Nebraska Board of Ed rejects proposal to ban sexually explicit school library books

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Lauren Wagner Mar 8, 2024 Updated 1 hr ago

he Nebraska State Board of Education held an emotional discussion Friday on whether sexually explicit material belongs in school libraries — and what students are allowed to read.

The lengthy debate came on a proposal from board member Kirk Penner to revise state regulation Rule 10 to prohibit “pornographic materials or sexually explicit content” in all Nebraska public school libraries. The majority of the board voted against discussing it further, letting Penner’s proposal die on a 5-3 vote.

Jacquelyn Morrison, Patti Gubbels, Patsy Koch Johns, Lisa Fricke and Deborah Neary opposed it. Kirk Penner, Elizabeth Tegtmeier and Sherry Jones voted for the proposal.

While the entire board said they agreed pornography doesn’t belong in classrooms, the majority said Penner’s proposal didn’t follow the right procedures, was too vague and could target specific student populations.



Nebraska State Board of Education member Kirk Penner listens during a meeting in Lincoln on Friday.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

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