PRESENTATION AT ROCKWOOD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PUT THE DISTRICT ON NOTICE: NEW LEGISLATION MEANS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S IN SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS.

The district's current practices don't require librarians or teachers to read library books before making them available to students.

That may change after a presenter told Rockwood's school board that the district should be aware of what's in books in school libraries.

It's all because of new legislation that targets Missouri schools and makes it a crime if the people affiliated with those schools give explicit content to students.

Consultant to Rockwood:

"As we adopt catalogues, as graphic novels and other things keep coming, we've got to be at least aware of what we're putting out there...any time there's a law like that, we need to be mindful because there is a message that's being sent."

That quote is from Dr. Paul Ziegler, executive director of Education Plus. Education Plus acts as an advocate for school districts by alerting them to legislation that may affect them.

With that quote, he was answering a question from board member Jessica Clark about Senate Bill 775, one of the bills he explained to board members Thursday night, that passed during this last legislative session.

Senate Bill 775 (waiting for Parson's signature) specifically names people associated with school districts (teachers, librarians, etc.) as guilty of a class A misdemeanor if they KNOWINGLY give explicit sexual material to students.

AND, IT'S NOT JUST NEW BOOKS THE DISTRICT WILL BUY

When Clark asked if this also affects books we already have in our libraries, the presenter said YES.

Two graphic novels Rockwood and other districts already have are "Gender Queer: A Memoir" and "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic." Graphic novels (comic book style) are the only books affected by the new legislation.

THE PHRASE "KNOWING OF ITS CONTENT" MIGHT BE KEY...

Because Rockwood parents already challenged/complained about both books, it appears, going forward, that every time a student checks out those books from Rockwood libraries, administrators, librarians, etc. will now have known of its content.

HOW COULD THEY NOT KNOW AHEAD OF TIME?

Nobody has to read the books first. Funding can be approved, books can be ordered, and, books can be placed on school library shelves without anyone in the district knowing specifically what's in them. As a policy, school librarians rely on professional reviews and recommendations from the American Library Association.

BUT, IS IT "EXPLICIT?"

Yes, according to the definition in the new legislation is seen in the screenshot below.

"...deviate sexual intercourse (includes mouths on genitals) " and "...direct physical stimulation of genitals" appear to be seen in images inside "Gender Queer" and "Fun Home."

UPSHOT:

Book challenges + new legislation = school library books deemed ok to stay in the libraries might lead to a class A misdemeanor.

PEOPLE WHO COULD BE CHARGED

Here's who is considered to be "affiliated" with the school district:

WHY NOT ALREADY ILLEGAL?

Current Missouri laws so far haven't persuaded authorities or Rockwood challenge committees to view certain content as against the law, even if it was sexually explicit, because they considered the books to, overall, have literary value.

This excerpt from the challenge committee report was justification for keeping "Gender Queer" in Rockwood libraries. Summed up in the last two sentences:

link: full report

The wording in the new legislation appears to only make exceptions for works of art, but doesn't make exceptions for "literary value." It also makes exceptions for material used in educational classes such as sex ed.

You wouldn't know it from the casual conversation taking place on the school board stage at Marquette Thursday night, that this legislation might have big consequences.

There was one hint, though, when the presenter earlier said he thinks the wording in the bill is "...just a poke at teachers, if you ask me."

A clip of the bulk of the conversation, between Clark and the presenter, is below.

SO, WHEN??

In Missouri, legislation becomes law whether the Governor signs it or not; if enough time passes without a veto, it's as good as signed.

Senate rules give two time frames: 15 days to sign for legislation passed while in session and 45 days to sign if passed after the session.

Going by the date it was delivered to Governor Parson (May 18th), 15 days would be June 2nd.

However, Missouri Bar's legislative update report is using the 45 day time frame, which would be July 14th.