Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds was asked about legislation new this year that requires materials in Iowa schools to be age-appropriate. Some districts are struggling to decipher what materials are and are not age-appropriate based on the new law.
The law states age appropriate does not include any material with descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act, which is defined in Iowa Code as:
“Any sexual contact between two or more persons by any of the following:
“Penetration of the penis into the vagina or anus; contact between the mouth and genitalia or mouth and anus or by contact between the genitalia or one person and the genitalia or anus of another person; contact between the finger, hand or other body part of one person and the genitalia or anus of another person, except in the course of examination or treatment by a person licensed pursuant to chapter 148, 148C, 151 or 152; ejaculation onto the person of another; by use of artificial sexual organs or substitutes therefor in contact with the genitalia or anus; the touching of a person’s own genitals or anus with a finger, hand or artificial sexual organ or other similar device at the direction of another person.”
Reynolds reminded members of the media of an interview she did where she read actual excerpts from “All Boys Aren’t Blue” and noted the media couldn’t show that portion of the interview without a disclaimer. And even then, some weren’t comfortable including that portion at all because they were uncomfortable saying those things on TV. Here is the excerpt she was talking about.
“Yet somebody believes that our kids should be subjected to that,” she said. “I’m a grandma, I was a parent. I think moms and grandmas just, they want their kids to get a good education. They want them to be able to read, they want them to be able to do math, science, civics — really understand what the history of this country is — good and bad. And we’re not where we need to be, especially after COVID.
“We are way off course. Our kids and our teachers deserve better. They deserve the tools to help these kids succeed — not a damn distraction on a nasty, pornographic book that should never ever be in a classroom. Now, if you’re a parent and you think it’s important — this is good for your child to have access to that — OK, go buy the book. We didn’t ban them. Go buy the book. Sit down, have a conversation with your child. But let’s not put that on teachers. And let’s not put that on the schools. I think (the law) is pretty clear. And if they can’t distinguish that, then I don’t know… It’s just a distraction. They don’t like it and so they’re blowing it out of proportion. It’s simple. The words are clear. Follow the law.”
.@IAGovernor @KimReynoldsIA goes nuclear on the press after the ask ridiculous question about “banned books” in Iowa!
I love my governor!!! pic.twitter.com/UXUEkDqOA9
— Beth Mushin (@beth_mushin) October 25, 2023
INDIANOLA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTERS: YOU MUST VOTE THIS TUESDAY TO COUNTER AN ANTI-CONSERVATIVE SMEAR CAMPAIGN
In the Indianola Independent School District, the local paper reported the schools were “scrambling” to remove “To Kill a Mockingbird” and similar books based on the falsehood that the law requires the removal of all books that mention sex.
Now, there is a vicious smear campaign against Patty Alexander, a conservative candidate for school board, labeling her as a “book banner” because she opposed pornography in the schools and is a member of the Moms for Liberty. Moms for Liberty and Patty Alexander are being slandered as “extremist” because M4L supports the removal of sexually explicit books from the schools, a position which a Rasmussen Report poll shows is supported by 69% of voters.
The smear campaign includes letters to the editor, two published comments that those wishing to remove sexually explicit books are doing what the Nazis did to the Jews, and phone calls urging people not to vote for Patty Alexander.
INDIANOLA CONSERVATIVES VOTE FOR PATTY ALEXANDER AND ROB KELLER FOR SCHOOL BOARD AS THEY WILL LISTEN TO PARENTS AND OPPOSE PORNOGRAPHY IN THE SCHOOLS!
DO NOT VOTE FOR AARON LABERTEW OR ERIC CHRISTENSEN. Labertew and Christensen would allow sexually explicit materials in the schools. Labertew also opposes school vouchers.
As Governor Reynolds has pointed out, when we show up at the polls we win! Vote this Tuesday, November 7, 2023!