School Boards Approve Pornographic Books While Grandparents Organize to Protect Children

On January 23, 2024, Cain, Lis Richard, Linda White, and Steve McKenna joined the show. Exposed graphic sexual content in school library books and detailed his organization’s two-year effort to challenge inappropriate materials in northern Colorado school districts Announced the Center for American Values’ first live On Values presentation featuring Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix for JROTC cadets nationwide Discussed founding Grandparents for Kids.

Pornographic Books in School Libraries

Start listening at 31:01 – Hour 1

Cain, founder of Task Force Freedom in northern Colorado, exposes the graphic sexual content available to children in public school libraries. His organization spent two years investigating and challenging books like “Gender Queer,” which contains illustrations depicting adult-child sexual contact. Despite formal challenges, school districts have approved these books claiming “literary value.”

Cain details how school administrators defend pornographic material while government agencies would shut down broadcasters for using the same language. He emphasizes this is not about banning books but about age-appropriateness and parental rights. His organization maintains a database of challenged books at taskforcefreedomnoco.com and recommends alternative schools including American Legacy Academy, Liberty Commons, Heritage Heights Academy, and Christian Core Academy.

“When you sexualize children, when they’re young, their brains are not formed well enough to handle that. They become hyper sexual little people. And this is what adults are doing to our kids.”

Cain, Founder of Task Force Freedom

Center for American Values Inaugural Event

Start listening at 18:09 – Hour 1

Lis Richard announces the Center for American Values’ inaugural live “On Values” presentation featuring Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix. The Thursday event connects JROTC cadets from Pueblo with students across Colorado, Kentucky, Wyoming, Arkansas, Alabama, and Virginia via live stream. The program aims to introduce young people to American heroes and their values.

Richard describes Drew Dix as a humble, well-spoken “old cowboy” who passionately challenges young people to live with purpose. The Center, founded by Dix and Emmy Award-winning documentarian Brad Padula, features the Portraits of Valor gallery honoring Medal of Honor recipients. The event is open to the public at AmericanValueCenter.org.

“But he just wants to challenge these young cadets. And every time I’ve heard him speak, he wants to challenge young people. He has such a heart for the youth. It’s just inspiring to be around him.”

Lis Richard, Center for American Values

Grandparents Mobilize to Reform Education

Start listening at 69:22 – Hour 2

Linda White, founder of Grandparents for Kids, explains how COVID lockdowns awakened grandparents to what was happening in schools. With eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, she spent two years developing the organization before launching after winning a $3,000 speech contest promoting her idea.

Grandparents for Kids organizes into county chapters across Colorado, with groups now forming in Boulder, Holyoke, Douglas County, and Jefferson County. The organization hosts Brave Books story hours as an “antidote” to drag queen story hours, with Kirk Cameron as the face of the book series that teaches morals and integrity through stories. White emphasizes that 70 million American grandparents represent a powerful untapped force for education reform.

“Like most people, after COVID or during COVID, so many of us became aware of what’s going on in our schools. And with eight grandkids and two great-grandkids, I have a vested interest in what’s going on in schools.”

Linda White, Founder of Grandparents for Kids

Cherry Creek Schools Failing Despite Premier Reputation

Start listening at 76:40 – Hour 2

Steve McKenna, former Navy carrier pilot and Cherry Creek School Board candidate, reveals shocking academic failures in the once-premier district. Half of students cannot read at grade level, and 60% fail math proficiency tests. Rather than address academics, the district eliminated valedictorians as “harmful.”

McKenna describes his 2023 school board campaign where opponents formed a dark money PAC stealing his “Inspiring Excellence” tagline, raising $157,000 for personal attacks rather than debating ideas. He notes schools now focus on “equity, whole well-being” rather than academics, with mental health discussions crowding out reading and math instruction. Despite not yet being a grandfather, McKenna joined Grandparents for Kids’ board to fight for educational reform.

“The facts are that on the CMAS, half the kids don’t test at grade level in English, and 60% fail to test at grade level in math. And the school’s solution to that, my wife and I learned, was to cancel valedictorians and get rid of those because they’re harmful.”

Steve McKenna, Grandparents for Kids Board Member