Prairie State Wire

Jeanne Ives recently commented on the inclusion of "The School for Good Mothers" in the curriculum at Batavia High School. Her remarks were made in a December 19 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Batavia High School is not the only school having minors read porn," said M Ives, Founder. "We thank the citizens who alerted us to the rot being taught in their school. It should serve as a warning for parents and other community members to keep a close watch on your schools."

"The School for Good Mothers," authored by Jessamine Chan and published by Ampersand Books in 2022, tells the story of Frida Liu. According to Ampersand Books, Liu's career does not meet her parents' expectations, and she struggles with her husband's infidelity. However, she finds solace in her relationship with her daughter until an unfortunate day draws government scrutiny. This leads to a potential evaluation of her maternal capabilities, risking the loss of custody over her child.

Screenshot of Jeanne Ives' Dec. 19 post on X | X

Ives included a link to Breakthrough Ideas in her post, where Laurie Higgins further explored the subject. According to Higgins, there are questions regarding the criteria for book selection in schools and who establishes these standards. She emphasizes that the public should have access to this information.

Higgins criticizes Batavia English teacher Marnie Heim's choice to teach the novel, describing it as "a dystopian novel about government intrusiveness and oppression, societal expectations regarding motherhood, sexual inequality, race, and homosexuality." Higgins argues that such selections are politically motivated.

She points out three scenes involving sexual content or implications within the book and suggests that educators often justify their choices with various thematic or literary arguments. However, Higgins claims they rarely admit personal biases influencing their teaching material preferences. Following parental complaints, the book was removed from the school's English curriculum.

Jeanne Ives is a former Illinois State Representative who served six years representing House District 42. She ran for governor in 2018 and sought election to represent Illinois’ 6th Congressional District in 2020.