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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.

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‌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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