Iowa school district to review 400 flagged books on sex acts, gender identity.
An Iowa School District to Review Nearly 400 Books for Controversial Content
The Urbandale Community School District, located northwest of Des Moines, is set to review 374 books that have been flagged for depictions of sex acts and references to gender identity. This review is in response to a new state law that prohibits schools from purchasing books with explicit content and from teaching gender identity or sexual orientation to students below seventh grade.
The law, signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in May and effective since July 1, has prompted the district to take action. While the list of books under review does not necessarily represent books currently in the school system, any book found to be in violation of the law will be removed.
According to UCSD spokeswoman Dena Claire, the district wanted to ensure that teachers were not put in a position of uncertainty regarding acceptable materials as the new school year approaches. The goal is to provide clear guidelines and avoid any potential disciplinary actions under the new law.
Controversial Books Under Review
Among the books that have sparked debate are “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe and “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson. These books contain explicit images and graphic descriptions of sexual acts, including illustrations of sex between two males with a sex toy, oral sex, masturbation, and other sexually explicit content. Both titles have faced bans in numerous school libraries across the country due to parental objections.
Other books on the district’s review list include “I Love My Colorful Nails,” which addresses the topic of a boy facing ridicule for painting his nails, “Ho’onani: Hula Warrior,” which tells the story of a Hawaiian girl aspiring to lead an all-boys hula troupe, and “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish” by Lil Miss Hot Mess, a nursery rhyme book about drag shows.
The district spokeswoman emphasized that the book list is not exhaustive and may change over time. The district has also provided a process for staff to question books on the list or recommend additional books for review.
Concerns Over Inappropriate Content
The issue of sexually explicit and inappropriate content in school libraries and curricula has become a contentious topic in recent years. Parents across the country have voiced their concerns at school board meetings, sometimes even reading graphic passages from objectionable books to highlight their objections.
The Urbandale district, which serves approximately 4,000 students, is taking proactive measures to ensure compliance with the new law and address the concerns of parents and community members.
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