As parents and guardians, the responsibility to decide when and how to introduce our children to sensitive topics such as sex should entirely rest on our shoulders. The book "Sex is a Funny Word" available in Arthur S. May Elementary library, intended for parents to prepare for crucial conversations around sexual education, crosses a boundary. Discussing extremely mature subjects like sex for joy, masturbation, and emotional fulfillment among other ideologies is far beyond the desirable exposure level for our elementary-age children. This book contains graphic images to further illustrate this sexual content which is wildly inappropriate. 

This book’s accessibility disturbs our right to discuss a sensitive topic like sex at our discretion, robbing us of our role as parents. According to the American Library Association, over 70% of challenges to book content are initiated by parents - underscoring the universal desire to protect our children's innocence (source: American Library Association). We need to continue to champion this important cause. Let us keep our children's innocence intact. Let us decide when and what we discuss with them about sexual education.

Author's instructions in the book state the following:

1.) Parents should read the book first, thoroughly thinking through every Q&A included in the book in order to prepare well-constructed responses.    2.) The book is intended to be read in phases over a long period of time (weeks, months, years). A student taking this book out of the library limits that time to one (1) week.                                                                                  3.) Elementary school children do not receive health class until middle school; this is when sex education begins therefore this is when the book should be made available to students, NOT in the elementary school.            4.) Giving children first access to this book allows for misinformation to be prematurely and immaturely spread to fellow classmates (i.e. if they bring the book to the classroom or on the bus where children are in close proximity to students of all grades and ages).                                                                 
Help us reclaim our parenting rights - sign this petition to remove "Sex is a Funny Word" from the Arthur S. May Elementary library.

If the Board of Education deems it necessary to keep this book in the building we propose that it be stored in the Nurses' office only to be released by parent request and sent home with said student in a sealed envelope.