In a surprising turn of events, a couple from Hull, East Yorkshire has withdrawn their four-year-old daughter from a preschool after voicing concerns about a book that contained inappropriate content. Here’s the full story.
Leather Bondage Gear in “Grandad’s Pride”
The book, “Grandad’s Pride,” authored and illustrated by Harry Woodgate, features depictions of men in leather bondage gear and trans individuals with “top-surgery” scars.
Will and Maria Taylor were shocked when they stumbled upon what they describe as ‘images of men who are partially naked in leather bondage gear’ within the pages of “Grandad’s Pride.”
The book, aimed at children aged four and above, tells the tale of Milly spending her summer with her grandparents and delves into discussions about the meaning of Pride and inclusivity.
However, the book’s illustrations, which include depictions of a Pride march featuring adults dressed in provocative attire, triggered a wave of controversy.
Such Depictions Could Encourage Body Modifications at an Inappropriate Age
The Taylors’ grievances were not only with the explicit images but also with the portrayal of Trans individuals with “top-surgery” scars.
They contended that such depictions could encourage body modifications at an inappropriate age.
According to the Taylors, the book’s contents sparked concerns among parents who argued that such themes were too mature for preschoolers.
When the Taylors approached the Genesis Pre School, they expected an apology for stocking the controversial book. Instead, they were met with resistance.
The School Dismissed the Idea That Children Would Perceive the Images as Erotic or Sexual
The school’s staff, including the safeguarding lead, defended the book’s contents and dismissed the idea that children would perceive the images as erotic or sexual.
The Taylors argued that a child’s lack of understanding should not be used to justify exposing them to potentially sexualized imagery.
Will Taylor pointed out that promoting understanding and tolerance among children should not come at the cost of exposing them to explicit material.
He said, “It seems those with safeguarding responsibilities are basing their decisions on what is safe and appropriate based on whether the child will recognize the risk for what it is. To be clear, the ‘perception’ of the child is not the arbiter of what is age-appropriate or safe, regardless of their level of understanding.”
Their Decision To Remove Their Daughter From the Preschool Led to Accusations of Bigotry
The Taylors’ decision to remove their daughter from the preschool led to accusations of bigotry.
Will Taylor, who has actively participated in LGBTQ+ events, stressed that his concerns were not rooted in homophobia but rather in maintaining a balance between age-appropriate content and promoting diversity.
The trustees of the nursery eventually removed the book. They conducted an audit of their literature collection to ensure appropriateness for young readers.
Several social media users expressed their thoughts on the incident.
“We Are Now at a Point Where We Have To Protect Our Children From Schools and Teachers!”
One Twitter user wrote, “I don’t blame them! We are now at a point where we have to protect our children from schools and teachers! What happened to letting children be children? Trying to preserve their innocence for a minute?”
Another User wrote, “Disgusting garbage. I feel sorry for the parents. It’s an embarrassment to the LGB community even though it’s creepy TQs foisting it on the general public.”
The post Outrage Erupts as a Preschool Exposes Toddlers to Bondage and Surgery Scars in Approved ‘Educational’ Book! first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Evgeny Atamanenko. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Daily Mail