New Hampshire public school libraries currently include materials with graphic illustrations depicting oral sex, masturbation, and the use of sex toys. Students have access to books and electronic content offering detailed how-to instructions on a variety of sexual acts.
At our core, Republicans are guided by the sacred principle that it is the parents who should have the ultimate say over their children’s education and upbringing. That is why, as a member of the House Education Policy and Administration Committee, we are all deeply disappointed that Governor Ayotte has vetoed HB 324, a bill meant to ensure that schools operate while keeping age-appropriate content in mind.
Opponents of this bill were extremely quick to frame this commonsense legislation as a “book ban.” However, this bill simply reminds schools to consider obscenity in their curricula and provides parents with a process to challenge and review materials if schools fail to uphold that responsibility.
Many people claim these materials are not available in libraries. However, when we read passages from books such as The Perks of Being A Wallflower and Gender Queer, both of which are available in New Hampshire schools, Democrats shrieked, shouted, and even walked out of the House Chamber to avoid having to listen to it. Additionally, our committee members personally delivered copies of these readings along with other books available for your children to read in school to the Governor’s office, and they expressed discomfort at even receiving a folder of this content. It is baffling to me that the adults who run our state would not want to engage with this material, yet want your children to be able to read it freely in middle school.
The Governor’s concerns are completely misguided. Firstly, she expressed concern about lawsuits appearing as the result of this legislation. Putting aside the fact Democrats sue the state when the weather is a little too sunny, this bill provides for rights of action only in very specific instances, and the Attorney General worked with the committee to ensure that was the case. For instance, if a school board decides that a specific material is inappropriate and should be either removed or moved to a different grade’s reading level, a parent could only take civil action if the school refuses to comply with the directive of the school board. This should not be a controversial process, as it reigns in schools from going rogue against any oversight from the school board who is elected to oversee them.
Secondly, the Governor is under the confusion that the current state law adequately covers the situations this law targets. This is untrue, as current law only allows parents to opt children out of lessons, not out of materials found in school libraries or in other academic environments. In fact, the current statute exempts schools from our anti-obscenity laws. HB 324 would have fixed that. Furthermore, HB324-FN also corrects a small but significant detail often overlooked: K-12 schools are currently exempt from obscenity laws by being included in the section of the statute that allows for justifiable dissemination of obscene matter. The correction specifies that justifiable dissemination would only apply to higher education.
In her inaugural address, the Governor promised to, “give each child the opportunity to be in the education setting that allows them to reach his or her full potential.” It is simply not possible to say that you are giving children the ability to reach their full potential while surrounding them with pornographic and obscene content. It’s time to see if Governor Ayotte actually meant what she said and come to work with us on this worthy cause, or if she is going to fail to honor her commitment and cave like so many other politicians do under pressure.
You can call the Governor at (603) 271-2121 and urge her to reconsider her stance and come to the table for a good-faith conversation. House Republicans are ready to work with her to craft clear, actionable language she will accept – language that keeps her promise to Granite State families to protect them and their children.
