PHM appreciates the opportunity to partner with our parents and community in preparing students for college and career readiness.
Per Indiana Code 20-26-5.5 that went into effect January 1, 2024, Penn-Harris-Madison has an established procedure by which parents/guardians can object to instructional materials. The process is outlined in P-H-M Board Policy 9130. Under Indiana code this form may be filled out by a parent or community member who believes a book meets the legal definition of being harmful or obscene, and should be removed. Respondents to this form will receive confirmation of receipt from the building principal following submission.
Per Indiana code, material is deemed "obscene" (IC 35-49-2-1) if:
(1)the average person, applying contemporary community standards, finds that the dominant theme of the matter or performance, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in sex;
(2) the matter or performance depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct; and
(3) the matter or performance, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
Per Indiana code, material is deemed "Harmful to minors" (IC 35-49-2-2) if:
(1) it describes or represents, in any form, nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse;
(2) considered as a whole, it appeals to the prurient interest in sex of minors;
(3) it is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable matter for or performance before minors; and
(4) considered as a whole, it lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
