Pennsylvania School Board President Takes Oath Amidst Controversial Books
A Controversial Swearing-In Ceremony
A recently elected Pennsylvania school board president made her priorities clear this month when she was sworn in using controversial books, including sexually explicit material.
On Dec. 4, Karen Smith, a Democrat who was elected to lead the state’s third-largest school district in November, was sworn in with a stack of books, including sexually explicit material.
“Thank you for your trust in me, I do not take this hand lightly,” Smith said when she became president of the Central Bucks County School Board. “To my supporters, I am so very thankful. To those of you who have challenged me, I will do all I can to hear your voices and concerns.”
However, based on the books upon which she swore an oath, Smith’s pledge to keep an open mind to parental concerns was hardly austere.
According to Fox News, one of the books used in the swearing ceremony included Flamer, by Mike Curato, published in 2020.
“[[Flamer]tells the story of a character who is bullied at a Boy Scouts summer camp for ‘acting in a manner considered stereotypical of gay men,’” Fox News reported. “The graphic novel includes characters discussing pornography, erections, masturbation, penis size, and an illustration that depicts naked teenage boys.”
Other books included in the stack upon which she was sworn in were Night, by Elie Wiesel; The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison; and All Boys Aren’t Blue, by George M. Johnson. At least three of the books Smith was sworn in on were listed in the top 5 of the American Library Association’s (ALA) “most challenged books” of 2022. The national library group’s activism promoting these books in local curriculums has led conservative policymakers in at least nine states to begin severing ties with the ALA. Last week, Texas, which ended its tax-subsidized affiliation with the ALA in August, passed new rules to keep “sexually explicit” books out of school libraries.
Smith’s decision to use material endorsed by far-left activists to infiltrate classrooms illustrates how identity politics has become embraced as a cynical, secular religion. Had Smith been genuine with a pledge to hear district parents’ concerns, she might have chosen different material to be sworn in on.
Silvi Haldipur, a mom of two boys in Bucks County schools, said she was previously “horrified” by LGBT and antisemitic remarks in the boardroom of the east Pennsylvania district. However, parents in this district could have more difficulty being involved in their children’s education moving forward. The school board’s new Democrat majority immediately voted to “freeze two policies related to library books that passed last year along with other policies.” This includes halting a previous update to the Library Materials policy that allowed parents to challenge certain books in the classroom.
Author Information
Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected]. Sign up for Tristan’s email newsletter here.
How have conservative policymakers responded to Smith’s decision, severing ties with the American Library Association and implementing stricter rules for school libraries, and what implications does this have for the future of education policies and the promotion of certain books in schools
Rial containing explicit content during her swearing-in ceremony has sparked controversy and raised concerns among parents and conservative policymakers. The recently elected Pennsylvania school board president, Karen Smith, chose to use a stack of books, including sexually explicit material, to take her oath of office on December 4th.
Smith, a Democrat who was elected to lead the state’s third-largest school district in November, expressed her gratitude to her supporters and vowed to listen to the concerns of those who have challenged her. However, the choice of books she used for the ceremony has raised questions about her commitment to keeping an open mind to parental concerns.
One of the books used in the swearing-in ceremony was “Flamer” by Mike Curato, published in 2020. According to Fox News, this graphic novel tells the story of a character who is bullied at a Boy Scouts summer camp for “acting in a manner considered stereotypical of gay men.” The book includes explicit discussions about pornography, erections, masturbation, penis size, and even an illustration depicting naked teenage boys.
In addition to “Flamer,” other books included in the stack Smith used during her swearing-in ceremony were “Night” by Elie Wiesel, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, and “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson. It is noteworthy that at least three of these books were listed in the top 5 of the American Library Association’s (ALA) “most challenged books” of 2022. The ALA’s advocacy for these books in local curriculums has led conservative policymakers in nine states to sever ties with the organization. Texas recently passed new rules to prevent “sexually explicit” books from being included in school libraries after ending its affiliation with the ALA.
Smith’s decision to use material containing explicit content during her swearing-in ceremony has prompted discussions about the appropriateness of such books in school settings. Many argue that exposing students to sexually explicit material at such a young age is inappropriate and goes against parental values. Conservative policymakers have taken concrete measures to protect children from such books by severing ties with the ALA and implementing stricter rules for school libraries.
The controversy surrounding Smith’s swearing-in ceremony highlights the ongoing debate over the inclusion of explicit content in school curriculums and libraries. While some argue for the importance of diverse and inclusive literature, others emphasize the need to protect children from potentially harmful and age-inappropriate material. It remains to be seen how this controversy will shape the future direction of education policies and the role of the ALA in promoting certain books in schools.
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