Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, during a Wednesday press conference, threatened to take over public school districts that don’t remove “obscene books” from their library shelves.
Specifically, the Republican culture warrior vowed to pass legislation that would knock an entire letter grade from school districts’ A-F academic accountability ratings if they refuse to remove “over 2,000 titles of filthy, dirty” books from their shelves.
“It’s the law, and we expect you to follow the law. So, we’re coming for the books,” Patrick said. “We ask that you do it on your own and remove these books.”
Republican-backed Senate Bill 13, which passed last year, allows school boards to remove books from libraries based on complaints from parents. However, Patrick told reporters that not nearly enough school boards have taken action in response to those complaints.
During the presser, Patrick pointed to Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human as the type of tome he wants to see eradicated from schools.
The nonfiction graphic novel geared toward teens 14 and older covers topics including relationships, gender and sex, according to Amazon.
“Let’s Talk About It is the go-to handbook for every teen, and the first in graphic novel form,” the book’s Amazon listing states.
However, pearl-clutching Patrick said the graphic novel is “so filthy, so dirty, so vulgar” that he refused to read passages aloud.
Even though Patrick’s press conference came off as comically out of touch, his agenda for the upcoming legislative session could have severe consequences for the state’s already struggling school districts.
The state’s A-F accountability ratings can determine which districts the Texas Education Agency takes over. Such takeovers have wreaked havoc on the lives of public educators, including at those at South San ISD, as reported by the Current.
Legislation knocking public school districts down an entire letter grade for failing to remove books the lieutenant governor finds objectionable also could put the independence of public school districts in serious jeopardy.
What’s more, librarians and free speech advocates have pointed out that many of the books targeted by right-wing lawmakers in Texas aren’t obscene but instead explore LGBTQ+ issues and race.
Even so, Patrick said taxpayers shouldn’t be funding purported smut in schools.
“We spend $90 billion a year on public education,” Patrick said. “We have a responsibility to be sure that what we are using these tax dollars for is what they would expect us to use it for.”
Patrick is up for reelection in November. His opponent is Texas House Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin.
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