A Utah commission responded by arguing that the “vulgarity and violence” contained in the pages of the King James Bible was sufficient reason to remove it from the shelves of some early grade libraries in the Davis School District.
ABC4 Utah report The initial complaint that sparked the move was filed by an unknown person in March. This follows a statewide law passed in 2022 that allows residents to object to any book in school libraries.
As of March, the law has been applied 81 times and Davis County has removed 33 books containing sex, vulgarity and violence, according to the report.
Book removal requests can be made at the district office. website, However, the complainant must explain why.
FILE/June 10, 1953: First edition of the first edition of the English Bible “Certified Edition” printed in London in 1611 by Robert Barker. Commissioned by James I, the work is also known as the King James Version. (Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
For example, it claimed that the Bible review request contained 49 pages of Bible references that could be considered inappropriate under the law, including murder, sex acts, and incest.
Christopher Williams, director of public affairs for the Davis County School District, said Thursday that the commission said the book contained “confidential material as defined in Utah Code 76-10-1227, 76-10-1201, or 76-10-1203.” It said it was not found to be included and made some vulgar language. And the violence was considered age-appropriate for young readers.
The Bible remains on the bookshelf in the high school library.
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Williams said the Bible is not taught as part of the district’s curriculum and is being removed from about “seven to eight” elementary and middle schools.
Williams pointed out that appeals have already been filed by those who want the Bible preserved for all ages. The complaint will be heard by her three-member committee of the Davis School District School Board, and the matter will be sent to the entire school board for a final decision.
Schools are currently closed in Davis County and will not reopen until August 17th.
Mr Williams said. ABC4: “It’s a process. Anyone who asks for a book review must run. We don’t jump to conclusions, we look at the whole process. and never ignores a single request.
“This has taken a very long time. We have 15 committees set up for this purpose.”
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Chapter 1 of Genesis, first page of the first edition of the English Bible “authorized edition” printed in London, 1611. (Halton Archive/Getty)
The board hopes to complete the review within 60 days, but it’s not clear how many schools in the district have Bibles.
If violations of the law are found, Bibles will be removed from all schools in the district. The same is true when 33 previous publications have been removed from public view.
The King James Version (KJV), also known as the Official Edition or King James Bible, is an English translation of the Bible, first published in 1611 under the patronage of King James I of England.
of translation It had a notable influence on English literary style and was generally accepted as the standard English Bible from the mid-17th century to the early 20th century.
