By O. Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa
A key senator says he’ll propose charging educators with a felony if they provide obscene materials to students.
Republican Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale is chairman of the committee that would vote on the bill. Zaun says he’s concerned about two books in particular that central Iowa school boards have discussed banning.
“It was brought to my attention by several parents, some of the garbage that is being taught to our kids,” Zaun says. “It is not appropriate.”
Zaun says passages in the books describe unhealthy sexual situations.
“All I want our schools to do is teach our kids to be successful when they get out of school, give them the tools that they need,” Zaun says, “and I think we need to put a stop to that garbage.”
Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville says this debate makes Iowa less attractive to people who might move here for work.
“Saying that we’re going to go after teachers and librarians is not going to make Iowa’s public education stronger,” Wahls says.
Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights, the Democratic Leader in the Iowa House, says book banning discussions aren’t helpful to companies trying to attract new workers.
“Iowa’s brand gets damaged when stories are out there about things that fringe elements in the state are doing or proposing,” Konfrst says.
The legislators made their comments this morning during a forum organized by the Greater Des Moines Partnership.