Complaints by scandalized Dietrich parents include: using the word “vagina,” and teaching different forms of birth control during a class on the reproductive system.
Tim McDaniel, a science teacher in Dietrich, Idaho, is being investigated by the Idaho Professional Standards Commission after several parents filed a complaint objecting to the way McDaniel taught the reproductive system in his 10th grade biology class. According to the Times-News,
The state investigation includes allegations that McDaniel taught sex education material in his science class, taught forms of birth control, shared confidential student files with an individual other than their parents, told inappropriate jokes and showed a video clip in class that showed a genital herpes infection.
He [McDaniel] said that the 10th grade science class includes information on birth control and sexually transmitted diseases because the school’s health teacher declines to teach the material.
“Since I started working here about 17 years ago, I agreed to teach about the reproduction system because I was comfortable with it and he wasn’t,” McDaniel said. “This is the first time someone has objected to the material … I teach straight out of the textbook, I don’t include anything that the textbook doesn’t mention. But I give every student the option not attend this class when I teach on the reproductive system if they don’t feel comfortable with the material.”
Apparently the commission is also investigating a complaint that McDaniel is “using school property to promote a political candidate.” This complaint stems from his use of the video “An Inconvenient Truth” in his science class to teach about climate change. McDaniel said that after they watch the film, the students are asked to write a short paper explaining what they learned from the movie and their thoughts on climate change.
Kate Norman, one of the parents who brought the complaint before the school board said, “As a parent, I want to be notified in advance that this content is going to be taught in class.” And although McDaniel does not feel he has done anything wrong, he has said that next year he will be sure to give parents plenty of information on all material to be taught in his class.
Dietrich Superintendent Neil Hollingshead told the Times-News that although there is an on-going investigation, McDaniel has not been suspended. He said, “It is highly unlikely it would end with his dismissal. Maybe a letter of reprimand from the school board.” But McDaniel has said that he will refuse to sign if the school board sends a letter of reprimand. He said, “It’s important to teach this to kids. Hopefully, the students are being abstinent but most of these students will be getting married a year or two after graduation and they need to know about this.”
Photo: AP/File
Wait, what? Frankly, I think this is irresponsible; 10th grade is way to late to teach human reproduction and birth control. They idea that parents need to know before basic stuff like this is presented to kids is laughable. We’re not talking 10 year olds here.
And the idea that it’s wrong for kids to learn the proper names for their own body parts? Grrr.
Would the term “Ba-jingo” be better here?
(Elliot’s word for the dreaded “vagina” when she gets confronted by Kelso in “Scrubs”)
“Vee-jay-jay?” Is that from Oprah?
Gosh, though, I hope he didn’t mean “vulva.” The promiscuous use of the word vagina for anything “down there” is really irritating. Viz: “Vagina” Monologues. It completely disempowers the pleasure parts of the vulva.
If you can’t even mention the word vagina, lots of luck teaching young Idahoans about the clitoris.
He warned them ahead of time. He made that part of the class optional. He followed the textbook chosen by the school/district and used all the words found therein. He followed the pre-approved syllabus and class description. Perhaps he could have given more and better warning to parents. Maybe he was too cavalier in his language during the class and used jokes that some might be offended by. Those are all valid issues. I can’t help noticing in the article that he’s been teaching this stuff for 17 years at the same school, so it’s not like he sprung this… Read more »
Perhaps the text of the linked article has changed, but the word “vagina” doesn’t even appear in it. I have no idea whether this teacher did anything inappropriate or not – hopefully the investigation will figure that out – but whatever they’re looking into, it sure doesn’t sound like it’s “for using the word ‘vagina’ in a biology class”.
I’m sorry, but this is simply ridiculous. The teacher more than covered his bases if he gave an ultimatum stating that students did not have to come to class if they were not willing to learn the information, which I think is perfectly legitimate. Our high school sex ed program consisted of the same thing, and honestly, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the word vagina comes up in the class. What word would you use instead? Fun bits? Lady parts? Why is it wrong to use correct terminology? The only thing I think stands for argument is forms… Read more »
“What word would you use instead? Fun bits? Lady parts? Why is it wrong to use correct terminology?”
I think he was suppsoed to say “hoo-hoo.”
Just wait until the drama club does “The Vagina Monologues”….
April fools!!! Right? Right? Please say April Fools!
Is this in a bible belt area? We learned what a vagina was in like 4th grade here in Australia…
By the time their little snowflakes were 12, they’ve probably seen enough pornography where they know every word possible for female body parts. So yeah, lets teach them that using the word “vagina” is terrible while they continue to get their education about sex from pornographers and pornstars. Come on parents, wake up.