Who's the Parent? SC Board of Education Meeting Makes Waves Regarding Obscene Books & Cellphones
Greenville Co. Argues Sexually Explicit Book Removal as SC Board of Education Bans Cellphones
The SC Board of Education meeting on Tuesday not only affirmed the banning of cellphones in schools but it brought up a seemingly contentious issue taking place in Greenville County regarding the removal of sexual explicit content. Let's take a look at both issues:
#1: Government Bans Cellphones in SC Schools
This past session, the General Assembly enacted a temporary law as a proviso in the state budget that requires all school districts to enact a policy to ban cell phones or risk their state funding if they do not comply.
Before the State Board Education took a vote, Governor Henry McMaster sent a letter to board members urging them to approve the "model policy prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the school day."
At the meeting, the State Board approved the model policy crafted by the South Carolina Department of Education. This policy prohibits students from accessing personal devices during the school day unless use is approved by the district superintendent. Now, districts must enact a local policy this fall and statewide policies will be enforced by January.
After the recent school shooting in Georgia, the press asked Governor McMaster regarding parents concerns to reach their kids during an emergency. Check out his reply:
Government Overreach?
Why is it important that the government regulate a child's cellphone but allow access to certain material off of government-funded laptops? One reason we know DEI/CRT/SEL is so ingrained in our schools is because children have recorded their teachers openly pushing extreme Marxist views and reprimanding students who question this tactic.
While it is understandable that cellphones may cause distraction, there are other ways to handle distractions rather than allowing the government to intercede. Teachers and even individual school districts have made rules based off the students that attend. Like school choice, it may sound good but the government is still gaining more power over the people. And the government has never misused power that was intended for good, right?
#2: Greenville Residents Comment on Sexually Explicit Books Available to Students
Obscene books in Greenville County schools has been a source of contention among parents and school board members for the past few years. Two years ago, one parent read one of these sexually explicit books found in Catawba Ridge High School (that houses a four year old preschool program) that depicts a 4th grade boy receiving a blowjob from another boy in a book titled “Lawnboy”.
During the public comment section of the State Education meeting, several Greenville residents and outside education groups voiced their opinions on Greenville's recent decision to not hold book fairs this school year due to the new state regulation requiring books that contain age inappropriate sexual conduct to be removed from classrooms and school libraries.
Of course, a lawyer from the ACLU came to speak against this regulation. Who is surprised?
It seemed that a group of liberal-leaning parents from Greenville County decided to attend the DOE meeting. One parent who described herself as a "raging bibliophile" stated that "humans have genitalia...have sex and use drugs and do bad things and the way to protect them is to read as much as possible about it." It may be true that humans do all of these things and MAYBE that works for adults who have experienced doing "bad things"...but why does that make it okay to introduce these concepts to elementary school children whose brains are still in the early stages of development?
Another striking comment that was made was from an upstate parent explained how removing age inappropriate books is making teachers “work too hard” by combing through the books they are giving to their students. Isn't it up to independent journalists to research every fact they print for adults? Why would teachers not read what they are teaching and providing to young minds?
What's the Relationship?
Some may wonder what the difference of removing age inappropriate books and banning cellphones. It's a simple as this: it's the parent's decision to purchase their child an electronic device and introduce them to sensitive material on their own time. It is not the government's job to introduce sexual material to children and ban devices that are owned by parents.
It is truly astounding that the uniparty is all about "my body my choice" when it comes to slaughtering an innocent baby or chopping of a child's genitals because they want to play pretend...but how dare a high school student accesses a personal electronic device that can contact a parent or can record what is happening around them.
The government is not a parent, and it's time the General Assembly and the Department of Education stops pretending that they know what is best for your child.
What You Can Do:
Start attending your local school board meeting. Voice your concern regarding sexually explicit books being allowed in school libraries. See some of the books found in an Aiken County library HERE.
Call your South Carolina State Board of Education member, the Chair, and the Chair-Elect. Urge them to make clear regulations removing sexually explicit books in schools across the state to protect the developing minds of our children. Emphasize that it is the parent’s responsibility to decide whether or not to have these conversations and introduce this material to their children, not a school or teacher.