As parents across the state are fighting against explicit books in their children’s schools, one local precinct chair in the DFW-area Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District discovered more than 20 books with sexually explicit content in local middle school libraries.
“HEB ISD is one of the most diverse districts in Texas, a fact many, including myself, are proud of,” said Sheena Rodriguez, a Tarrant County Republican Party precinct chair.
With nearly 23,000 students in HEB ISD and rising concerns over what is available in students’ libraries, Rodriguez began searching the libraries of two of the five junior high schools (Harwood and Central in Euless) and discovered “several highly concerning books listed as appropriate for YOUNG ADULTS.”
According to Rodriguez, “It is important to note that the National Institute of Health (NIH) recognizes young adulthood generally, including ages 18-26. Yet, the HEB ISD school board, like so many school districts across Texas, finds it appropriate to have nothing short of pornographic material accessible to 12-year-old children, WITHOUT parental knowledge or consent.”
After discovering books such as “The Bluest Eye,” which depicts child molestation, rape, and incest, as well as “Speak,” which includes self-harm, suicidal ideation, and rape, Rodriguez expanded her search to the more than 800 concerning books listed by State Rep. Matt Krause (R–Haslet) in a letter sent last year to multiple Texas school superintendents.
She found nearly 80 concerning books in the junior high libraries, including around 40 depicting various sexual orientations and “gender identities”—some with graphic sexual scenes—available for children as young as 11 without parental consent.
“HEB ISD is one of the latest to be added to school districts which seem far more concerned with teaching children how it is cool to be transgender, what hormone blockers and sex changes are, and gruesome rape scenes,” said Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, nearby Keller ISD recently approved content guidelines that protect children from dangerous gender ideologies in school libraries, after parents elected a pro-family school board majority this past year.
The next HEB ISD school board meeting is December 12, and concerned citizens may contact their local school board members to register complaints.
