May 23, 2023
Wicomico County Board of Education
2424 Northgate Drive, Suite 100
Salisbury, MD 21801
Re: Obscene Books in the Media Centers
Dear Wicomico County Board of Education Members:
You have officially been made aware that obscene books have been added to WCPS media
centers without approval or screening, as Superintendent Micah Stauffer has admitted
before the Wicomico County Council. This continues to happen, as the system is broken.
Since the books have been illegitimately brought in, it should not require a legitimate
process to remove them. This willful negligence in the selection of media materials is out
of control.
The evidence of content in these books has been provided to you to make an informed
decision. To refresh your memory, the evidence can be found here.
These books include:
Beyond Magenta
Me Earl, and the Dying Girl
Gender Queer
Monday’s Not Coming
Murder Trending
Queer Ducks (recently added to media centers)
Tricks
Since your recent modification to the WCBOE Selection and Review of Textbooks,
Instructional Materials, and Media Materials Policy INS-SCH-PL-008, your intent is
clear that you wish to surrender your full authority to administration to determine what’s
appropriate for the content of our media centers, which is a classroom (according to the
WCPS School Library Media Handbook). The old policy before it was modified
contained a statement which has since been removed:
WCBOE Selection and Review of Textbooks, Instructional Materials, and Media
Materials Policy INS-SCH-PL-008 stated: “WCBOE encourages the use of textbooks and
materials which enlighten, inspire, encourage, instill hope and foster good decision making,
as in comparison to those which discourage, convey a sense of futility or affirm
negative or destructive character traits. These materials should also support the mission,
vision, educational philosophy, beliefs and values endorsed by the Wicomico County
Board of Education.
Why would this statement be removed? Because it is known fact that there are many
materials throughout the school system that discourage, convey a sense of futility or
affirm negative or destructive character traits as provided along with this letter, including
the inappropriate, obscene, and subversive materials, which your recent modification to
this policy was designed to permit such negative and destructive traits.
Is there a process for the removal of books? No. The Selection and Review of Textbooks
and Media Resources Procedure INS-SCH-PR-016 is invalid, as it does not match the
WCBOE Selection and Review of Textbooks, Instructional Materials, and Media
Materials Policy INS-SCH-PL-008. For the record, this procedure was created by
Superintendent Stauffer on October 22, 2022 just days before the November 8, 2022
election. By design, Stauffer’s intent was to proactively subvert the authority of the newly
elected board and further obstruct parents with a series of hoops to jump through; an
elusive process purposely designed to fail. The Chief Academic Officer will hand-pick
unidentified/shielded individuals for review of material, therefore rigging a desired
outcome in order to insulate the Superintendent by serving as a virtual scapegoat. We are
not playing this game, and you as elected officials are not hiding behind a bogus process
to avoid making a responsible decision to remove highly inappropriate and obscene
content in Wicomico County Public Schools. You are without excuse and ultimately
responsible.
Your actions and recent policy modifications are resulting in multiple policy violations
throughout the district. This includes, but not limited to: Wicomico County Board of
Education Mission and Vision Policy, the Selection of Textbooks, Materials & Media
Policy (before it was recently changed), WCBOE non-discriminatory statement, Political
Solicitation in Schools Policy, School Board Governance Policy, Equal Opportunity and
Non-Discrimination Policy, Assessment Philosophy of the Wicomico County Board of
Education, Religious Observance Policy, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy,
Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Policy, Student Code of Conduct, Reporting of
Child Abuse and Neglect Policy, Acceptable Use of Technology Policy, etc. You are also
violating federal and Maryland state obscenity laws that you care to exploit.
Retaining these books is a preservation of systemic perversion. You are being asked to
immediately remove these books from the media centers for having obscene content,
revisit and fix the WCBOE Selection and Review of Textbooks, Instructional Materials,
and Media Materials Policy INS-SCH-PL-008 and its procedure. This does not require
any action of administration but only yourselves. Once our media centers are cleaned up
by the board and aligned with board policy and laws, a sound procedure can then be
reasonably utilized for maintenance thereafter.
Thank you for your attention in this matter. I look forward to your response and course of
action within 30 days.
-Wicomico Parent
Supplemental Exhibits:
Queer Ducks (and Other Animals)
Recently added to WCPS 2022-2023. Attempts to use animals to justify and suggest homosexuality to children. Saying that we are all animals, anything goes. Multiple references to promote GSAs (Gay Straight Alliances) orgies, sex toys, etc. This is sexual grooming.
To view pages from Queer Ducks, click here.
Examples:
Tricks, by Ellen Hopkins
This book contains sexually explicit excerpts involving minors. There are also excerpts containing explicit child rape and abuse; illegal drug abuse; graphic violence; underage alcohol consumption; and adult and child prostitution.
Inappropriate Excerpts: http://www.booklooks.org/data/files/Book%20Looks%20Reports/T/Tricks.pdf
Some Sample excerpts:
Page 393 She's a total bitch, not to mention a tease. ...Lately she hasn't even half-ass grinned at me. ...The Belmont fucked me good.
402 I need Ronnie to ding my dong.
409 Forgive me, he whispered, and he meant that, even as he stripped, lowered his ghostly white nakedness over me. I swallowed the building scream. Opened my legs. Wept as he plunged inside. Choked on his Listerine-flavored tongue, wielded like a weapon. His kiss was, in fact, harder to accept. Sex is sex. A kiss means love.
411 But now Jerome wants other things. Let me watch you touch yourself. Creepy things. Did you know guys like to use vibrators too? Like this. Downright disgusting things. Your period? I like the taste of blood. How I wish I could say no. But even if I thought he'd leave me alone, saying yes is how I have convinced him to make Father believe I am fit for small freedoms. Like working in the yard, pulling weeds and picking vegetables.
414 Make the best of it... Guys like vibrators too. ...Plan C Means courting Jerome's affection, pretending to enjoy his deviant sex. Tonight that means letting him call me "Mommy" as he sits on my lap and "nurses." I stroke his hair as a mother would, dig deep inside for the words, "Mommy loves you, Jerome." That excites him, as I guessed it would. I love you, too, Mommy. See how much? ...I hold stubbornly to the dream that he will, as Jerome turns his belly to "Mommy's." Love or no, Jerome wants to punish Mommy. The sex is rough, but it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as the pretense. And it's even faster than usual. When he finishes, I lay my head on his knobby chest
Beyond Magenta
Me Earl, and the Dying Girl
Gender Queer
Monday’s Not Coming
Murder Trending
Exhibits for these books: https://www.delmarvaptc.org/post/wicomico-county-board-of-education-continues-to-expose-minors-to-obscenity-part2
In conclusion, it is up to the parents and citizens to wake up and express their concerns in writing, by calling, and showing up at school board meetings to make a public comment. You can also sign our petition. Our future is at stake. Denial, excuses, or remaining silent will not make this go away, and it's only getting worse due to your silence. It is up to you to stand up!
WCBOE Board Members
Gene Malone - (443) 783-5530 gmalone@wcboe.org
Allen Brown - (410) 742-9668 abrown@wcboe.org
Kristin Hazel - (443) 366-4344 khazel@wcboe.org
Bonnie Ennis - (443) 783-1617 bennis@wcboe.org
Susan Beauchamp - (443) 235-2569 sbeaucham@wcboe.org
David Plotts - (443) 880-0502 dplotts@wcboe.org
John Palmer - (410) 896-3670 jpalmer@wcboe.org
Fellows & Editors
May 23, 2023 - Copyright DelmarvaPTC.org
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