Suit alleges graphic sexual instruction (in school!?)

Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune ^ | 8.13.02 | CORY de VERA

[mhking]

Suit alleges graphic sexual instruction
Ashland parent seeks injunction against teacher.

By CORY de VERA of the Tribune’s staff

Published Tuesday, August 13, 2002

The mother of a Southern Boone County middle school student claims in a lawsuit that the district broke the law by allowing a teacher to describe in class her first sexual experience, methods of masturbation and how to perform oral sex.

The lawsuit, filed July 18 by Debra Clay of Ashland in Boone County Circuit Court, names teacher Sue Adams, Superintendent Mitch Holbrook and school board members. None has been served notice of the suit, however, because there are talks of a potential settlement, Clay’s attorney, Larry Marshall of Columbia, said.

Clay’s petition alleges that Adams’ instruction violates state law "in that it does not teach abstinence as the preferred choice of behavior, in that it does not stress that sexually transmitted diseases are serious and it is not a discussion of the possible emotional and psychological consequences of preadolescent and adolescent sexual activity," the suit says.

The lawsuit alleges that Adams last school year taught graphic sexual material to students in sixth grade and above, including a description of "her first sexual experience and … what a wonderful experience it was," how girls can use washing machines and bananas for self-gratification and the meaning of the term "69."

Clay further alleges that because the district failed to tell parents of the specific content of the sex-education instruction, it denied them the right to withdraw their children from a class they might have found objectionable. Her suit says parents complained about the material in the 2000-01 year, but officials did nothing.

Clay wants the court to issue a restraining order preventing Adams from teaching the material and to require the district to pay her legal costs and to tell parents of the content of sex-education curriculum.

Adams referred questions to Holbrook. Asked this morning if the district teaches students that abstinence is the preferred choice of sexual behavior, Holbrook answered "absolutely."

"I can tell you they filed a suit based upon some comments that the children told them were said in the classroom," Holbrook said. "Currently we are looking at it with the school lawyer. We investigate all allegations, but I can’t give details about anything specific."

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Reach Cory de Vera at (573) 815-1705 or cdevera@tribmail.com.

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[mhking]

Brings new meaning to "The Show-Me State."

[Jim Robinson]

Washing machines? Sheesh! If you've got kids in public schools, get them out!

[Ronin]

WASHING MACHINES????

Man.... I must REALLY be behind the times....

[Always Right]

You can really get off during the spin cycle....

[Jim Robinson]

Put's a whole new meaning to caught in a wringer.

[Born in a Rage]

bananas
Bananas? EWWWW!!!

[Senator Pardek]

WASHING MACHINES????

I'm in the Dark Ages, too. Whatever happened to a romantic bubble bath?

[Always Right]

Put's a whole new meaning to caught in a wringer.

That hurts just thinking about it.

[Born in a Rage]

bananas
Bananas? EWWWW!!! Sounds like the teacher went ape!

[mhking]

Put's a whole new meaning to caught in a wringer.

OUCH! I didn't need that picture, Jim!

[Born in a Rage]

To the men, re: the washing machine - ya sit on it - sheesh.

[Ciexyz]

Washing machines?! Naahh. If the vibrations from washing machines could give a girl a thrill, then the ladies in my college dorm would have been found lounging on top of them. It never happened.

[wattsmag2]

WASHING MACHINES????

Some sort of imbalance here. rrrrrbumprrrrbumprrrrbumprrrr

[hoosierboy]

[chance33_98]

If we taught our kids this they would take them away saying we were sexually abusing them. If someone's child mentioned to a teacher that their mommey told them all these things the teacher would notify authorities :my momma was telling me how to use X to gratify myself and how much fun sex is! - When the parents do it, it is suspect, when the teachers do it, they call it education.

[Faith]

This is what happens when you have an amoral, liberal juvenile teaching juveniles. Assuming that what Mrs. Clay states is true, the teacher should be driven out of town and banned from teaching altogether. I would have my child out of that school immediately and I would be certain that the school board and superintendent knew exactly why.

[Sabertooth]

Put's a whole new meaning to caught in a wringer.

Admittedly, the suggestion was for girls...

Still can't figure THAT out though.

[Ciexyz]

What happened to the embarrassment factor in health education classes? My high school had coed health classes and I still remember how embarrassed the students and teachers were when someone asked a really personal question. Kids are more open nowadays of course but I'd imagine they're not fully comfortable discussing extremely personal sexual issues. Or am I wrong?

[Ronin]

The only thing I could think of involved the agitator post and I am going to have to drink a LOT of beer to get that image out of my mind.

[Born in a Rage]

Kids are more open nowadays of course but I'd imagine they're not fully comfortable discussing extremely personal sexual issues.

True story: My niece (who was in 11th grade last year) had to go in front of her whole class and put a condom on a large neon purple plastic penis. I'm embarrassed even typing it, I can't imagine how humiliated she felt having been made to do that....this was in a school on Long Island.