Utah parent calls out school district for removing Bible over ‘vulgarity or violence': 'Ridiculous'

In a district in Utah, a recent decision to remove the Bible from elementary and middle schools has ignited a fierce debate about censorship, education, and religious values. Davis School District, after receiving a complaint from a parent, has restricted the Bible to only high schools, citing age appropriateness due to concerns of vulgarity and violence.

Last year, the state of Utah enacted the Sensitive Materials in Schools Act (H.B. 374), which mandates public schools to prohibit "pornographic or indecent material." The legislation was signed into law in March 2022, and was originally intended to protect students from exposure to inappropriate content. However, the application of this law to remove the Bible from school libraries has caused an uproar among some parents and state representatives.

Colton Lindsay, a local parent and public real estate sales speaker, criticized the decision. Lindsay, whose 10-year-old daughter attends a school in Davis School District, expressed his concern that the law is being twisted by individuals who hold liberal views and do not agree with the religious text. He argued that the Bible, despite its graphic content, serves a moral and educational purpose.

The controversy began when an unidentified parent filed a complaint in December 2022, alleging that the Bible contains content that could be considered pornographic. The complaint cited instances of incest, bestiality, and violence, and demanded that the Bible be removed from schools.

In response, the Davis School District formed a Sensitive Materials Review Committee to assess the complaint. The committee, whose members remain undisclosed, decided to remove the King James Version of the Bible from seven to eight schools in the district.

This action has drawn criticism from not only parents but also from state representatives, including Utah State Rep. Ken Ivory, who sponsored H.B. 374. Ivory expressed opposition to his bill being used to remove the Bible, and has stated that this was not the original intent of the legislation.

Meanwhile, Kasey Meehan, Director of PEN America's Freedom to Read Project, asserted that this incident “highlights the chilling impact that book bans are having on schools, where a complaint from any side can become grounds for removing access to a book." Meehan further mentioned that vague legislation has fueled educational censorship, regardless of a book's cultural or academic value.

Colton Lindsay emphasized that the removal of the Bible symbolizes a shift away from Christian values in schools. He shared his concern that other materials which do not align with traditional values might be promoted instead. As an example, Lindsay mentioned a book his daughter brought home about a young girl falling in love with her female best friend, which he believes is contrary to his values.

Lindsay called on fellow parents to voice their opinions and said that the removal of the Bible has been a major topic in the community. He stressed that this is not about banning books, but rather ensuring that parents are informed and have a say in what their children are exposed to in schools.