I suppose arresting him is one way for the school board to avoid accountability.
GILFORD, N.H. — Parents said they are trying to understand why Gilford High School is requiring some students to read a book that includes a graphic sexual encounter.
School district officials said the book, “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult, has important themes in its story about a school shooting, but parents said the message is overshadowed by one disturbing page.
The book contains a description of rough sex between two teenagers. Although the book has been read by Gilford students in the past, this year parents were not made aware of it until their kids already had a copy of the book.
“I am utterly appalled that this was an oversight, that my son had this book in his hand for a week. (It’s) unacceptable,” said Sarah Carrigan, a parent.
William Baer was handcuffed and escorted out of a meeting Monday night about the book.
“You are going to arrest me because I violated the two-minute rule?” Baer said. “I guess you are going to have to arrest me.”
“I fully understand how he feels. It really is a huge violation,” said Barbara Baer, his wife.
Shortly before their daughter was supposed to read the book, the Baers found page 313, which details a graphic sexual encounter.
“Why should those ideas be put in their mind. They can discuss this some other way. They don’t need that kind of imagery,” Barbara Baer said.
William Baer was charged with disorderly conduct.