Pornography in Oklahoma Public Schools
Sexually Explicit Material in School Libraries
These schools were chosen due to the sheer volume of students in each of these districts; this search is not to be critical of these districts. These books can be found by doing basic searches on these public school library pages. There are more students enrolled in these large districts that have complete access to these books via interlibrary loan along with many of these large schools having digital access to the public libraries through Sora on their school devices. This allows students unfettered access to these and many more books via their school libraries or the public library without parents knowing what their children are reading. Unless the parent constantly checks their child’s iPad or Chromebook how would they know if their child checked out a pornographic book during the school day on their school device? Gender Queer has been pulled from the shelves but what is keeping it off the screens through the Sora app through the public library? This is dangerous.
Essentially, the school district is providing access to books to minor children that contain graphic sex, rape, and language. *If a student has access to this on their home computers and cell phones that is the parent's problem if they don’t check the devices they pay for; it is not incumbent on the school to provide pornographic materials to minor children.*
While it is uncertain at this time if any of these books are available in any small school districts state-wide it is up to those communities to seek information as to what is available in their state-funded school libraries. The question that needs to be asked is, “When did parents give consent for books containing graphic sex to be purchased and put into their school libraries? If a teacher wants to show a movie in class, such as the Outsiders, the teacher obtains written permission from the parent to show it and will provide an alternative assignment if the parents decline. Where is the consent? The school is meant to be the gatekeeper for the protection of minor children. If I cannot read any of these books aloud on the floor of the Legislature, in the school board meeting, or to your child then why is it allowed to be read in silence by minor children in a public school? Keep repeating the word, “minor child,” every time you think or talk about this, it sinks the message in because it can not be defended.
There are also a host of books that support the Black Lives Matter movement that supports Race theory as presented by Iram X. Kendi. Several of his books are on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Reading list and are found in almost every library in the state. Parents may not be aware that Critical Theory is being offered through their school libraries. Again, this is not a comprehensive or complete list of schools or questionable books.
If you want to know more, go to your school websites, look for the library media pages and search their catalogs. It’s the best open secret. Conservative officials cannot support these books and one should question one's moral path if one chose not to take action.
Destiny, by Follett, is the name of the school catalogs where one can locate all of these materials. There is a pull-down menu that lets you search the whole district for these books. Remember, just because a high school has a questionable book doesn’t mean that it cannot be requested by a child in a middle or elementary school and be shared through interlibrary loan. Here are some links to the biggest schools.
Tulsa Public schools
https://tulsaschools.follettdestiny.com/cataloging/servlet/presentbasicsearchform.do?restoreFromCrumb=1&tm=TopLevelCatalog&l2m=Library+Search&formSignature=Initialize&f ormName=cataloging_servlet_BasicSearchForm&breadCrumbIndex=68737
Norman Public school libraries. They have more access to LGBTQ books than any other district, and they brag about it.
https://pion.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/npshighschools/
Shawnee Public Schools:
http://destiny.shawnee.k12.ok.us/cataloging/servlet/handlebasicsearchform.do
Edmond Public schools library Catalog:
https://destiny.edmond.k12.ok.us/cataloging/servlet/presentadvancedsearchredirectorform. do?l2m=Library%20Search&tm=TopLevelCatalog
Oklahoma City Public Schools:
https://okcps.follettdestiny.com/cataloging/servlet/handlebasicsearchform.do
Moore Public Schools:
https://moore.follettdestiny.com/cataloging/servlet/handlebasicsearchform.do
Putnam City Public Schools:
https://destiny.putnamcityschools.org/cataloging/servlet/presentadvancedsearchredirectorfo rm.do?l2m=Library%20Search&tm=TopLevelCatalog