"Florida school board fires high school teacher who gave condom demonstration"

Chris Austin

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: I'm curious - what do you think was "over the top"? I think the use of props and mood music. Mainly because, I know that kids aren't stupid and I rember what It was like to be a horrny 17 year old ... lets face it using a condom isn't hard(punn intended). Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: The school policy appears to be to leave the kids totally ignorant (i.e. let them figure it out for themselves). I agree that bennifits of safe sex and contraceptives should be taught. But again I think he took it too far. Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: I wonder who (the sacked teacher or the school heads) is more irresponsible? Tough one. Ultimately I think that this stuff should covered by the children's parents and blaming the school is just another excuse. And his excuse of not knowing just sounds like an attempt at "It is eaiser to ask for forgiveness than permission" that I am sure we have all tried. What Would Uncle Steve Do?. -Michael Martin

Shog9 0

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: What do you all think? I think if his wife is in labor, then the demonstration likely won't do much for those kids... :rolleyes: Ok, seriously - schools, public or otherwise, have one primary reason for existing (as much as they'd like to believe otherwise): to teach kids things their parents want them to know but can't teach themselves. Not to teach what The State, The Elite, or The Loudest Voices in The Community want them to know. Now, this may not happen often (or ever), but in most places the parents still have some say in what their children are being taught. From the sound of things, Mr. Nicholas did not consult the parents, or even school officials beforehand. Therefore, both have every reason to be upset. Whether the kids are better off informed or not is not relevant. You are a parent yourself Anna, and i've little doubt there aren't a few things you'd rather not have your children informed of, or would at least prefer to be warned beforehand so you can talk to them yourself. The man overstepped his authority and should be reprimanded.

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Shog9 I see the way the salesmen stare into the sun I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one...

Mike Gaskey

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: Surely its better that kids are informed rather than ignorant. What do you all think? It is the parent's job, not the state's. Teaching condom use gives implicit permission for sex outside of marriage. Whoa! you say. Sorry, still believe it is a parent's responsibility. The parents may be teaching abstinence and classroom instruction then runs against what the parents are teaching. Mike

Stan Shannon

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: What do you all think? I would want him fired if he tried such an improptu demonstration in my child's school. The school system has no business subverting my right as a parent to teach my child what I think they need to know about such issues. Unless the parents in the community specifically permit such a demonstration for their children the school system should not assume the responsibility to do so on its own. "Any clod can have the facts, but having opinions is an art." Charles McCabe, San Francisco Chronicle

Chris Losinger

Mike Gaskey wrote: Teaching condom use gives implicit permission for sex outside of marriage the hell it does. married people can use a condom, too.

A | B - it's not a choice.

ThumbNailer

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

In all honesty, if that had happened at my kids school I wouldn't have been upset at all - in fact I'd have been angry with the school if they'd refused to allow such a demonstration to happen. Whether the teacher was daft not to conult on school policy isn't in doubt I think...my question was whether it should be tought, and whether the guy should have been dismissed for what seems to me like raising a subject the school doesn't want taught. Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Kant

1. Condom 2. Mood lighting 3. Music 4. A Banana Audience : Ninth-graders End Result : Fired! What else the teacher is expecting? X| Kant Sonork-100.28114 Don't :beer: and Drive.

Chris Austin

Mike Gaskey wrote: Teaching condom use gives implicit permission for sex outside of marriage. I've never bought that. What Would Uncle Steve Do?. -Michael Martin

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

All I can say is that we all know how seriously we think many parents take that sort of responsibility. Why should sex eduction be any different from (say) Maths, English etc.? Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Mike Gaskey

Chris Losinger wrote: married people can use a condom, too If they're in the ninth grade and married then I don't care, but it doesn't change the fact that this is the parent's responsibility. Mike

Mike Gaskey

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: Why should sex eduction be any different from (say) Maths, English etc.? What would you say about a class on the use and maintenance of a hand gun? Mike

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

As a parent myself I can understand that. On the general issue - do you think kids should receive sex education at school...even on an opt-in/opt-out basis? When I was in secondary school we did (as part of a Human Biology course), but the parents had the right to opt out. To my knowledge, no-one did. Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Anna Jayne Metcalfe

I can't see how you'd do such a demonstration without at least the major props...and a banana or carrot is probably infinitely preferable to a more realistic alternative such as a dildo when dealing with kids. As for the so-called "mood lighting" and music, so what? It's probably a damn good way to get the kids attention and make the think instead of giggling uncontrollably. If he was playing blue movies to them, that would be an entirely different thing. Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Shog9 0

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: In all honesty, if that had happened at my kids school I wouldn't have been upset at all Probably not. But my point was that there are most likely other subjects you'd rather, if not teach yourself, at least have a heads-up on when your kids will be exposed to. Whether such subjects would ever be taught in a UK school i couldn't say; it maybe you are one of the lucky parents whose views align perfectly with those of the teaching profession. But i doubt it... Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: my question was whether it should be taught, and whether the guy should have been dismissed for what seems to me like raising a subject the school doesn't want taught. He is an employee of the school, who are employed by the state, who are (*cough* nominally *cough*) employed by the public. If at your place of employment you start work on a project your employer doesn't want you doing, you don't think you'd deserve a rebuke?

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Shog9 I see the way the salesmen stare into the sun I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one...

Shog9 0

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: If he was playing blue movies to them, that would be an entirely different thing. 1) why? 2) what's a blue movie? 3) is it what i think it is? 4) why am i asking these questions in the wrong order?

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Shog9 I see the way the salesmen stare into the sun I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one...

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

Oh come on! You can't compare sex education with teaching kids how to use an instrument of death. :wtf: However, there is a case for teaching kids (unarmed) self defence - and especially girls. That's rather different to teaching them to shoot people, don't you think? Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Chris Austin

Mike Gaskey wrote: What would you say about a class on the use and maintenance of a hand gun? LOL!...Reminds me of the "talk" my dad and I had about the original topic when I was a kid. What Would Uncle Steve Do?. -Michael Martin

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

Please tell me you're not serious! :omg: A blue movie is a "porno" in Yankish. ;) Now can you see why I drew the distinction between them? Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Shog9 0

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: You can't compare sex education with teaching kids how to use an instrument of death. Sure you can. Both are controversial, both are things some parents would probably prefer not to have taught to their kids, or would prefer to teach themselves. Certain CPians believe both instruments of death and instruments of procreation should be tightly under government control. Why, in the current context, they're practically identical...!

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Shog9 I see the way the salesmen stare into the sun I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one...

Mike Gaskey

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: Oh come on! You can't compare sex education with teaching kids how to use an instrument of death. That was the reaction I was looking for. The point is that subjects such as these are the responsibility of the parents. You say, "instrument of death" and I say, "instrument of self defense" or "an instrument for sport". Who is right? Here's a hint, it depends upon the parents. Mike