Dear Parent/Guardian,
FCPS Policy 3290 requires parental notification when students may encounter instructional materials that contain sexually explicit content. According to the Policy, “sexually explicit content means (i) any description of or (ii) any picture, photograph, drawing, motion picture film, digital image or similar visual representation depicting sexual bestiality, a lewd exhibition of nudity, as nudity is defined in Section 18.2-390, sexual excitement, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse, as also defined in Section 18.2-390, coprophilia, urophilia, or fetishism.” This letter is to inform you that your student will encounter the following instructional materials that contain sexually explicit content as part of the course named below. Course: English 9 and English 9 Honors Omg. WTAF? Is this normal?? |
Unfortunately yes. Teachers are required to alert parents! However, parents can ask for specific titles, read them and opt their child out of any they feel are not appropriate. Teachers are required to provide an alternative assignment and to avoid any action or statement that would be critical of the child or parent. |
Romeo and Juliet had been on many freshman syllabi for as long as I have been alive and would require that notification.
While some of those things are rare in literature and may not belong in a 9th grade classroom “Sexual excitement” is pretty much a given in literature. |
I mean, wouldn't any work of classic literature that references sexual activity get this warning? E.g. To Kill a Mockingbird, The Sound and the Fury, Lolita, and lots more. |
OMG OP, it's not like they're going to be reading The Happy Hooker in class. |
Yeah this is the equivalent of prop 65 warnings for hazardous substances that appear on everything in California. Thanks Youngkin! |
LOL, you'd better buckle up before high school! It could be literally anything -- Romeo and Juliet, The House on Mango Street, etc.
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This is the new norm. It’s like when a TV show starts and tells you there may be smoking, swearing, or suggestive language. |
On the up side, maybe it’ll make some parents read a book or two. |
But if my child is the only one doing the alternative assignment, they won’t be part of any class discussions. How would that work? Won’t it be harder? |
It will make more work for the teacher, and your kid won't learn nearly enough, but you'll have saved your kid from the trauma of reading Romeo and Juliet. Plus, it's always fun to embarrass your kid! |
It’s not a classic, unfortunately. I would totally be on board with a classic. It’s a woke novel with “masturbation, heavy naked petting,” etc. |
I was thinking it might be Romeo and Juliet. I think I also read Their Eyes Were Watching God in 9th grade. |
I don't think it's normal, either. But it's thanks to the crazy religious nuts and the "parents rights" crew. Yuck. |
Oh no, not heavy petting. |