Ohio High School Porn Homework Canceled

A high school freshman class was assigned a research project on Internet pornography. Parents became concerned and complained to the school when they discovered the topic of the homework assignment.

Students in Scott Gioia's health class at Brooklyn High School were told to write five paragraphs that included research on the porn industry, pornography's effect on society, and students' personal views on pornography and censorship.

But when acting Principal Ted Holop fielded telephone calls from three concerned parents Wednesday night, Superintendent Jeff Lampert convened a meeting with Holop and Gioia.

They reviewed the assignment and decided collectively to "pull the plug on the lesson," Lampert said Friday.

Callers on Thursday to a radio talk show on WTAM incited a frenzied debate, which led to more sensational coverage on three evening newscasts.

With new reports of teachers having sex with students turning up every day one can hardly be surprised by the reaction, unless you are a school official or professional therapist.

The reaction astonished Lampert, who said he didn't quite understand why someone would be compelled to go to the media.

Barbara Padgett, a Lorain therapist who works with trauma and sexual abuse victims, said the assignment could have served some purpose.

"I don't think educating young people on the impact on pornography is a bad idea," she said after learning about the controversy from a reporter.

"As a feminist and as a therapist, I think that educating young people can be a good thing," said Padgett, speaking for herself and not on behalf of the Greater Cleveland NOW (National Organization for Women) chapter, of which she is president

The problem is not the intent, it rarely is, but the content and context of the assignment. Few people outside of the legal and psychological professions will disagree that porn is a dangerous influence on society in general and young people in particular. Parents being the only persons who will be involved with their children through their child's whole life should be consulted before any subject such as this is presented. Not considering the parent's wishes is nothing new for any school system.

Education professionals often presume the inadequacy of parent's willingness and ability to instruct their children, even on issues of morality. The typical reasoning for sex education and other such instruction is they want the kids to get facts in the classroom rather than bogus information on the street. The problem is that the results are counter productive. The home school and school voucher movements are a direct result of parents trying to regain control over the moral teaching of their own children in the face of the public school system ignoring or distraining their intrusts. This is why Superintendent Jeff Lampert is puzzled by parents venting to the local media.

Ultimately the issue comes down to who's children are they? Are they to be raised by the parents or the village? The village won't be there to pick up the pieces later in life as a parent will.

Carlnival of the Clueless #29