Fruits of "The Process": Sexually Explicit Books Intentionally Retained by Bartow County Schools. (Come to School Board Meeting 4/15).
Full list of books retained, removed and under review.
The Bartow County School System was given a list of books that contained obscene, pornographic material on January 2, 2024. What has followed has been a game of politics, misdirection, selective removals and intentional retentions. There seems to have been an effort to appease the public by removing some in the hopes the pressure would ease off. The goal seems to be to run out the clock.
Please come to the Bartow County School Board Meeting at 6 pm on Monday, 4/15 at 65 Gilreath Road. Please come by 5:30 and no later than 5:45 to sign up to speak at the 6 pm.
Let the elected school board members to know it is time to remove these books and protect our children from sexually explicit material.
There have been references to respecting “the process” to allow the so-called “experts” to determine what is “appropriate” for minors to read and view. A majority of Bartow County School Board members have been actively and publicly defending this “process”. They seem to be ignoring the actual pornographic material, in deference to bureaucracy and what can only be concluded is a political approach to this major problem in our schools.
Well, the “experts” have spoken and they have openly indicated that sexually explicit material should be retained. It should even be “recommended” to students. There have been defense of books as “important” and “popular” and indications that its “critically acclaimed” status somehow merits that kids (those under 18) be allowed have this material. The fact it contains what they admit to be very sexually explicit material seems to be of no concern for these books.
There are nebulous and subjective “selection criteria” that change from week to week and are not evenly applied. Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page has even advised that it is “impossible” to have objective criteria to define what books should be retained or removed. This despite law that clearly spells out clear, concise objective criteria for giving such materials to minors: for everyone in Georgia EXCEPT in school and other libraries1.
Some books are removed for “selection criteria” or “policy” while books with similar or even worse material are retained.
Today, this blog publishes the list of books that are intentionally retained, those that have been removed and those STILL under “review” since providing this list on 1/2/2024.
Over the coming days, these individual books will be shown in detail to the public for what they are: Sexually explicit and unsuitable for use in the public school system.
Books Retained, Removed and still “Under Review”
This is a list of books that was provided to the school Superintendent, Dr. Page, on 1/2. This is an analysis of books they have decided to keep, those they have removed and those that are still under review. As of today, 4/8/2024, the school staff has advised me there is no update available on any action taken on the books “still under review”.
An Excel Spreadsheet analyzing these books with links to the explicit materials is available here.
Intentionally Retained by School Staff
· (All Books rated 4/5 from Ratedbooks.org, unless otherwise noted).
· Quoted Comments from Library Staff
Sarah Maas books retained –“Suggested Content warnings” (no known policy or final approval for content warnings exists as of 3/15)
Empire of Storms; CHS, WHS “Incredibly Popular”, “Scene of sexual nature”.
Kingdom of Ash CHS, WHS. “Incredibly Popular”; “Sexual undertones”
LGBTQ:
I wish you all the Best (Bisexual and Gender confusion); WHS (not rated)
“Gender Non-conforming lead character” “students…request LGBTQIA+” books;
“Cannot find issues that…that would make it inappropriate for young adults.” (emphasis added)
Last Night at the Telegraph Club (LGPBTQ); CHS/WHS. About a woman “discovering her sexuality”. “I recommend it to students” as a “really good book”.
Like a Love Story – LGBTQ, sexually explicit; CHS “The Sexually Charged Scenes do not detract from the lessons of this novel”. Recommend “Content Warning”.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower- CHS, WHS; 41 class sets (CHS). “topics include sex, drugs…”, “Popular”, “coming of age”. “Class novel at Cass in previous years”.
This is Kind of an Epic Love Story – “romance book” of “two gay characters”. WHS students “Want to read” stories with LGBTQIA+ characters. Highly recommend-ed by “Booklist, Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal.
Others retained:
Rupi Kapaur books: Explicit sexual “poems” and images: (two titles)
Milk and Honey - Rupi Kaur, “incredibly popular”. Poetry focuses on “problems faced by women”. Suggested for teens who are “reluctant readers”.
