By Linda Murphy

There is a battle for the mind, will, and emotions of children. Most of us are aware of that and are cautious about what children are exposed to. We want to be sure that what they see and hear is appropriate and beneficial to them. When students go to the library at school or read books from the classroom library, we expect that the books have been approved by adults who use wisdom and discretion in choosing books that are within the values and norms of the community.

Unfortunately, in some schools in Oklahoma (no one knows how many) books have been chosen to “push the envelope” for social change. Extremely explicit books that tell stories of detailed sexual activities, rape, pedophilia, homosexual and even underage sex are being read by students. Other books are full of gory violence, murder, torture and occultic/satanic rituals. Many parents and teachers believe these books would be X-Rated if they were made into movies. Sadly, school children have no such warning label and some of them are traumatized from what they read.

I have just read through excerpts from a list of 42 books found in one Oklahoma School. Parents identified these books, which contain stories and some have pictures that are very explicit and obscene. Many people do not believe how extremely offensive the books are to our normal community standards until they see them. I am not talking about books with a few words here and there that are objectionable. This list does not include To Kill a Mockingbird or Huckleberry Finn.

The following list of topics is taken from the 42 books: hormonal treatments for sex change, changing gender identity, extensive obscene language, crude words for sexual organs, sex with a teacher, rape, self-cutting from depression, mother trying to commit suicide, prostitution, deportees abused by law officers, corpses of deportees half eaten by animals, girl sets house on fire, child strangled to death, blood in bed after virgin has sex, father has many mistresses, gruesome deaths and cannibalism, online group encourages suicide, smoking pot, drinking six-pack, “first time” sex, downloading porn, masturbation, threesome sex, pharmaceutical drug parties, student attempts suicide, violent rape and dismemberment, blood, body part found by a dog, series of murders and rapes described, both parents religious conservatives who commit suicide and lesbian aunts are more loving guardians, non-binary student =neither male nor female, torture and murder of several children, mass murder planned by teen, condom breaking and worry about pregnancy, occultic/satanism, man thought to eat his own children, father cuts off hands of daughter, father and daughter consensual sex, 13 year-old killed best friend, cracked her head with a rock, dragged her body into field, continued to mutilate body in detail, hugs adult counselor and gets erection, anti-police views, girl slits wrists and dies, most students in book no longer virgins and describe multiple types of sex, pedophiles, young children sex play, orgies, girl drinks her own blood, erotic sex between lesbians and discussions of various methods of suicide.

Drawings from Milk and Honey (one of the 42 books) are so graphic, sexually explicit and vulgar they make most adults uncomfortable, yet they are in a school library for students to read.

The natural question is – How in the world do such sexually explicit, obscene, violent, trauma-filled books get chosen and approved?

Either just one person or a group of librarians, teachers and administrators has selected them. We absolutely have schools (I hope many schools) in Oklahoma where books of this type have not been ordered and placed in the library. Shockingly, the school where the 42 identified books I have described were found is a rural district, not a large city school.

It was also shocking to learn that the librarian and other officials at that school stood behind the selection of the books saying they had been approved by the American Library Association (ALA). That led to a close look at what the ALA website reveals. I found they have pledged agreement with the United Nations declarations, ideologies and language of liberation of all humanity and the “Social Justice” movement’s political leftist worldview. You can go to the ALA website to see their pledge to align with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Resolution to Condemn White Supremacy and Fascism. Here are some direct quotes taken from the website (www.ala.org):

The Universal Right to Free Expression: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

“On December 18, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming that the right to personal privacy applies to the use of communications technology and digital records, and requiring the governments of member nations to ‘respect and protect’ the privacy rights of individuals.

We affirm our belief that these are inalienable rights of every person, regardless of origin, age, background, or views. We embody our professional commitment to these principles in the Library Bill of Rights and Code of Ethics, as adopted by the American Library Association.

We maintain that these are universal principles and should be applied by libraries and librarians throughout the world. The American Library Association’s policy on International Relations reflects these objectives: ‘. . . to encourage the exchange, dissemination, and access to information and the unrestricted flow of library materials in all formats throughout the world.’”

The words “regardless of age” tells us the pledge to “respect and protect” the privacy rights of individuals are meant to apply to children of all ages. This is used by school librarians who believe they have the duty to prevent parents from knowing what books a child reads. More on this misguided and un-American action against Parents’ Rights later.

