AT THIS WEEK'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: "LAWN BOY" STAYS IN OUR LIBRARIES. BOARD MEMBERS UPHELD THE COMMITTEE DECISION.

"Lawn Boy," by Jonathan Evison, has been the focus of controversy across the country because of scenes depicting 4th graders talking about performing oral sex on each other.

Critics who call it pedophilia say they do so because of the way the book is written: those scenes involving the kids are actually the fantasy of an adult neighbor, imagining it. 

Note: This is NOT the "Lawn Boy" book written by Gary Paulsen. 

These are a couple of passages that have led to controversy, and criticism about them. 

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT

You can find these passages and more about criticisms of the book here:
 https://thespringmagazine.com/2022/01/28/lawn-boy-is-pedophilic-heres-why-explicit/

WHERE IN ROCKWOOD

Records show "Lawn Boy" by Evison is in the libraries of Lafayette and Eureka High Schools.

And, the copies will remain there, after the challenge committee reviewed the book in March and voted to retain it, after a parent complaint. They will also remain there after Rockwood's Board of Education appeals committee upheld that decision. More on that, below.

School districts around the country have ruled on challenges to the book, brought by parents. Some districts removed the book, only to bring it back.

Parents who are interested in reviews won't find anything about the book on Common Sense Media because the site only reviewed the other "Lawn Boy," which has not been surrounded by controversy.

ROCKWOOD APPEAL

This vote will be formally announced at Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

Newly elected school board member Jessica Clark was on the 3 person appeals committee for the book. She voted, with the committee, to uphold the decision. The board members on the appeals committee only look at whether the challenge committee followed the rules; not whether the book should be in the district's libraries.

Voters might be surprised that she agreed with the appeals committee decision to uphold the Challenge Committee's decision. We asked her about that. She emphasized that she wants to be on as many committees as possible over the next 6 months or so, so she can learn more about the policies themselves and see what changes are needed.