The Sun and Her Flowers – “incredibly popular”. Poetry focuses on “problems faced by women”. Suggested for teens who are “reluctant readers”.
Others
Slaughterhouse Five – Retained at CHS, “lost” from WHS.
The Bluest Eye – AHS, CHS, WHS “ Classic. AP Literature.”
The Handmaid's Tale- AHS, CHS, WHS. “required reading for AP Students (WHS).” “Classic”
The Freedom Writer's Diary CHS,WHS “stories are real”, removal would be a “disservice” and “deny reality of living in some communities within our country”.
The Kite Runner (Books and DVD’s) – 72 class sets at CHS. “Contemporary classic”. “Difficult topics, but reality based”. “Praised by reviewers”. Fit within “selection criteria”. CHS, WHS
The Kite Runner - GRAPHIC NOVEL – WHS. “art panels” don’t violate “Our selection criteria”.
The Lovely Bones – “Content Warning suggested”. WHS “Popular” and would restrict to Juniors and Seniors. (rated 3/5)
Books Still on Shelves in Libraries or “under review” as of 03/15 (Most with 4/5 rating on RatedBooks.org (“not for Minors”)
Breathless – (Topic: Fiction/Euthanasia)
Check Please: Book 1 Hockey!
Check Please: Book 2 Sticks and Scones
Homegoing
Lucky
Man O War
One Last Stop
Red Hood
Red, White and Royal Blue
Slaughterhouse Five, Graphic novel (Pulled at WHS, Under review at CHS)
The DUFF Designated Fat Friend
Water for Elephants
Books “weeded” or removed by BCSS
After concerns raised by Dr. McKalip and not meeting “selection criteria”(#) (“weeded” is a term used by the school for a removed book).
(Sarah Maas Book Series volumes 1-5 removed)
A Court of frost and Starlight#
A Court of Mist and Fury #
A Court of Silver Flames #
A Court of Thorns and Roses #
A Court of Wings and Ruin #
GAME OF thrones Novels:
(Game of thrones series ordered for an individual teacher who wanted it to read as teacher watched the “Netflix series” – kept in media specialist office)
Others
Breathless # – “romance” by Niven
Collateral #
Collected Poems 1947-1980 (Ginsburg) #
Damned #
Damsel #
WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF #
New Books removed as of 03/15/24. For not meeting “established material selection policies**” or for poor circulation #
The Haters ** & # - Jesse Andrews (CHS)
The Infinite Moment of Us ** & # - Lauren Myracle (CHS)
Identical #
Life is Funny #
Love Lies Beneath #
Nineteen Minutes #
Perfect* # (Now removed from CHS, as well as rest of series from Ellen Hopkins)
The Gift #
Books marked lost* or never shelved and therefore not requiring removal. (note that some have been moved to the “retained” or “under review” since still available at some schools as of 3/15/24)
Blankets (never shelved due to graphic sexual content)
Boy Toy*
Living Dead Girl
Tilt*
Perfect* (was popular but lost in 2015 from AHS)
The Carnival at Bray*
INFANDOUS Elana K. Arnold – “not Found”
The Handmaid's Tale: A Graphic Novel* - Margaret Atwood
(note that some books have been recategorized on this list, based on further analysis by Dr. McKalip)
The time has come to act. Citizens need to show up to the School Board meeting on 4/15 to let it be know this is unacceptable.
Please come to the Bartow County School Board Meeting at 6 pm on Monday, 4/15 at 65 Gilreath Road. Please come by 5:30 and no later than 5:45 to sign up to speak at the 6 pm.
Let the elected school board members to know it is time to remove these books and protect our children from sexually explicit material.
In Freedom!
16-12-100
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Minor” means any person under the age of 18 years.
(2) “Performance” means any play, dance, or exhibit to be shown to or viewed by an audience.
(3) “Producing” means producing, directing, manufacturing, issuing, or publishing.
