Colton Lindsay, a Utah father, expressed his disapproval of the Davis School District's decision to remove the Bible from elementary and middle schools due to concerns about "vulgarity or violence." The restriction, limiting Bible access to high schools only, stems from a parent's complaint and Utah's 2022 law prohibiting "pornographic or indecent material" in public schools.
Lindsay, whose 10-year-old daughter attends a district school, believes the law, intended to prevent children from being exposed to differing values, has been misused. He suggests the complaint originated from someone with a more liberal perspective.
The complaint, filed in December 2022, ironically labeled the Bible as "sex-ridden," citing instances of "incest, onanism, bestiality… rape, and even infanticide." The district's Sensitive Materials Review Committee, composed of administrators, teachers, a librarian, and parents, subsequently removed the King James Version from approximately seven or eight schools.
Kasey Meehan, from PEN America's Freedom to Read project, expressed concern that such removals demonstrate the chilling effect of book bans, where any complaint can lead to restricted access, regardless of a book's cultural or academic significance.
Lindsay, who identifies as Christian, argues that the Bible's historical context should be considered. He believes the scripture's references to controversial acts are cautionary rather than endorsements. He views the removal as symbolic, as students likely have access to scriptures elsewhere. However, he worries about the removal of Christian values and the introduction of new ones, citing an incident where his daughter brought home a book about a same-sex relationship between two young girls.
While acknowledging the need to monitor materials, Lindsay feels the situation is being misconstrued as a book ban. He clarifies that parents can still acquire these books elsewhere. The concern, he says, lies in preventing children's exposure to certain materials without parental knowledge or consent.
Lindsay believes the Bible's removal is a significant issue within the community and encourages other parents who share his concerns to voice their opinions.
