“We should empower parents to protect their own children from sexually explicit content in schools.” – Sen. Ryan Aument

Introduction

The problem: In the past year I have been contacted by parents concerned with inappropriate content in their children’s school curriculum and library books.

The evidence: In examples right here in Pennsylvania, parents have identified books and assignments that contain graphic sexually explicit content that adults would be prohibited from viewing while at work.

The solution: I’ve introduced legislation that would empower parents to shield their children from this graphic content by allowing them to control what only their own children are able to view in school.

This proposal is NOT a book ban.

Nearly all content has ratings: Movies, video games, music, and TV shows all have ratings to warn viewers of potentially sensitive content.

Streaming platforms have parental control options: Many of the platforms to access these shows, games, and music also have parental control options so young children don’t have unrestricted access to graphic content.
Library books in schools are unrestricted: Yet, these books are freely available without parental knowledge or consent in public school libraries and classrooms for children of all ages to access with ease.

Conclusion: We must work together to find a bipartisan solution that honors parents, considers impacts to teachers and schools, and protects children from all backgrounds.

Summary

Senate Bill 7 would require schools to:

✔ Identify sexually explicit content in school curriculum, materials, and books.

✔ Create an opt-in policy that would:

- Notify parents of the sexually explicit content by including a list of the book titles on the form.

- Give parents the opportunity to review the materials.

- Require parents to give direct consent for their children to be provided or have access to sexually explicit content.

✔ Provide the child with a non-explicit alternatives if their parents do not opt-in.

Senate Bill 7 would NOT:

Ban any books from any school curriculum or library.

Examples

For some examples of sexually explicit content found in Pennsylvania school libraries and curriculum, adult readers can, at their own discretion, review the dedicated webpage here which contains unedited quotes and blurred copies of the original images.

Statistics

Source: Rasmussen Reports – Capitol Resource Institute September 2022 Survey of 1000 National Likely Voters

Claim vs Fact

Claim: This bill is a book ban.

Fact: This bill does NOT ban any books from any school library or curriculum. It only empowers parents to control the content their own children are exposed to, which does not impact what books / materials are available to the student body.

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Claim: Pennsylvania schools don’t have these materials available to children – this is a solution in search of a problem.

Fact: Here are examples of explicit materials that have been found in many Pennsylvania elementary, middle, and high schools.

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Claim: This bill is an attack on the LGBTQ community because it only targets books by and for members of that community.

Fact: The opt-in policy in this bill would apply to any book that contains content that meets the definition of “sexually explicit content,” not just books meant for members of the LGBTQ community. In fact, classics such as Catcher in the Rye, Romeo and Juliet, and even the Bible would trigger the parental notification and permission clauses required by the bill.

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Claim: This bill will remove critical anti-bullying lessons that help educate all children about how to treat people who are different than they are, including members of the LGBTQ community.

Fact: This bill does NOT remove or ban any books from any school library or curriculum. It only allows parents to control the content their own children are exposed to, which does not impact what books, materials, or classroom lessons that are available to the student body.

Teaching children to be kind, understanding, and appreciate differences in others is not the same as having explicit conversations about sexual orientation or sex. These lessons can be taught without exposing children to the problematic sexually explicit content. This bill would not impact the foundation and core function of anti-bullying curriculum in Pennsylvania schools.

News

April 19, 2023 – Aument Reintroduces Parental Control of Sexually Explicit Content in Schools Bill

October 12, 2022 – Outrage Was Reasonable in the Case of Drag Show at Local High School

October 3, 2022 – Voters Against Obscene Books in Public Schools

March 31, 2022 – Aument Introduces Bill to Give Parents Control Over Inappropriate Content in School Curriculum