Freedom of Thought

[Jonathan Whatley]

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/us...65844.html

But Missouri legislators passed a law in 2022 punishing librarians with fines and possible imprisonment for permitting sexually explicit materials on bookshelves.

It's about protecting kids and parental rights. That's why those laws were passed.

That quote in context:

An illustrated edition of Margaret Atwood’s book The Handmaid’s Tale was released in 2019. The book is widely considered a classic work about the oppression of women. An illustrated version of the book would help it reach teens who struggle with words alone.

Educators in Clayton, Missouri, needed little debate before deciding to keep copies of the book in high school libraries.

But Missouri legislators passed a law in 2022 punishing librarians with fines and possible imprisonment for permitting sexually explicit materials on bookshelves. The school system reconsidered the new Atwood edition and later removed it from libraries.

I read the class copy of The Handmaid's Tale in elementary school. Grade 5. Circa 1990. Public school, gifted class, Canada.

A reasonable threshold for "sexually explicit material" for a public high school library nearly 35 years later should not bar this acclaimed and classic novel of ideas.