Letter to Doug Knight, member of I-SS School Board:
Thank you for serving on our school board as an example of an educated person who only wants the best for our children.
I have been trying to understand the discussion and arguments over age-appropriate content of books. There is much confusion over what is beneficial as opposed to what is legal. What is the relationship between exposure to explicit language – words that cannot be spoken in polite company – and the grooming of children? The school has an important role in the development of a child under its protection as it has a trust element and an authority element. Children are trusting of the school and teacher because the parents have placed them there.
At what age is introducing sexually explicit content or activities good education practice? The use of sexually explicit language, slowly at first, is considered one of the signs of grooming of children. Groomers may slowly introduce sexual content over time to desensitize the child to inappropriate behavior. Some of the other elements of grooming are: trust in the person of authority, secrecy of exposure to sexually explicit or violent language, and creating the normalcy of a new pattern of behavior.
The ways for parents and the community to be vigilant regarding this current cultural exploitation is to maintain open communication with children, teachers and those in authority. Grooming of children toward sexual activities should not be happening in schools. The grooming process takes time and often not visible until too late. I am hoping that this information is not new to you.
In light of the above information, I cannot understand your comments at the last ISS board meeting about wanting any public speaker to use the word “bleep” for any sexually explicit words that are from a book in the school library that are approved for the education of our school aged children. You knowingly approve the exposure of sexually explicit language to the children under your care, but do not approve of them as being appropriate in adult settings. There is a moral high ground for the school board members. I hope that you will be one of the school board members who will step up higher to reveal the exposure of children to sexually explicit content via ISS schools.
Thank you for your time.
Cheryl Pletcher
