Criminal complaints filed against school district for allegedly distributing graphic books
RALEIGH, N.C. (TND) — Nine criminal complaints were reportedly filed against North Carolina’s largest public-school district this week over accusations the school system is providing books to students which include language and images depicting sex.
“I’m not a prude,” a parent in the district told the Raleigh News & Observer. “But nothing in the books is educational at all. It’s just garbage.”
Some of the controversial titles complained about, “Gender Queer,” “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” “George” and “Lawn Boy,” have come under fire across the nation for their graphic content and explicit nature.
The criminal complaints stated language and images inside books offered by the district depicted sex acts, according to the News & Observer.
“Someone is trying to normalize kids to sexual experiences,” said Julie Page, one of the parents who filed a complaint, told the News & Observer. “There is no educational value to these books, not even in a fictional sort of way.”
Page reportedly also filed a grievance with the Wake County school system in addition to her criminal complaint.
The National Desk (TND) reached out to Wake County public schools’ Communications Director Lisa Luten who said the district “received no information about charges from law enforcement.” The News & Observer reported that Luten told them the district is refraining from commenting on the complaints until it gets more information.
TND also reached out to Wake County’s Public Information Officer Eric Curry, but did not hear back ahead of publication. This story will be updated with any additional details TND obtains.
Launching criminal complaints is a new measure being taken among a recent uptick in efforts to put tighter controls around what types of books are offered to students in school districts across the nation.
Governors from South Carolina and Texas ordered investigations last month, into whether the availability of “pornographic” materials violated any state laws.
“The fact that pornographic material that serves no educational purpose has been made available to students in Texas public schools is a clear violation of the law,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott in a letter to Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath. “That is why I am directing the Texas Education Agency to investigate any criminal activity in our public schools involving the availability of pornography. During this investigation, I ask the agency to refer any instance of pornography being provided to minors under the age of 18 for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. We have a responsibility to ensure that no Texas child is exposed to pornography or obscene content while in a Texas public school, and your investigation will help accomplish this mission."
