Teachers, take the Fifth
What's a teacher's job? Kids ask questions; teachers answer them, right?When it's, "Why is the sky blue?" Go for it.
But when a question comes up in a sex education class seething with raging hormones, teach better sit down and scrutinize state law.
A group of Herriman parents want the head of a middle school health teacher who fielded questions about gay sex, oral sex and masturbation. (I wish I had been in the class, I've got a few knowledge gaps, myself.)
Of course, this being Utah, it gets even more ridiculous. A local law maker — up for re-election — has hopped on issue. Rep. Carl Wimmer says he'll make it a criminal offense for a teacher to answer a question that might encourage sex.
I wonder why Utah has a teacher shortage? Let's see: lousy pay, overcrowded classrooms, no respect and the possibility of being thrown in the pokey and having your name put in a public database if you answer the wrong question. Yeah, sign me up.
Who in their right mind would go into teaching in this state?
Wimmer, pandering as fast as he can, complains that the only repercussions for answering nasty questions is administrative, that is the principal handles it as an employee matter. Wimmer, an ex-cop, wants to drag the entire criminal justice system into it. And this guy calls himself a small-government Republican.
Once again, kids prove they have more sense and courage than the adults who run their world. Students at the school posted signs supporting the teacher:
We were the ones asking her questions.
5 Comments:
I strongly disagree with what this teacher did and feel the parents' outrage is justified.
However, to make this a criminal act is absurdity in its most refined form.
Hopefully, things will cool off and Rep. Wimmer will jump on the next piece of buoyant political trash floating downstream.
I can't believe this. Utah would prefer to keep its children ignorant? Although I have no idea what was actually discussed in the class (the Trib was pretty vague on that), I'm assuming that this teacher was just doing her best to field legitimate questions from curious kids. Now what have the kids learned? Keep your yap shut, because some questions will get get your teacher in trouble and cause an uproar. Better to live in ignorance! How stupid. But that's part of the culture here. Utahns teach their kids that some questions just shouldn't be asked.
My two oldest children brought home release forms for me to sign PRIOR to these classes being taught. As far as I know all parents have the option to opt out of these conversations. (I live in this area of the valley.) My dad taught me something that i think might apply to this situation. "I'm okay if they teach my kids something wrong. I can correct it. I'm okay if they teach my kid's too deeply. We can discuss it, or they'll forget the overage of information. I can't tolerate them teaching my kids nothing. Then my kids are told that the information isn't important. Sex education is important. I can discuss what is taught to my kids with them and share why we believe in our moral stand on behaviors that don't fit what is taught.
Kudos to Laura Lee, I knew of someone who no longer can substitute teach at a certain Junior High for the serious crime of using the word "breast" in class. Oh fer ignerrnt!
Few teachers have lousy pay. Most have great pay, but much of it comes in the form of gold-plated benefits for healthcare and retirement.
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