Mayor Calls on School Board to Resign Over Curriculum, Threatens Child Porn Charges

Hudson Ohio Mayor, Craig Shubert, addressed the September 13 Hudson School Board meeting, threatening child pornography charges against board members who would not resign. At issue was a class textbook of writing prompts, some of which were sexual in nature and otherwise inappropriate according to the mayor and many parents.

The mayor said:

It has come to my attention that your educators are distributing essentially what is child pornography in the classroom. I’ve spoken to a judge this evening and she’s already confirmed that. So I’m going to give you a simple choice: either choose to resign from this board of education or you will be charged.

Monica Havens, a former high school teacher whose daughter was in the class where the textbook was used read out some of the controversial prompts from the book, 642 Things to Write About:

• Choose how you will die.
• Write a scene that begins: ‘It was the first time I killed a man.’
• Describe your favorite part of a man’s body using only verbs.
• You have a dream that you’ve murdered someone. Who is it, how and why did the murder happen, and what happens afterward?
• You are a serial killer. What TV shows are on your DVR list? Why?
• The kill fee.
• Write a sex scene you wouldn’t show your mom.
• Rewrite the sex scene from above into one that you’d let your mom read.
• You have just been caught in bed by a jealous spouse. How will you talk your way out of this?
• Write a sermon for a beloved preacher who has been caught in a sex scandal.
• Describe a time when you wanted to orgasm but couldn’t.
• Ten euphemisms for sex.
• You are a brand-new suicide-hotline counselor. Describe how you feel during the course of your first call.
• Write a letter from the point of view of a drug addict.
• Drink a beer. Write about the taste.
• Write an X-rated Disney scenario.
• A roomful of people who want to sleep together.
• The first time you had sex.”

A local police officer also spoke during the meeting, suggesting that if police officers wear body cameras with limited public interactions, cameras might be needed in classrooms to monitor what is taught throughout the day. “You guys have our kids all day and we don’t know what’s going on in the classrooms,” he said.

High School Principal Brian Wilch was remorseful at the meeting, saying, 

There are times we need to take a step back, reflect and get better. …We did not exercise our due diligence when we reviewed this resource and we overlooked several prompts that were not appropriate.

The following Monday the High School issued an apology.

The school board has said it will not resign but is investigating the matter. Board president David Zuro said in a statement:

In its official capacity, the Board of Education will be ensuring that a thorough investigation and process review has taken place and will utilize the results of the investigation to determine any necessary actions to be taken. While we respect the Mayor’s position within the City of Hudson, in accordance with the State laws of Ohio, the supervision of the public schools of this District is the responsibility of the Board of Education. At this time, no Board of Education member has indicated any intention to resign.