Prohibits obscene or harmful materials from being accessible to minors in public schools and charter schools
The bill mandates that if a parent reports a material as obscene or harmful, the school must remove that item for at least thirty days, during which the governing board must make a determination about the material's appropriateness. This procedure is reflected in a broader push towards parental control over educational content, possibly giving schools the authority to remove materials that do not align with community standards. Consequently, this could lead to significant changes in library collections and available resources in schools.
Senate Bill 765 aims to amend the regulation of materials accessible to minors in public schools and charter schools in Missouri. It seeks to repeal the existing provisions of Section 182.827 and introduce new sections that specify policies regarding the availability of 'obscene' or 'harmful' materials. Under this bill, public school governing bodies will be required to adopt policies that allow parents to report materials deemed inappropriate, providing a mechanism for review and removal if necessary to safeguard minors.
Critics of SB765 may raise concerns over the subjective nature of what constitutes 'obscene' or 'harmful' material, which could lead to censorship and restrict access to diverse educational resources. Proponents, however, argue that the bill is necessary to protect minors from exposure to inappropriate content. The debate surrounding this bill is tied to larger national conversations about educational content in public schools and the extent to which parents should be involved in such decisions.