State officials say it violates obscenity law but they can’t prosecute school officials
Washington, D.C. — Deerfield High School in Deerfield, Illinois, had assigned the pornographic book “Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes” to students as required reading. When a group of outraged parents found out, they filed a formal complaint. Now the book has been changed to an “optional title,” meaning kids may still select the book for peer study under the direction of a teacher.
The book is replete with profanity, overt racism through multiple uses of the N-word, an explicit description of a sex act involving Mother Theresa and some of the most graphic, vile and vivid depictions of homosexual anal sodomy every put in print. (Link to Excerpts – Warning: Extremely Graphic Sexual Content).
“After almost 15 years of school advocacy and reviewing many objectionable books and curricula, I have never seen anything this vulgar and harmful to students,” Lora Sue Hauser, Executive Director of North Shore Student Advocacy (NSSA), told Concerned Women for America (CWA).
NSSA complained to the State Attorney’s office of Lake County, Illinois, and they agreed that the book violated Illinois’ obscenity statute prohibiting adults from “distributing harmful materials to minors.” But, amazingly, Hauser was told by the State’s Attorney’s office that state and federal obscenity laws exempt school officials from prosecution.
“It takes a lot to shock me,” said Matt Barber, CWA’s Policy Director for Cultural Issues. “My jaw hit the ground when I read what’s in this book. This isn’t a First Amendment issue; this is about school officials betraying the community trust. Heads need to roll here. Assigning this racist, pornographic smut to high school kids is nothing short of child abuse. Don’t forget, this was required reading until parents complained.
“If Deerfield High School Principal Sue Hebson, Superintendent George Fornero or any of the teachers responsible for this outrage had any sense of responsibility, they would now resign on their own rather than making parents and taxpayers force them from their positions. Shame on them, and shame on Illinois School District 113.
“It’s disgraceful for these people, who have been entrusted to help mold the minds of Deerfield’s impressionable youth, to have abused those youth by ostensibly violating the very laws intended to protect them. To hide behind some inexplicable exemption is just plain cowardly. Deerfield parents should seriously consider every possible legal option to ensure that these people are held accountable,” concluded Barber.
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When my 23 year old daughter was in high school, she told me about a book my neice was reading titled "The Perks of being a Wallflower" that she had checked out at the school library and how bad the cotent was. I decided to check it out at my local public library to see for myself. I was shocked and angry at what I read. It was pornographic in nature and the "F" word was practically on every page. I called the school and was told that it was on the "best sellers" list for high school literature! The librarian went on to tell me that the shock books that will get kids reading and that they can not put it in the schools for fear of censorship. I couldn't believe my ears! Public schools don't care about our kids, they just want to indoctrinate them. Thankfully, I now homeschool my younger four children and I praise God that their minds are better protected than my older children's minds were. Click here to reply to this post
JESUS SAID- IF YOU ARE NOT FOR ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME
Posted On: 03/10/08 02:53:44 PM
Age 64, OH
The problem is that so many do not want to take a stand against these kind of things. Jesus made it very clear when he said "if you are not for me you are against me". This would mean that those who do not stand against this are for it. A mighty fearful thought on judgment day. Lou Click here to reply to this post
Disgusting
Posted On: 03/07/08 01:01:20 PM
Age 61, MO
I think that those who were responsible for putting this pornographic literature into the hands of those children should be disciplined by the respective parents of those children. They could be advised to relocate with a given time period. If this were something that had occurred when my father was alive and I was the victim, I can assure you that those teachers or administrators would not have been given the courtesy of a trial. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
think they know best
Posted On: 03/07/08 12:54:15 PM
Age 46, TX
So, the brilliant people who decided to assign this reading material are "certified" as instructors and think they know what is best? They probably don't realize it, but they will stand before God some day. Click here to reply to this post
Lord Help Us
Posted On: 03/06/08 10:17:17 PM
Age 42, FL
It is filth like this that I am glad I am homeschooling my child. He's only in the 1st grade, but I fear that this kind of trash will become the norm in our public government schools. I am far from being able to afford to stay home, but I really don't see that I have much choice. Unfortunately, the way things are going from bad to worse, I expect that someday I will be forced to send my child to government school- that those of us who believe in the parent's right to raise their children will be subject to fines,jail or have our kids taken away- like is happening in Germany and even now in California. Christians really must fight these things, while at the same time expect things to only get worse until Jesus comes back. I pray God will help the kids who are being indoctrinated in these kinds of evil social reprogramming- Click here to reply to this post