Just an “honest mistake.”
Via The Daily Mail: Parents of fourth-graders at an Oregon elementary school were ‘furious’ to discover that their children – some as young as nine – had read an explicit sex education book featuring cartoons of sex acts and masturbation, Fox 12 Oregon reported Thursday.
In a letter to parents, Hudson Park Elementary School admitted that copies of ‘It’s Perfectly Normal,’ a guide to sexual health aimed at children ten and up, were passed around to students. It added that the book, which is about ‘changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health,’ was actually intended for the school’s sixth-graders.
‘Inappropriate human development and sexuality books were disseminated to students who had library,’ the letter read. ‘Procedures have been put into place to make sure this doesn’t happen again. All questionable books have been pulled from library shelves.’
Principal Blakeley
The school’s principal, Heidi Blakely, also apologized, Fox reported. The book is aimed at children aged 10 and up, and features cartoon depictions of male and female teens and adults. Acts featured in the drawings include male and female masturbation, and sex. It also discusses subjects such as homosexuality, puberty and menstruation. It is on the state’s list of approved books, the school said.
The school added that the incident was an ‘honest mistake,’ and that the book had originally been read by sixth graders who had left copies out, leading to the fourth graders finding and reading them.
However, some parents who did not want to be named to protect their kids told Fox 12 that the school’s librarian showed the children the books directly and encouraged them to take it home. They were angry that the book was allowed in the library, especially as they had not been warned.
The school told Fox 12 that the librarian had been disciplined and an investigation was ongoing, but that they did not want to say anything else as it was ‘a personnel issue.’
In the letter to parents it also said that policies regarding which books were allowed in the library were being discussed, and the school will notify parents ahead of sex education classes so their children can opt out if they are uncomfortable.
The American Library Association placed ‘It’s Perfectly Normal’ at number 12 on its list of the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books, 2000-2009.
DCG