The American Library Association accredits master’s level programs in library and information studies at Universities. They produce a list of “core competencies” used to evaluate librarians who are outlined in the ALA Policy Manual. The manual describes what the ALA requires librarians “working in school, academic, public, special, and governmental libraries and in other contexts” need to know and to do. The ALA has crossed over a line to now include requiring a specific “worldview” which aligns with the United Nations and the Social Justice Movement goals as clearly stated on their website.

The ALA states, in their “Code of Professional Ethics…..” below, that “Ethical dilemmas occur when values are in conflict.” Well….. that is the truth! But the problem we are facing in Oklahoma and in all states is that the “ethics” and “values” of the Parents and Community are being dismissed and replaced by a global, ecumenical, liberation ideology which gives a child of any age the authority to read, say and do whatever they choose without parental knowledge or consent. Folks… this is dangerous! Liberating children to elevate them to adult status is NOT in their best interest.

B.1.2 Code of Professional Ethics for Librarians

“Ethical dilemmas occur when values are in conflict. The American Library Association Code of Ethics states the values to which we are committed, and embodies the ethical responsibilities of the profession in this changing information environment.

We significantly influence or control the selection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information. In a political system grounded in an informed citizenry, we are members of a profession explicitly committed to intellectual freedom and the freedom of access to information. We have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations.

The principles of this Code are expressed in broad statements to guide ethical decision making. These statements provide a framework; they cannot and do not dictate conduct to cover particular situations.

1. We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests.

2. We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.

3. We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.”

In case anyone needs more proof of what Librarians who comply with the ALA are being trained to do and say, you can also read these documents on their website:

Access to Library Resources and Services for Minors:

An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

“The American Library Association supports equal and equitable access to all library resources and services by users of all ages. Library policies and procedures that effectively deny minors equal and equitable access to all library resources and services available to other users is in violation of the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. The American Library Association opposes all attempts to restrict access to library services, materials, and facilities based on the age of library users.”

Resolution to Condemn White Supremacy and Fascism as Antithetical to Library Work

“Whereas it is vital for ALA to manifest the courage and candor required by libraries and library workers around the world to reject and denounce white supremacy and fascism; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its members:

1. acknowledges the role of neutrality rhetoric in emboldening and encouraging white supremacy and fascism;

2. apologizes for past and current harm caused by the profession and within the Association, and the Association's repeated failures to address white supremacy and fascism;

3. charges the Working Group on Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice, with a representative from the Committee on Diversity, to review neutrality rhetoric and identify alternatives, sharing findings by July 1, 2021;

ALA Task Force on United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals ALA's Task Force on United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), part of Julius C. Jefferson's initiatives is developing a multi-year strategic plan to increase participation by libraries in efforts to achieve the Goals.”

We should also note that the Oklahoma State Department of Education has chosen to roll out an extensive “Counselor Corps” in schools across the state with a “Comprehensive School Counseling Framework” to guide the newly hired Corps members. The State Superintendent has included quotes from three celebrities who are well known political left activists for social change. They have no professional credentials in counseling, yet are given place in the OSDE’s counseling guide.

Two of the three celebrities have books that are found on the list of 42 books I described earlier: 1. Toni Morrison, author of The Bluest Eye. 2. Maya Angelou, author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

The third celebrity is Desmond Tutu, South African leader, anti-apartheid and human rights activist now deceased. Here is a link to the Oklahoma State Department of Education where you can download the – Oklahoma Comprehensive School Counseling Framework, which I will write more about in a future article. https://sde.ok.gov

In conclusion, most states have exempted school libraries from Obscenity Laws, all but seven states – Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Four or more states are working to remove the exemptions they put in place earlier. Oklahoma State Law (in Title 21) clearly describes what is illegal, obscene and pornographic. It takes no great intellect to read the law, look at the books and see that we MUST stop the obscenity from harming our children. We MUST fight for Parents Rights to decide what is best for our children. We MUST return to true Local Community Standards and Control and STOP allowing outside interests to control K-12 grade education. These are OUR children….. OUR libraries and OUR tax dollars that pay for them!

Linda Murphy was Oklahoma Governor Keating’s Education Advisor, Deputy Commissioner of Labor for Workforce Education and Training, Administrator of the Eastern Oklahoma Department of Labor, Member of the State Job Training Coordinating Council, and the Governor’s School-to-Work Council. She was a candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1994, 1998 and 2018. Murphy was appointed by Governor Keating as Secretary of Education but denied confirmation by the majority Democrat Education Committee, following her 49.5% statewide vote in 1994. She also served on the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. You may contact Linda at: lindalearn1@yahoo.com