Educators Who Provide Books With “Obscene” Passages Could Face Felonies

(Des Moines, IA) Two Senate Republicans have called for felony charges against educators who provide students with books with passages they deem obscene, but Majority Leader Jack Whitver – the top Republican in the Senate – says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea. Governor Reynolds has proposed requiring lists of school books to be posted online and requiring school officials to respond within 30 days to parents’ complaints about any book. Parents would have a final appeal heard by the State Board of Education. Whitver says that kind of transparency is a good step, to let parents address any concerns they may have.