Explicit Books in School Libraries

Written by: Charlie Simons

Good morning Board Members,


I am the father of a sophomore at GPHS. I recently learned of some very explicit books being introduced to the GPHS library. The books (Night of the Living Queer, All Boys Aren’t Blue, Flamer, and Beyond Magenta) include very graphic and explicit material that is inappropriate for a place educating children. 


If the goal of the introduction is to educate kids on topics such as homosexuality, gender, or similar topics, then why offer these specific books that are pornographic in nature? Are we saying that we cannot educate our kids about these topics without such content? I’m genuinely trying to understand why. Are there “check-out” programs or practices in place to prevent my 15-year old son from checking out a book like this?


In today’s world of social media and technology, our kids are exposed to content that they shouldn’t be. Exposure in a school library is wrong. 
Charlie Simons