Today, we turn our attention to a powerful and heart-wrenching testimony given by Maya Ray, a 16-year-old junior at a Tempe Union High School District meeting.
Her words, spoken with the courage of a young woman who has endured sexual assault, expose the urgent need to shield our children from explicit and harmful content in school libraries and beyond.
Her plea is a clarion call for parents, educators, and believers to protect the innocence of our youth.
“This is not rare. This is not okay. But this is today.”
Maya Ray
Tempe Union High Student
A Young Voice Speaking Truth
Maya Ray, representing herself at the school board meeting, shared a sobering reality: one in three girls and one in five boys experience sexual assault, with 19% of youth aged 10 to 17 facing sexual harassment or assault.
As a survivor, she spoke from personal experience, highlighting the vulnerability of young minds.
“Young minds are like open doors,” she said, “eager to learn, grow, and absorb the world around them.”
Yet, when exposed to trauma—such as sexually explicit or violent content—these open doors can lead to lasting harm, damaging a child’s ability to trust, learn, and develop healthily.
Maya’s testimony struck a deeply personal chord when she shared that her six-year-old nephew was exposed to sexually inappropriate and violent content.
This is not an isolated incident but a pervasive issue in our schools and communities.
As Maya declared, “This is not rare. This is not okay. But this is today.”
Her words demand that we confront the reality that children are encountering material their hearts and minds are not equipped to handle.
The Vulnerability of Innocence
Children are naturally curious, openhearted, and trusting—qualities that make them precious but also vulnerable.
Maya emphasized that predators exploit this innocence, slipping into spaces where supervision and protections are inadequate.
Schools and libraries, meant to be safe havens for learning, can become places where innocence is lost if we fail to guard them diligently.
As Proverbs 22:6 instructs, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Allowing explicit content in school libraries undermines this biblical mandate, exposing children to influences that can lead them astray.
A Call to Responsibility
Maya’s testimony underscores the responsibility of parents, educators, and those in authority to protect children.
Schools must ensure that libraries are free from explicit or violent materials that exploit young minds.
Arizona law (ARS 15-120.02) is clear: sexually explicit content in school libraries requires prior parental notice, written consent, and alternative assignments.
Yet, as Maya’s words and the previous gentleman’s testimony reveal, these protections are not being consistently enforced.
This failure leaves children vulnerable to predators who “slip into the gaps where supervision is missing.”
As believers, we are called to be vigilant stewards of our children’s well-being.
Psalm 127:3
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Psalm 127:3 reminds us that “children are a heritage from the Lord.”
To honor this gift, we must ensure that schools and libraries are places where young minds are shaped for righteousness, not exposed to harm.
The presence of inappropriate materials in school libraries is not just a policy issue—it is a moral failing that demands immediate action.
A Path Forward
It Is Our Duty calls on the Tempe Union High School District to act decisively to remove sexually explicit and violent content from its libraries. We urge the following steps:
- Enforce Arizona Law: Comply with ARS 15-120.02 by ensuring no explicit material is accessible without parental consent and providing alternative assignments.
- Increase Transparency: Notify parents of all library materials and allow them to review content before it reaches their children.
- Strengthen Oversight: Implement rigorous screening processes to ensure only age-appropriate, educationally valuable materials are available in school libraries.
We also call on parents and community members to attend school board meetings, review library catalogs, and advocate for policies that protect our children.
As Maya’s testimony shows, even our youth recognize the stakes. Her courage should inspire us all to stand for righteousness.
A Prayer for Protection
Let us close with a prayer inspired by Psalm 91:4:
Psalm 91:4
“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge”:Heavenly Father, we entrust our children to Your care, asking You to shield them from harm and preserve their innocence.
Grant wisdom to educators and courage to parents to protect young minds from explicit and violent influences.
Embolden us to stand for righteousness in our schools, guided by Your truth. May we create safe spaces where our children can grow in Your love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maya Ray’s testimony is a powerful reminder that the fight to protect our children is urgent and ongoing.
It Is Our Duty will continue to advocate for the removal of inappropriate materials from Arizona’s schools and hold boards accountable.
Share this post, engage with your local school board, and join us in safeguarding our children’s future.
Together, we can ensure our schools reflect the biblical values that honor God and protect our youth.
