Recent controversy over explicit books in schools has led to a formal complaint in Las Cruces. Juan Garcia from Coalition of Conservatives in Action and Sarah Smith from New Mexico Freedoms Alliance jointly filed a complaint with Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) requesting the removal of the book "Jack of Hearts and Other Parts" from the Mayfield High School library, citing concerns about its age appropriateness.
According to the complaint, which is believed to be the first formal complaint of its kind filed in New Mexico, "Jack of Hearts and Other Parts" contains graphic descriptions of pedophilia, kids drinking alcohol, and other inappropriate content. It is available to students in the school library.
A formal hearing was held on Thursday, Oct. 12 involving a committee of four teachers and three parents that decided whether the contested book should be removed from the Mayfield High School library. The committee chose to retain the book in the library in a 6-to-1 vote.
Garcia and Smith believe that providing such content to children violates both state and federal laws. “Providing this type of content to children violates both state and federal law, but nonetheless the committee voted to keep the book,” Juan Garcia and Sarah Smith stated in the complaint.
The Oct. 26 outcome leaves the final decision to keep "Jack of Hearts and Other Parts" in the Mayfield High School library in the hands of the LCPS superintendent.