A Des Moines metro book ban update
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
No book ban requests have been made in Des Moines and at least four other metro districts since at least February, school officials told Axios last week.
- That includes Ankeny, West Des Moines, Waukee and Urbandale.
Why it matters: Efforts to remove books is part of a larger cultural war that has been playing out in schools across the nation, Axios’ Russell Contreras reported in January.
- The recent reprieve in local requests is an indication that content controversies have settled down — at least for now.
Catch up fast: About a half dozen or so books have been at the center of the debate, including in the metro.
- Educators could have faced prison time under a bill proposed but not passed by Iowa lawmakers this year.
State of play: Ankeny School District removed "Gender Queer" from its collections late last year.
- Other districts retained the book and multiple other challenged texts.
Yes, but: West Des Moines parent Teri Patrick has appealed to the Iowa Board of Education in her effort to have “Gender Queer” removed from Valley Southwoods Freshman High School.
- The board in August concluded that Patrick doesn’t have the right to challenge the book because her child was not a student at the time she made the complaint.
- A final vote is expected Sept. 15 and Patrick’s attorney has indicated the decision could face further challenges.
The bottom line: There’s still more pages to turn by those pushing to ban certain books.