Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
chapter
Regulations Governing Local School Boards and School Divisions [8 VAC 20 ‑ 720]
Action Amendments Regarding Use of Controversial or Sensitive Instructional Materials
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 1/15/2014
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1/15/14  1:43 pm
Commenter: A former FCPS student

support amendment
 

I think this amendment makes sense because currently parents are able to opt their kids out of sexual education programs which are arguably discuss less ‘sensitive’ material than some of the topics in books currently read in classrooms. I personally attended an FCPS high school, and went on to attend a top state university. My sophomore year in high school I was assigned Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies for my AP World History summer assignment and was expected to write a summary on a chapter that included the topic of bestiality. At age 14 I was horrified to read about a man fornicating with a goat and his wife receiving a rare STD from her husband’s transgressions. Some of my peers when I was in high school and were assigned novels like Beloved that included very mature topics, and had to discuss such themes in class. I understand that we were assigned these books because of their literary significance, but I do believe parents should be able to consent to their children reading novels with mature topics.

CommentID: 30723