Iowa Gov. Reynolds targets 'X-rated' books in schools, 'transparency' in Condition of the State speech

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds drew some of the loudest applause of her Condition of the State speech Tuesday when she said parents deserve a greater say in their children's education, particularly when it comes to the books that are part of their school's curriculum. 

"Enough is enough," she said. "Parents matter, and we’re going to make sure you stay in charge of your child’s education."

Reynolds previously told reporters she expects a parent-led push to introduce a bill that will address the issue. But she said all schools should be required to publish what they're teaching, and her staff said she would introduce legislation to ensure schools post their curriculum, textbooks and a list of available library books on their websites.

"There’s no reason to hide it — at least no good reason," she said.

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Her comments come as Iowa has been roiled by debates over students' access to books that some parents have described as sexually explicit, vulgar and inappropriate for school-aged children. Reynolds accused some school administrators of using the books to push their own worldview onto students. 

“These books are so explicit they’d be X-rated if they were movies,” Reynolds said during the speech Tuesday. “... We live in a free country with free expression. But there’s a difference between shouting vulgarities from a street corner and assigning them as required classroom reading. There’s a difference between late-night cable TV and the school library.” 

More:Read the full text of Gov. Kim Reynolds' 2022 Condition of the State address

But librarians, administrators and others have pushed back, saying the books broach difficult subjects — including abuse, LGBTQ issues and stories about people of color — and have broad literary and social value. 

Legislative Democrats expressed particular concern at comments Senate President Jake Chapman made during his opening speech to the chamber on Monday. The Adel Republican claimed teachers and the media have adopted a "sinister agenda" to normalize deviant behavior against children. 

Chapman has attended school board meetings in the Des Moines metro to advocate against certain books in school libraries and has called for legislation that would make it a felony for teachers to distribute what he refers to as “obscene” books. 

Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, said Tuesday morning that Reynolds should “disavow” Chapman’s comments and “promise Iowans that she will veto any legislation aimed at harming Iowa’s public education system." Following her speech, Wahls instead called it a "ringing endorsement" of Chapman's remarks. 

"I thought it was a slap in the face to Iowa teachers," he said.

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House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said during an interview on Iowa PBS that Reynolds' plan to pay teachers a $1,000 retention bonus for continuing to teach through the pandemic was undermined by her failure to condemn Chapman's comments.

"I'm not sure that a $1,000 bonus is going to really make them feel better or more welcome in the state when they're already exhausted and weary from two years of pandemic teaching and being demonized at the Capitol," she said. 

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.