PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — Prince William County Schools released a list Thursday of all content in the educational curriculum considered sexually explicit, per a new Virginia law requiring that parents be notified of all instructional materials being taught that are deemed sexually explicit.
The list released by PWCS four days into the school year includes more than 100 titles ranging from "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman to "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen and "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. The list also identifies what grade level will be using the material.
"Following Virginia law and the model policy developed by the Virginia Department of Education, PWCS Regulation 796-1 defines sexually explicit content as (a) any description of or (b) any picture, photograph, drawing, motion picture film, digital image or similar visual representation depicting sexual bestiality, a lewd exhibition of nudity, as defined in this policy, sexual excitement, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse, as defined in this policy, coprophilia, urophilia, or fetishism," PWCS wrote in a statement online announcing the new policies. "Instructional materials shall not be designated as sexually explicit based solely on the sexual orientation of the characters therein."
When the new was adopted in January, the school board clarified that the policy does not "require or permit the censoring of books or the designation of instructional material as sexually explicit based solely upon the sexual orientation or gender identity of the characters contained therein." Instead, the policy requires that:
- Parents and guardians be notified at least 30 days before students use the identified materials. Notification will occur on the course syllabus (middle and high school levels) or in parent emails/letters.
- Parents and guardians be provided an opportunity to review the materials.
- Schools and teachers provide alternate supplemental materials/texts at the request of parents and guardians.
“I’m surprised that these show up on here because it’s good literature and it’s a learning tool," said Bard's Alley Bookstore owner Jen Morrow. "I think it’s an offense to teachers and librarians."
A book written by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, "The Other Wes Moore," also found its way onto the list, to which the governor's team responded:
"Governor Moore has been very clear, in Maryland we don’t ban books," the statement said. "We know that our history is our power, and we understand the importance of making all Marylanders voices heard. As a father and a leader, the governor understands that parents and families play a vital role and have an important voice in their child’s education. We want them to be counseled and involved at all times — as we do not want to restrict their ability to be involved in their children’s education."
Overall, the list surprised some parents WUSA9 talked to in Manassas, while others expressed the belief that it was a step in the right direction for parental involvement.
“I think that parents do have the right - especially if it’s their child - to opt them out of certain books if they feel like that book is not appropriate to that child," said Manassas resident Demetrios Hill.
Prince William county is not alone is releasing a list of sexually explicit books. Fauquier County did something similar, listing 20 books in their library with what they called "sensitive" content, such as the 1999 coming-of-age novel turned movie, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."
SEE THE FULL LIST OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS BELOW.