Why Didn't They Do This When I Was in High School?

Here's another "Adventures in Education" story:

A high school research assignment on Internet pornography was canceled after parents in this Cleveland suburb complained.

Superintendent Jeff Lampert said that although the teacher's apparent goal _ to discuss the harmful effects of pornography _ was well- intentioned, he agreed with parents that the assignment was inappropriate for 14- and 15-year-old freshmen at Brooklyn High.

The assignment asked students to research pornography on the Internet and list eight facts about pornography. Students also were asked to write their personal views of pornography and any experience they had with it.

Lampert said he doubted the teacher would face any punishment.

Of course the main reason they didn't do this when I was in school, was there was no public internet at the time. But hey, there's always been liquor stores.

The other reason they didn't do this in 1974 is because any teacher suggesting such an assignment would have been run out of the school...and probably out of town...in the blink of an eye. He probably would have faced some sort of pervert criminal charges as well.

This is a good segue to promote John Stossel's new special "Stupid in America" about the failings of education in this country. It's on tonight during 20/20 on ABC. Follow the link and you can read about some of Stossel's findings. Scary (though maybe not quite as scary as a high school teacher assigning porn homework).