(4) “Sexually explicit conduct” means actual or simulated:
(A) Sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex;
(B) Bestiality;
(C) Masturbation;
(D) Lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person;
(E) Flagellation or torture by or upon a person who is nude;
(F) Condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained on the part of a person who is nude;
(G) Physical contact in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification with any person’s unclothed genitals, pubic area, or buttocks or with a female’s nude breasts;
(H) Defecation or urination for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer; or
(I) Penetration of the vagina or rectum by any object except when done as part of a recognized medical procedure.
(5) “Visual medium” means any film, photograph, negative, slide, magazine, or other visual medium.
16-12-102. Definitions.
As used in this part, the term:
(1) “Harmful to minors” means that quality of description or representation, in whatever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse, when it:
(A) Taken as a whole, predominantly appeals to the prurient, shameful, or morbid interest of minors;
(B) Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors; and
(C) Is, when taken as a whole, lacking in serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
(2) “Knowingly” means having a general knowledge of, or reason to know, or a belief or ground for belief which warrants further inspection or inquiry of both:
(A) The character and content of any material described in this part which is reasonably susceptible to examination by the defendant; and
(B) The age of the minor; provided, however, that an honest mistake shall constitute an excuse from liability in this part if the defendant made a reasonable, bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of such minor.
(3) “Minor” means a person less than 18 years of age.
(4) “Sadomasochistic abuse” means actual or simulated flagellation or torture by or upon a person who is nude, clad in undergarments, a mask or bizarre costume, or the condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained by one so clothed or nude.
(5) “Sexual conduct” means actual or simulated acts of masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse, or physical contact in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification with a person’s clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if such person is female, breasts.
(6) “Sexual excitement” means the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.
(7) “Sexually explicit nudity” means a state of undress so as to expose the human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks with less than a full opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple, or the depiction of covered or uncovered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Minor” means any person under the age of 18 years.
(2) “Performance” means any play, dance, or exhibit to be shown to or viewed by an audience.
(3) “Producing” means producing, directing, manufacturing, issuing, or publishing.
(4) “Sexually explicit conduct” means actual or simulated:
(A) Sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex;
(B) Bestiality;
(C) Masturbation;
(D) Lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person;
(E) Flagellation or torture by or upon a person who is nude;
(F) Condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained on the part of a person who is nude;
(G) Physical contact in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification with any person’s unclothed genitals, pubic area, or buttocks or with a female’s nude breasts;
(H) Defecation or urination for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer; or
(I) Penetration of the vagina or rectum by any object except when done as part of a recognized medical procedure.
(5) “Visual medium” means any film, photograph, negative, slide, magazine, or other visual medium.
16-12-102. Definitions.
As used in this part, the term:
(1) “Harmful to minors” means that quality of description or representation, in whatever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse, when it:
(A) Taken as a whole, predominantly appeals to the prurient, shameful, or morbid interest of minors;
(B) Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors; and
(C) Is, when taken as a whole, lacking in serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
(2) “Knowingly” means having a general knowledge of, or reason to know, or a belief or ground for belief which warrants further inspection or inquiry of both:
(A) The character and content of any material described in this part which is reasonably susceptible to examination by the defendant; and
(B) The age of the minor; provided, however, that an honest mistake shall constitute an excuse from liability in this part if the defendant made a reasonable, bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of such minor.
(3) “Minor” means a person less than 18 years of age.
(4) “Sadomasochistic abuse” means actual or simulated flagellation or torture by or upon a person who is nude, clad in undergarments, a mask or bizarre costume, or the condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained by one so clothed or nude.
(5) “Sexual conduct” means actual or simulated acts of masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse, or physical contact in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification with a person’s clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if such person is female, breasts.
(6) “Sexual excitement” means the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.
(7) “Sexually explicit nudity” means a state of undress so as to expose the human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks with less than a full opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple, or the depiction of covered or uncovered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.