A law that allows parents to make demands of teachers and school librarians based on their personal notions of what is or may be "sexually explicit" risks encouraging the most dogmatic and incurious citizens to intimidate students, teachers, and administrators. As someone who taught in public schools and now coaches new public school teachers, I know that school librarians, teachers, and administrators are not only capable of wisely selecting age-appropriate materials that promote understanding but are also motivated to meet their students where they are without fomenting unnecessary and distracting controversy. Any procedures under this law should engender the inclusion of parents, but not the domination of a few.

The goal of education is to promote understanding, and that comes from exposure to diverse viewpoints. No institution does this better than a public school where there are informative and broad-ranging discussions facilitated by trained and trusted educators.