A religious school in the UK is apologizing after the headteacher gave children an assignment that asked them to define different sorts of graphic pornography.
The children, ages 11 to 14 at the Archbishop Sentamu Academy were given the homework as part of their Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) class, a school curriculum subject which focuses on ‘developing the knowledge, skills and attributes to keep children and young people healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work.’
The ‘knowledge-developing’ assignment involved a teacher asking 11 to 14-year-olds to ‘define’ hardcore pornography, transsexual pornography, revenge pornography, sexting, softcore pornography, wet dreams, female genital mutilation, breast ironing, and more.
Thankfully, the assignment outraged parents who took it up with the school, resulting in a quick apology. The parents were fearful that the children might look up the definitions of these topics online, but Principal Chay Bell stressed that it wouldn’t have required that, as the answers were in the material the students had. (as if that is any better)
The principal said “I am genuinely sorry if parents or students have unnecessarily researched any of these phrases and for any offence caused by this mistake.”
Given that the topics were fully in line with governmental plans for this course, we don’t see how a mistake was made form their perspective.
In an effort to further assuage parents, Principal Bell added “I have asked that no future PSHE materials contain any potentially sensitive content and will ensure all materials are fully age-appropriate.”
