The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation in Columbus voted 5-2 in September to approve a book called 'Push' by Sapphire and reportedly denied a motion to require parental consent for children to access the book.
"After reviewing this matter, the Board concludes that 'Push' by Sapphire is not 'obscene' or 'harmful to minors' as the terms are defined in Indiana Code," a conclusion from the meeting reads. "The decision of the evaluation committee is upheld, and the book may remain on the shelves of the Columbus East High School Media Center."
Micah Clark, executive director of the American Family Association of Indiana, says the video of the school board hearing, where portions of the book were read aloud, has gone viral.
"Just me trying to go through this right now makes me almost want to throw up," the board member said.
As the story is about a teen impregnated by her father for a second time, the content involves child sexual abuse and is described by an Amazon reviewer who "threw it away like the garbage that it is!" as "nothing more than a pornographic paperback."
"The school wants to say this is somehow helpful for kids to learn about sexual abuse, and I find that outrageous," Clark tells AFN.
He laments this sort of thing has become common across the nation.
"When we complain about it, they call us book burners or book banners, and they talk about legislation that would get rid of classic literature," the family advocate continues. "They use that as a shield to let this filth in."
"I wish schools were teaching classical literature," Clark adds. "I wish kids were reading 'Treasure Island' or 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'"
In this case, he reiterates that the school did not even want to alert parents about it because they have an agenda to expose kids to sexual behaviors.
But Clark reminds parents that students belong to them, not to the schools, and he encourages them to talk to their school board members to find out what their kids are being told to read.
In January, lawmakers proposed House Bill 1195, which requires schools to adopt a policy barring the availability of obscene content to students. The bill, however, has yet to be scheduled for a hearing by the House Education Committee.
