Hunter
12/27/23
Area educators and administrators remain frustrated over a lack of guidance as the deadline to pull books from their shelves to comply with a new state law draws near.
The law bans any books in school libraries that describe or visually depict a sex act, exempting the Bible and other religious books.
KCRG TV reports many schools like Iowa City, and College Community have partial lists. Titles including To Kill a Mocking Bird, Handmaid’s Tale, and Ulysses are on some of these lists. Smaller schools, while dealing with smaller libraries, are also still working to compile a list. In Solon, Superintendent Davis Eidalh told TV9 they’re going through each title in their libraries to determine age appropriateness and how it relates to the upcoming law.
Iowa State Education Association President Mike Baranek says educators will be notified if they are in violation of the law. Penalties can be escalated to loss of license, and possibly a loss of job or career.
Many administrators say they’re uncertain, anxious, and frustrated over the lack of guidance at the state government level.