Iowa School District to Conduct Review of Nearly 400 Books Highlighting Sexual Content and Gender Identity

The Urbandale Community School District in Iowa to Review Books for Explicit Content and Gender Identity References

The Urbandale Community School District in Iowa will be reviewing almost 400 books that have been flagged for containing explicit sexual content and references to gender identity. The review is being conducted to determine if these books violate a new state law.

New Iowa Law Bans Books with Explicit Content and Limits Teaching of Gender Identity

A new law in Iowa has banned schools from buying books that contain explicit sexual content and has also prohibited the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation to students below seventh grade. The law was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in May and went into effect on July 1.

UCSD Releases List of Potentially Offensive Books

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has released a list of books that it deems potentially offensive and has instructed teachers to remove any of these books from the school system. However, a spokeswoman for UCSD clarified that the list does not necessarily mean these books are currently being used in the school system. The decision to release the list was made to avoid putting teachers in a position where they have to guess what books may or may not be acceptable.

Debate Over Explicit Books in School Libraries

Lawmakers have been debating a law that focuses on explicit books in school libraries. Two books, "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe and "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson, have been at the center of the debate. These books contain explicit images and graphic descriptions of sexual acts, including illustrations of sex between two males, oral sex, masturbation, and other sexually explicit content. They have been banned by some schools after parents expressed outrage.

Controversial Books Included in Urbandale District's Review

The Urbandale district has included two controversial books, "George" and "Lily and Dunkin," in its list of books to review. "George" is about a transgender girl, while "Lily and Dunkin" explores mental health and gender identity. Other books on the list include "I Love My Colorful Nails," "Ho'onani: Hula Warrior," and "The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish." These books cover topics such as self-expression, Hawaiian culture, and drag shows.

Implementation of SF496 Law and UCSD's Interpretation

The Iowa Department of Education has not provided clear instructions on how to implement SF496, a new law regarding the teaching of certain topics in schools. As a result, the University of California San Diego (UCSD) has taken a broad interpretation of the law to avoid potential disciplinary actions for their teachers and administrators.

Urbandale School District Implements Process for Book Recommendations

The district has created a book list after reviewing books that were restricted in other states due to similar laws. However, the list is not exhaustive and may be subject to change. The Urbandale school district in Iowa has implemented a process for staff members to question or recommend books on their reading list. This comes in response to concerns about sexually explicit and inappropriate content being accessible to students in school libraries and curricula. The district serves around 4,000 students and aims to address the ongoing debate surrounding this issue.