwealth, school boards have been laboring over the policies regarding graphic material available in school libraries. Board Member Cyndy Walsh pushed for the” Master's Degree Level” librarian to be more involved in the decision on what the upcoming policy would be. Board Member Brandi Rutz brought up some examples of very graphic materials currently in our school libraries. She said that it was "available to 13 year olds at Mountain View “. The quote “c#*k twitching”, from a book available in the high schools, was quite a hot button during the meeting. Walsh stating that “these aren't our kids", and that “every parent has the chance to limit what their kids see". Rutz fired back, “ not if the kids check it out and do not bring it home.” Walsh also clearly stated that parts of a book were taken out of context, and that the whole work needed to be looked at. She then echoed the sentiments that librarians needed to be “part of the conversation before the policy is made". Rutz answered back that she “has no problem with that”. Dennis Barlow tried to smooth the waters during the discussion. The policy is yet to be written, and this will be an ongoing topic of conversation as the Board discussed committee and expert involment being a part of the conversation. Barlow mentioned “that he would personally vote for fairer and more transparent, rather than quicker ” in response to Walsh commenting on quicker or more fluid decisions being better. There are quite a few books with graphic content in the school libraries and a list with some excerpts will be posted on the Freedom Press’s website for review. Rutz maintained that “High school kids don’t need to know about c#*k twitching”, and ended our conversation emphatically with “ Shenandoah County Public Schools motto is “we want to do what's right for our kids” the question is if exposure to these books fits into that motto?”
As this issue is strenuously being argued over in other school divisions, we will follow up accordingly. By law, a child technically can't go to a rated R movie without parental consent and music has clear warnings for explicit content. Yet the fact that a child under the legal age requirements elsewhere, can check out a book with such graphic content in a public, taxpayer funded school does seem quite outlandish. Look for the content (Parental Discretion Advised) at Fpmedia62.wixsite.com/thefreedompress. The School Board work session is available in it's entirety on the Shenandoah County Public Schools website.
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