Maryland Board of Education Unanimously Approves Policy Restricting Access to Sexually Explicit Books
In a significant move, the board of education in a Maryland county voted unanimously on January 10 to implement a policy aimed at restricting access to “sexually explicit” material within schools. The decision is hailed as a major victory for parents’ rights advocates, particularly groups like Moms for Liberty, which has consistently advocated for the removal of sexually explicit content from educational institutions.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Moms for Liberty Chapter President Kit Hart emphasized that the unanimous vote transcends political affiliations, asserting that parental rights in schools should not be perceived as a partisan issue. “I think that the unanimous vote in favor of this policy is further proof that [the issue] of having [sexual] content in schools spans the entire political spectrum,” she stated, adding, “It is not a political issue.”
Hart underscored the broader consensus on parental rights, stating, “The entire idea of parental rights is an idea that all parents can agree with. We’re very happy with the result.”
The newly approved policy defines “sexually explicit content” as material that unambiguously describes, depicts, shows, or writes about sex or sexual acts in a detailed or graphic manner. This definition provides a clear framework for evaluating objectionable content within the educational context.
According to Hart, the policy addresses previous challenges faced by parents when expressing concerns about sexually explicit books in schools. “When a parent has an issue with a book, they have to go through this very long and tedious process of submitting a reconsideration form, and the reconsideration committee has to read the book,” she explained.
Maryland education board unanimously votes to restrict access to ‘sexually explicit’ books https://t.co/whj2WOeUUF
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The policy not only streamlines the process for parents to raise objections but also serves as a preventive measure. Hart expressed hope that with this policy in place, there will be fewer instances where books need to be reconsidered by local committees.
Board of education member Steve Whisler, speaking in his personal capacity, previously spoke to Fox News Digital about the importance of preventing sexual content from entering schools. “I just frankly cannot understand how some people can defend this,” Whisler remarked.
However, not all parents are in favor of the new policy. Jessica Bronson, a concerned parent, expressed her reservations, stating, “It could have repercussions that are incredibly vast. I mean, we’re talking about classic works of literature that are included in the definition of that policy.” The debate over the policy’s potential impact on literary inclusion is likely to continue among parents and education stakeholders in the region.