Parent files complaint about 70 ‘sexually explicit’ books in school libraries
Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005
The Fayetteville School District has a procedure for parents to file formal complaints against school library books they find inappropriate.
But what if the number of books is 70?
That's how many alleged sexually explicit books local resident Laurie Taylor claimed she found during a personal "audit"of the library system.
Taylor, who has filed previous complaints against school library books, claims the books in question contain segments on "threesomes, teenage sexual foreplay, detailed sexual escapades, explicit homosexual affairs, despicable language, dangerous instruction and promotion of sexual behavior."
Taylor listed seven of the alleged objectionable books in an e-mail Wednesday to school board members and Superintendent Bobby New.
They were "The Homo Handbook: Getting in Touch with Your Inner Homo"by Judy Carter," The Other Woman"by Eric J. Dickey," Rainbow Boys"by Alex Sanchez," Doing It"by Melvin Burgess," Choke"by Chuck Palahniuk," GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens"by Kelly Huegel and "Forever"by Judy Blume.
All of the books except "Forever"are available only at the Fayetteville High School library, according to an online district library catalog search. "Forever"is available at McNair Middle School and Ramay Junior High.
Taylor said she would like the identified books removed, the school to conduct its own audit of library materials and for the school district to set up a parent review board to oversee future library purchases.
She said in the e-mail that she and other parents were willing to file a request for reconsideration on all the books. She said some of the books besides the seven mentioned were "worse." "I have something against this explicit stuff being pandered to our children,"she said.
New said he wasn't sure how the current policy for evaluating library book complaints, which involves appointing a committee to review the book and make a recommendation, would work in this case. The policy was designed to generally address one or two books at a time. "The magnitude of the request is overwhelming,"he said. "Our current policy might have to be amended."
It will take some time to administratively evaluate Taylor's complaints, New said, adding that he plans to discuss the matter with her before formulating a response. He also needs to identify the other 63 books she finds questionable. "We'll work through it,"he said.
Taylor filed a request for reconsideration against three other books earlier this spring. In May, the school board responded by voting 4-3 to place the books in the parent sections at school libraries, meaning they wouldn't be available to students in most circumstances.
She said Wednesday she considered the decision in that case to be an acceptable compromise.
Taylor said her overall concern has been the availability of explicit books in a public school library without a parent's consent or knowledge.
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