South Iowa News

Senate President Jake Chapman thanked Gov. Kim Reynolds for sharing his opinion about certain books in schools.

"Thank you Governor Reynolds!" Chapman said in a Facebook post Jan. 24. "This is only one excerpt from a number of books that describe sexually explicit activities including incest, pedophilia, rape, etc. Parents are speaking out and have had enough! What do you think? Should children be exposed to X rated material in school?"

Chapman's statement is in relation to his "sinister agenda" campaign. In his campaign, he called certain teachings a sinister agenda of the education system, according to the Bleeding Heart blog. 

"Sad but predictable that the mainstream media has mischaracterized my words!" Chapman said in a Facebook post Jan. 10. "Iowa has some of the best public teachers, that is why my children attend public schools. However, it is undeniable that there are some who are pushing this agenda, it is also a fact that we have had multiple teachers charged this year with sexual contact with their students. I will always stand up for what is right! I will always defend and protect our children!"

Reynolds herself mentioned such materials in her Condition of the State address. 

"We live in a free country with free expression," Reynolds said. "But there's a difference between shouting vulgarities from a street corner and assigning them as required classroom reading."

There are new bills introduced that make it mandatory for schools and libraries to publish their educational material. 

However, state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott denounced Chapman's "divisive stunts." 

"Talented, beloved educators and administrators in my community are resigning," she said, according to Bleeding Heart. "It's heartbreaking. I wish the governor would spend some time visiting with our educators — too many are on the verge of leaving."