The Iowa House recently passed a bill that would make books in public schools more age appropriate.
Part of House File 597 outlines that “age appropriate” materials doesn’t include “descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act” as defined in Iowa Code section 702.17 or 728.1. House District 47 Representative Carter Nordman (R-Panora) agrees with the legislation.
“I have seen a number of examples of just downright disgusting pieces of material in our school libraries or in curriculum that just don’t belong in schools period. And so this is not about banning books, this is about getting material out of the classroom and out of schools that just don’t belong there.”
Nordman further argues that he has a list of examples of those materials in his most recent newsletter and says some of these can’t be viewed on school issues laptops and computers for students, why would there be hard copies available in school libraries?
Governor Kim Reynolds has proposed a bill that would also make a book that is banned in one school district, banned across all public schools in the state.
Greene County School District Superintendent Brett Abbotts tells Raccoon Valley Radio he feels this legislation would effectively take away the school board’s ability to make decisions regarding its review process that is already established.
“Well I think when you talk about local control this passing would just strip that right out. Every school district has a very, very similar materials request policy, we do for sure. That’s a local control thing that I think that’d be kind of the tip of the iceberg honestly of, ‘Well if this can pass, then what else can we get to pass?’ That just concerns me a lot in terms of what else? What’s the next thing going to be? You know, first we’re going to start with books and then what?”
Nordman points out he also wants to see a more uniform process across all public schools to ensure parents have a seat at the table if they have issues with some of the materials in schools. The House bill is now in the Senate and the full Senate has yet to debate the governor’s bill. You can click the link below to see the House bill.
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=hf597