Iowa Educators Could Be Charged with Felonies For Offering “Obscene” Books To Students

(Des Moines, IA)  —  A key senator says he’ll propose charging educators with a felony if they provide obscene materials to students. Republican Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale is chairman of the committee that would vote on the bill.  Zaun says he’s concerned about two books in particular that central Iowa school boards have discussed banning.  Zaun says passages in the books describe unhealthy sexual situations.  Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville says this debate makes Iowa less attractive to people who might move here for work.  “Saying that we’re going to go after teachers and librarians is not going to make Iowa’s public education stronger,” Wahls says.