WASHINGTON 鈥斅燰irginia鈥檚 House of Delegates could take a final vote Monday on a bill that would require schools to notify parents of any potentially sexually explicit classroom material and require that schools offer an alternative for the students of any parents who opt out.
Opponents of the bill said it amounts to censorship in schools. Supporters said it is simply a requirement to keep parents informed and in control.
鈥淭his does not prohibit any teacher from assigning any type of material they deem necessary or appropriate. It does not ban books. It does not ban any materials that teachers or school systems would like to have on their reading list and the like. It doesn鈥檛 do that,鈥� the bill鈥檚 patron Del. Steve Landes, R-Augusta, said Friday.
鈥淭his legitimately addresses a legitimate concern that parents raised,鈥� he said.
Del. Dave Albo, R-Springfield, described the bill as a compromise that strikes a 鈥渇air balance.鈥�
鈥淚 think that 99.99999 percent of the parents in Virginia would like to know if someone assigned a book that has scenes about sexual abuse of a child and infected sexual battery,鈥� Albo said.
Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, said that even though this year鈥檚 bill set for a final vote is narrower than that was vetoed, there would still be 鈥渟ignificant unintended consequences and problems.鈥�
鈥淢ore than likely, a teacher will not be able to do two entire lesson plans for the same class, sometimes on a very quick turnaround, after an objection from just one parent. This makes it much less likely that they鈥檇 be willing to even attempt to use anything that might be considered objectionable in their lessons,鈥� Lopez said.
He said it would be a form of censorship that could limit all kinds of classic art and literature.
鈥淔or a junior taking AP English and learning iambic pentameter, what is less objectionable literary work that is the equivalent to any of Shakespeare鈥檚 plays?鈥� Lopez said.
鈥淢ost importantly, what is an equivalent work to Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved,’ which teaches us in a very raw and unflinching manner and terms about the horrors of slavery?鈥� he added.
The bill was originally triggered by a Fairfax County mother who protested the use of 鈥淏eloved鈥� in her son鈥檚 class when he was a senior in high school.
Lopez and Del. Vivian Watts, D-Annandale, warned of a potential black eye for Virginia鈥檚 reputation if the bill passes, and it becomes widely reported or mentioned on late-night TV.
Lopez cited the widespread to the in Accomac, Virginia, to pull 鈥淭o Kill a Mockingbird鈥� and 鈥淭he Adventures of Huckleberry Finn鈥� following a parent鈥檚 complaint.
鈥淲hy am I saying 鈥榯hese books would be banned鈥� with such surety? Because in this litigious society that we live in, particularly in large school divisions, you aren鈥檛 going to take the chance that someone is going to object,鈥� Watts said.
鈥淲e will end up with excluding for all what might be objectionable to just a few,鈥� she added.
The bill advanced Friday on a voice vote to a final vote that is expected on Monday. The bill would then go to the state Senate.
Del. Nicholas Freitas, R-Culpeper, said this is simply a service for parents.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 care how many Pulitzer Prizes it has. If it鈥檚 sexually explicit material, that might be something 鈥� as a parent 鈥� that I want to be notified of,鈥� Freitas said.
Read the proposed bill on the聽.
