The History and Potential Consequences of Explicit Material in Elmbrook
In light of recent arrests of educators statewide, is Elmbrook inadvertently grooming students or glamorizing abusive, illegal and/or dangerous behavior?
A recently publicized website shows hundreds of books from Elmbrook’s library collection with either explicit content or potential propaganda. This appears to show that pervasively vulgar and questionable content continues to be widely available to students in Elmbrook schools.
For high schools, books available to students include:
“Boy Toy” which features a teacher-student sexual relationship that began when the student was 12
Well-known explicit books by Ellen Hopkins such as “Crank” that features a bloody rape scene
Books from the Court of Roses and Thorns series such as “A Court of Silver Flames” which has detailed and explicit sex scenes
“Speak” which features drug use and graphic child rape
The vulgar and explicit “Me, Earl and the Dying Girl”
For middle schools, books available to students include “The Poet X” which features masturbation.
What Do Elmbrook’s Actions Do?
With the curation of this content in libraries (and curriculum), is Elmbrook inadvertently normalizing - or even glamorizing - abuse, illegal and/or dangerous activities? These books do not often go over the grim aftermath of those who have experienced addiction, sexual trauma or abuse that can lead to permanent physical damage as well as significant psychological trauma.
While most educators are caring individuals, families will always need to be aware of a variety of risks to their children. Recent arrests of educators in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Kenosha, Mishicot and Hudson raise concern over predators who have made their way into schools.
Additionally, it appears that Elmbrook senior leadership may be prioritizing quantity over quality of reading materials as they recently celebrated the amount of digital checkouts via Sora, a platform which has previously raised concerns.
What Has Happened in Elmbrook?
There has been some concerning behavior in recent years by at least two staff members. In early 2021, Elmbrook was caught administering an unapproved sex survey to students and discussing its results in real time. Topics included the volume, type of sexual activity, use of protection and more.
In January 2022, an Elmbrook teacher's email linked to an LGBT resource site which included a link to a sex toy shop.
What Has Been Senior Leadership’s Responses?
2024
In the summer of 2024, concerns about “The Kite Runner” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” in the curriculum were discussed. These books include explicit child rape and sodomy and Superintendent Mark Hansen said he received questions about why he has not removed these books. He became agitated over criticism that he “lack[s] leadership.”
2023
In March 2023, a sexually explicit book series was found that had students bringing guns into school in an attempt to assassinate their teacher. Elmbrook's Director of Library Services, Kay Koepsel-Benning, said she believed it was appropriate for students.
Elmbrook’s choice of this book was highlighted in national news and only hours later Elmbrook senior leadership changed their support and said, “After applying our current book acquisition guidelines to this series we have decided to remove these books from our collection.”
In January 2023, the explicit book “Fun Home", which includes pedophilia, oral sex and a nude male autopsy, was found in the library collection. A parent publicly objected to it, but the book was not removed. After it was highlighted in local media, the book was promptly removed.
2022
In October 2022, the community found out that “All Boys Aren’t Blue” was added to libraries. This book features incest and anal sex. It appears to have been quietly removed.
Also in October 2022, Elmbrook’s Chris Thompson updated board members on library changes. He talked about the burden placed on the administration to vet library books and Kay Koepsel-Benning, Director of Library Services, complained about Elmbrook’s “restrictive” library policy. That month an article was published that shows communication between Chris Thompson and a reporter which painted parent objection to sexually explicit books as bigoted.
In November 2022, the Journal Sentinel also covered Elmbrook’s explicit books where objections were painted as either book banning, anti-LGBT, or driven by people outside the Elmbrook community.
2021
In the September 2021 Board meeting, President Scott Wheeler apologized for inappropriate books and said, "Some of the descriptions in these books are graphic, have no educational value and do not belong in any Elmbrook library."
This came after public knowledge in July 2021 of a book found accessible via Sora to elementary students that instructs children on how to get on hookup apps, discusses masturbation, oral and anal sex, and more. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty served Superintendent Mark Hansen this letter on 7/13/21 detailing this material. That book was removed.
What Could Good Intentions Lead To?
Is it possible that well-intentioned administration members, in the interest of inclusivity, are inadvertently blind to the fact that providing books with explicit content to students can make them more vulnerable to predators?
It appears that the tone set from Superintendent Mark Hansen shows little appetite to address these concerns. In August 2024, his heated public comments strongly defended explicit books. Does this explain why after 4 years, there is still an abundance of explicit material in Elmbrook schools?
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