by Hayley Feland
The Osseo school board voted Tuesday to leave a sexually explicit graphic novel in the Maple Grove High School library.
“It does have the potential, as a parent mentioned earlier, to help some students,” board member Thomas Brooks said while explaining why he would be voting to leave the book on the shelves.
The book in question is “Fun Home” by Alison Bechdel, which is described as a “family tragicomic.” In the book, the main character’s father comes out as bi-sexual a few weeks prior to his death by suicide. Parents who objected to the book said it features graphic images of nudity, oral sex, and masturbation.
“While literature has the power to educate, inspire, and enlighten, it also holds the potential to disturb, confuse, and even harm, particularly when it comes to sexually graphic, pedophilic, and suicidal themes that are in this book,” said Natalie Sonnek, the parent who petitioned for the book to be removed.
While addressing the board prior to the vote, Sonnek read from a page in the book where the author asks, “But would an ideal husband and father have sex with teenage boys?”
“Our school libraries are meant to be a place for learning and intellectual growth, a place for fostering curiosity and encouraging critical thinking and for expanding our knowledge base. This book ‘Fun Home’ has absolutely no educational value and does nothing to foster a higher level of education for our children,” Sonnek said.
The book was initially approved by a district committee that oversees material in the school. Sonnek appealed that decision, which brought the book’s approval to a school board vote. The board members were required to read the entire book before voting.
Tanya Prince, the vice chair of the board, spoke in opposition to the book, saying, “When I look at age-appropriate content and high standards, this does not meet that criteria in my judgment.”
Heather Douglass and Sarah Mitchell agreed with Prince, arguing the book was not appropriate for school-aged children.
“It’s evident that the content of this book does not meet the educational standards that are established by this district. The graphic visual depictions of oral sex and masturbation are not appropriate for the social, emotional, or intellectual development of students of any age,” Douglass said.
Tamara Grady, a board member who voted to keep the book, said that she “supports the First Amendment rights of our students.” Grady did not provide any response to the objections regarding the graphic nature of the book.
“This is not a student’s First Amendment right issue; this is establishing the standards and the criteria by which we supply materials to all students at this age level. This is not about suppressing students’ First Amendment rights in any way,” Prince responded.
The chair of the board, Jacquelene Mosqueda-Jones, also voted to leave the book on the shelves, saying, “Our leaders have extreme experience with what’s developmentally appropriate for scholars.”
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Sally Kimmes, an Osseo school library media specialist, spoke in favor of the book as well.
“Those who would have this book banned from our schools say that if it harms one child it should not be in our libraries, but I say if this book could help one student, it needs to be in our libraries,” Kimmes said.
The board voted 3-3 on overturning the committee’s decision, meaning the book will remain in the school library.
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Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
Photo “Maple Grove High School” by DuhaimeC. CC BY-SA 3.0.
