One sad reality of living in Iowa is that our elected ones do not respond positively to all of their constituents. Some of us get what has been described as “scorching” replies. Our elected ones are known for not replying or when they do, they lose their cool.

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They also seem to have an axe to grind against the public schools. This story begins with elected one Steve Holt, who came to Iowa from South Carolina and owns a Tropical Snow. No doubt this makes him an expert on Iowa schools because he accused public schools of harboring employees who abuse children and teach the hatred of America. Ironically, his wife is a public school teacher who prompted students to walk out in protest—of her! She didn’t mean to offend but from what I can gather, isn’t seeking out any DEI courses to help her understand the students’ point of view. I took an (on-line) DEI course and learned some things about myself that needed to be adjusted. Why be ignorant, even if it’s unintentional? This backstory might help explain the outburst which follows later. The Iowa Governor backs Holt up on his dim view of the schools. You can read the entire story here.

A journalist sent what she intended to be an uplifting message about the local schools to Mr. Holt and copied her representatives.

Here’s what she had to say:

to steven.holt, barb.kniffmcculla, ken.rozenboom

Good morning!

As I watched the news last night and this morning, I was moved to share a couple of experiences with you, Mr. Holt, regarding the way our young people today feel about their country and their patriotism. I have two stories.

Story #1 involved the return of a Pella soldier from his basic training in Alabama just before Christmas. He has a great relationship with his sister, a third grader at Madison Elementary in Pella. She was expecting his return on the weekend, but under the guise of celebrating her half birthday with her classmates, she received a very special gift … her brother all wrapped up in a big birthday box. Here’s the rest of the story. One of the students asked if they could ask Levi some questions. “Of course,” said the teacher. Hands shot into the air, and Levi patiently answered each and every question they asked. Students were excited about his adventure. He was very positive about his training. I heard nothing but positive thoughts coming from all in the room regarding our country, our military, and his young man’s service. It certainly illustrated a love for our country and what those serving us are doing. 

Story #2 happened just last week. As a part-time reporter for the Marion County Express, I was invited to Jefferson Intermediate in the Pella Community School District and Pella Christian Grade School to cover the presentations of the local American Legion post honoring the fifth graders – over 200 of them – who had written essays about the United States flag. Every single one of those students received a folder containing a certificate recognizing their participation, and, along with that, a miniature flag. Several American Legion members were present for this occasion and enthusiastically shook hands with each and every student as they were presented their awards. Respect was shown at both schools for those gentlemen, and the students exploded with cheers of appreciation as the three essay winners were announced. They waved their flags proudly as the gatherings concluded. Patriotism and appreciation for those who have served was evident. 

These two examples are just the tip of the iceberg. Please be careful about making judgments about today’s schools and today’s youth. There’s all kinds of good taking place. And, if you’d like to catch the winners reading their work, they’ll be presenting them at the next Legion meeting on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Legion Hall in Pella. The meeting is open to the public. 

Holt sent a brief note of thanks. She didn’t hear from McCulla. Her Senator, Ken Rozenboom, wasn’t exactly thrilled with her glowing letter. Here is his response:

Thanks for the message.  I agree that so much good is going on in our schools.  But you’re obviously  trying to drive a point home.  I wish we could always deal with schools who are doing the right thing.  But please consider the school issues that have been dumped on us since I was first elected to the Senate 12 years ago:

• Boys in girl’s bathrooms and locker rooms
• Boys competing against girls in athletic events 
• Gender transition surgery for teens 
• Pure pornography in our school classrooms and libraries, including graphic illustrations of pedophilia 
• Teaching first graders that the gender listed on their birth certificate was just a guess
• Schools refusing to open as Covid slowly came under control
• Masking and mandatory vaccinations of children with off-label, experimental drugs
• Teaching kids that they were racist just because of the color of their skin  

I didn’t create those controversies.   Some schools and some teachers did.  Are you suggesting that we are supposed to ignore those issues? Please don’t confuse action on those problems with “judgments about today’s schools and today’s youth”.

Respectfully,

Ken

I’d like to address a few things from his list. A few I’ve already covered.

• Schools refusing to open as Covid slowly came under control

He wrote his letter to a woman whose sister, a teacher, died from COVID before the vaccine became available. Iowa Republicans even banned mask mandates. I was a teacher myself and it was terrifying. And teachers died. People died.

Below: the governor and her mask advisory team of not scientists.

• Pure pornography in our school classrooms and libraries, including graphic illustrations of pedophilia 

Who knows what he is talking about?!  He has barely been in a public school except to show his face campaigning. The aforementioned “cool loser” has never attended a public school. I wish he’d given some peer reviewed citations for his bullet points. Without evidence, I’m left with the impression that the porn accusations can’t be verified.

Porn, it seems, is on a lot of screens. Screens. Often people who watch porn have an issue: it might be age, isolation, OCD, or bedroom boredom. Most people don’t watch it for an extended period of time. Exposure to porn has minimal negative consequences, especially when coupled with scientifically accurate sex education, as seen in the Netherlands. For those worried about their porn viewing, reading erotica is sometimes offered as an alternative. That being said, I share some concerns about porn. But I have more curiosity about people who are terrified by porn to the point where they need therapy. Some argue that these people are confusing pornography with sexual abuse, and they really need to focus on the later.  

I’m not a therapist or a porn watcher but I’m trying to understand why a nice letter would elicit a diatribe with many points about sexuality and porn. Some say that fear of porn has roots in childhood trauma and powerlessness. “Unlike erotic scenes in a movie or nude sculptures in a museum, pornography generally involves power dynamic, humiliation and a distortion of the reality around body and sexuality.”     

 The truth is, most abusers are parents or relatives. Teachers are much more likely to report abusers and suspected abuse.The tall tales about schools are part of the scheme to funnel money and minds to private, conservative schools, like the ones who taught Senator Ken all he knows.

The journalist sent specific examples. Senator Ken replied with unverified rumors and repeated blame. In other words, he was disrespectful of the letter writer, our schools, and of knowledge itself. Without documented evidence, we can’t say who created these controversies. Clearly, there are enough people in Iowa who have had trauma and are moved to vote for authoritarians who blame and stoke fear about the public schools and the libraries, evidence or not.

What can be learned from this exchange?