Oregon Senate Committee on Education pushed forward on SB 1098, which aims to keep obscene and sexually explicit books on the shelves of school libraries by “prohibiting discrimination” when selecting or retaining school library materials. House Republicans say this is wrong.

In the work session, Senator Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction) presented -1 amendment that would put the decision of library materials in the hands of the local school board as to what is acceptable to that district. Chair Lew Frederick's (D-NE Portland) rebuttal was to say school districts are influenced by outsiders implying they can't be trusted, therefore they need state oversight by the Department of Education. He continued by saying there is no requirement for the child to pick those books that are offensive. Robinson thought they should error on the side of caution and focus on getting children to read and give parents confidence in what they pick from the library won't be offensive. Then Frederick turned to racial concerns that discrimination happens no matter what the case. He doesn't want books separated out because of ethic positions.

“If a book on our school library shelves does not meet the standard to be read aloud on the House floor, it should not meet the standard for our schools,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “Discernment is not discrimination. Common sense is not censorship. I urge this body to do everything it can to restore decency in our schools.”

“House rules say a person may not use indecent or profane language during a debate. By gaveling down a member for reading the language from a book available in school libraries, this body is admitting the language is indecent or profane, which we have been told would not be allowed in our schools” said Rep. Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg). “It must be one or other. We can’t have both.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

“It is the job of locally elected school boards and parents to determine what is appropriate for our children to read, not the state,” said Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Stayton). “If this bill passes, we are failing Oregon families by eroding their trust in our education system.”

This bill pass out of committee along partisan lines With Frederick, the sponsor of the bill, as carrier on the Senate floor. Parents are encouraged to defend their position as school board members and write your legislator. The deadline to file for school board position is March 20.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-03-17 18:46:57

Last Update: 2025-03-18 23:48:18