Knox County Removes Nearly 50 Explicit Titles From School Libraries
The Knox County School Board sent a list on Tuesday to schools in the district, instructing them to remove close to 50 books from their libraries in order to comply with the state’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act.
Back in July, the district’s board of education adopted a policy that would remove students’ access to “explicit” books in light of the newly passed state law. That policy bans any books that “contain nudity or descriptions or depictions of sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence, or sadomasochistic abuse.”
When that policy was adopted, then-board member Susan Horn stated that “the intent is really just to make sure we are in compliance with state law and to make sure our schools and staff and parents are aware of that and the easiest way to do that is making sure our policies match the state.”
Legislators say the law was created to allow parents to have more control over what children are exposed to, including instruction that does not align with the family’s beliefs. State policies provide parents with a means of monitoring what their children are exposed to in school libraries, as well as in classrooms.
Moms for Liberty has been instrumental in the fight against explicit materials in school, stating that they are “fighting for the survival of American by unifying, educating, and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.”