Officials in Minnesota say a teacher took a group of students on an adventure to a local sex shop as a change of scenery for a sexual education lesson.
The Associated Press reports that Starri Hedges, the director at Gaia Democratic School, took several middle and high school students to Minneapolis' Smitten Kitten sex shop for an out-of-the-ordinary sex education experience:
What I saw happening on our trip, I thought it was beautiful because kids could talk to these sex educators without any shame, without any fear, Hedges said. Some of her students bought condoms, she said.
For what it's worth, the Smitten Kitten does provide sex ed classes, in addition to the expected offerings. However, some parents were alarmed by Hedges' decision, claiming they weren't informed:
Parent Lynn Floyd's 11- and 13-year-old daughters were on the field trip. Floyd says the trip was a major breach of trust and has withdrawn his children from the school. Floyd said he is most troubled that parents were never notified before the trip.
I just struggled to think that I wasn't involved in that, he said.
Hedges said that she unfortunately didn't communicate well enough with parents ahead of time about the trip. Pornographic items were off limits to the children, Hedges said, but sex toys and other products were visible.
The Associated Press adds that it's unclear whether or not the trip was illegal, but Hedges said it's unlikely she'll take students on any similarly unorthodox trips again.
[via Associated Press]
