Teacher says the word vagina in biology class.

[Witchyjoshy]

From what I understand, actually, there's a little bit more to the story -- unfortunately, the internet isn't necessarily immune to sensationalist reporting, so I'm finding a lot of articles saying more or less the exact same thing (I can't find any straightforward non-opinionated articles)

I did find one source but I'm not sure I trust it either, but it lines up with things I've heard elsewhere.

This doesn't mean that I don't believe this investigation to be bullshit, mind.

http://www.jdjournal.com/2013/03/27/idaho-science-teacher-investigated-for-teaching-methods/

McDaniel said that parents objected to him teaching the biology of an orgasm and used the word ‘vagina’ during the lesson on the reproductive system in a biology class for the tenth grade.
 
A letter from the Idaho State Department of Education to McDaniel outlined the allegations made against him. They include sharing confidential student documents with a person other than the students’ parents, teaching different forms of birth control, showing a video that depicted an infection of genital herpes and telling inappropriate jokes in class.

The first bolded bit may be important depending on the type of detail involved.

The second bolded bit, if it's true, is definitely wrong and terrible.

That being said, I think they're reaching for things, and that overall this new information doesn't change the fact that this is all bullshit.  Especially if they're citing teaching various methods of birth control as a problem.

[Osama bin Bambi]

In my experience, sexual education in American high schools does not teach students how to actually have sex in a safe and enjoyable way. Like, at all. They mostly talk about STDs and pregnancy, go over basic anatomy in a way that makes genitalia really boring, and spend about five seconds on condoms.

[Caitshidhe]

Like in 'Mean Girls'. IF YOU HAVE SEX, YOU WILL GET CHLAMYDIA, AND DIE!!!

[Lt. Fred]

The religious right continues its millennia-long campaign to needlessly ram as much puerile stupidity into the orifices of humanity as can possibly fit.

[Her3tiK]

In my experience, sexual education in American high schools does not teach students how to actually have sex in a safe and enjoyable way. Like, at all. They mostly talk about STDs and pregnancy, go over basic anatomy in a way that makes genitalia really boring, and spend about five seconds on condoms.

That's pretty much what I remember.

[Itachirumon]

My first sex ed class was in 4th grade, and medical terms were used.

So was my experience - with a video. Of course we had our parents around. We were told that "If you laugh you're immature" - right before the video promptly showed a time-lapse diagram/simulation of an erecting penis (it was drawn) - even most of the adults were snickering.

[Art Vandelay]

In my primary school sex ed, we were given the all clear to giggle like morons as much as we damn well pleased. I suppose the teacher realised that trying to stop a bunch of 11 year olds from laughing at penises and vaginas was a completely futile endeavour.

[Caitshidhe]

...actually, I'm pretty sure I remember the teacher telling us all to get it out of our systems BEFORE the actual lesson started. And kept repeating 'PENIS. VAGINA. TESTICLES. BREASTS. ERECTION,' over and over, while a class of ten-year-old kids laughed until the words weren't funny anymore. I don't think anybody laughed, except one guy who was the class asshole and got sent from the room and spent the rest of the lesson outside the door pounding on it until someone too him to the office.

[SpaceProg]

Man, these stories take me back...

[Osama bin Bambi]

Our sex education in elementary school was sex-segregated. Apparently in the boys' class, if you laughed at a word you had to go up to the front of the room and say it five times.

[TheL]

http://gawker.com/5992659/saying-vagina-during-biology-class-leads-to-investigation-of-idaho-science-teacher

High schoolers aren't old enough to hear words like that!

...It's a biology class.  How the fuck are you supposed to talk about reproduction without naming the organs involved?

And once again, I feel like the odd one out.  The existence of sex was glossed over until I was in high school, and sex ed mostly consisted of the word "Don't."

[Caitshidhe]

That does sum up the bulk of modern religious 'sex education'...

[R. U. Sirius]

Talk about a bunch of five-year-olds. I hope they realize that, unless they plan on forcing their children to live with them for the rest of their lives, they're going to be exposed to horrifying words like "vagina." And with such sheltering, at least some of them are going to freak the hell out once they're living on their own, without mommy and daddy to shield everything.

I'm reminded of a couple of joke mugs I've seen in novelty magazines.

In one, a little boy and girl are shown in the bathroom (nude from behind). Boy: "No, you can't touch it! You already broke yours off!"

In another, they're shown with the boy balancing on top of the girl's head like in a circus act.
Boy: "Well, we took our clothes off and I climbed on top of you. When does it start feeling good?"
Girl: "I don't know, but I'm already getting a headache!"

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

http://gawker.com/5992659/saying-vagina-during-biology-class-leads-to-investigation-of-idaho-science-teacher

High schoolers aren't old enough to hear words like that!

...It's a biology class.  How the fuck are you supposed to talk about reproduction without naming the organs involved?

If you think that's bad, wait until they start discussing "pee pee envy."

[nickiknack]

VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA

In my experience, sexual education in American high schools does not teach students how to actually have sex in a safe and enjoyable way. Like, at all. They mostly talk about STDs and pregnancy, go over basic anatomy in a way that makes genitalia really boring, and spend about five seconds on condoms.

This is basically what it was all about, its sad that we have to be such prudes about sex.