---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Lindsey Kimery <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, Apr 14, 2023 at 1:23 PM
Subject: [TASL Listserv] ACTION REQUESTED: Email legislators about HB 0843/ SB 1060
To: <[log in to unmask]>
From: Lindsey Kimery <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, Apr 14, 2023 at 1:23 PM
Subject: [TASL Listserv] ACTION REQUESTED: Email legislators about HB 0843/ SB 1060
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Hello, everyone. On Monday, the House will hear HB 0843/ SB 1060, which amends the Age Appropriate Materials Act, by listing specific topics that will be considered obscene and creates a 60 day timeline for districts to hear book challenges once they're received, and it expects the State Textbook Commission to also make their decision within 60 days if a challenge reaches their level (keep in mind they meet twice a year).
How the bill gets specific on obscenity: "In whole or in part contains nudity, or descriptions or depictions of
sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence, or sadomasochistic abuse,
as those terms are defined in § 39-17-901, is not appropriate for the age or
maturity level of a student in any of the grades kindergarten through twelve (K12) and must not be maintained in a school's library collection;"
Please take a moment to email you state representatives to ask them to VOTE NO. Here's a sample email you can modify.
Dear Rep (Name):
Please VOTE NO on HB 0843/ SB 1060, which is sponsored by Rep. Lynn and Sen. Hensley. This bill seeks to amend the Age Appropriate Materials Act, which impacts school libraries and classrooms. This does not impact public libraries. Currently, the Age Appropriate Materials Act already addresses the concerns brought forth by HB 0843/ SB 1060. Also, Rep. Lynn and Sen. Hensley are attempting to define obscenity beyond the scope of the Supreme Court decision, Island Trees vs. Pico, and this only creates confusion for already overburdened educators to navigate. My questions are:
- Because their expanded definition includes "excess violence," does this mean a classic like The Outsiders or To Kill a Mockingbird could be considered obscene? **(Or insert your own examples)
- How would this impact AP courses or Dual Enrollment courses?
- How does this impact students studying art history or biology in high school?
- Also, if a parent challenges dozens of books, how can they be reviewed in 60 days, and how can the State Textbook Commission, who meets twice a year, divert attention from the myriad of other duties they have, to potentially solely focus on handling book challenges? This sets districts up for failure and creates a high potential for lawsuits centered on students' First Amendment rights.
This legislation is unnecessary, creates additional confusion, is potentially very limiting especially to higher level high school courses, and creates a timeline that subjects districts or the state to costly lawsuits. In a time where we seek to improve our literacy scores and ensure students are reading on grade level, limiting their access to books is not in keeping with our educational goals.
VOTE NO to HB 0843/SB 1060.
Thank you,
Your Name
Contact Info
Lindsey Kimery
AASL Supervisor's Chair-Elect | AASL Chapter Delegates Past Chair| TASL Past-President, 2021 | TASL Legislative Task Force
The official E-List of the Tennessee Association of School Librarians.
To unsubscribe from the TASL E-List, log into your profile at www.tasltn.org,click on E-Lists, click the Unsubscribe link.
Tennessee Association of School Librarians
•
PO Box 2013, Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072, United States
