School Lesson Has Students Chew Same Piece Of Gum

kutv ^ | Feb 10, 2007

[stainlessbanner]

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Counseling officials in Maryland are being heavily criticized for introducing a lesson to four different schools – in which students were supposed to chew and pass around the same piece of gum.

The lesson was created by the Rockville (Md.) pregnancy counseling center in order to show students how easily sexually transmitted diseases are spread from person to person.

A speaker from the counseling center asked students to chew the same piece of gum to see how many would be willing to do it. School officials say at least 100 students participated in the exercise, but not all of them chewed the gum.

The county’s director of school health services called the lesson unsanitary and unacceptable. Many parents were also angered by the issue.

School officials say employees from the counseling center will not be asked to speak to their students again in the future.

[TigersEye]

Yup. This is the kind of thing that made me realize that the people who were teaching me were dumber than I was. So maybe the kids will get something good out of it.

[pandoraou812]

God knows the way they teach sex ed now is working out just fine...

Of course it isn't working. When you have the kids being shown all kinds of movies etc on all kinds of subjects that the school wants to start showing them in the lower grades there is a problem. Its not the job of the school either to teach your children about sex & morals. IT IS YOUR JOB AS A PARENT. I understand since some parents can't be bothered telling their children about sex the school does but don't you think it ought to be 1st taught by the parents? I don't want someone telling my child what their ideas of normal sex are. Who knows what they plan to tell them. As a parent of 6 I can tell you that it better start at home when your child asks questions or wants to talk. The school was stupid to do this and I am sure they fully are regretting it now. I worry more about the kids who were stupid enough to go like sheeple and chew the gum.

[pandoraou812]

I really hope so and that they didn't put it in their mouths. Thanks for making me feel better...~~P~~

[cva66snipe]

I'm not a doctor but you are not wrong. Some STD's are more easilly transmitable than others. In health care facilities patients dieing of Syphilis or related illness are handled with caution when it comes to contact. You have to be reasonably careful not to come in contact with their body fluids.

[skr]

Apparently the school, the parents and some of the students missed the point of the exercise. No one was required to chew the gum, yet some students decided to show just how stupid they are by doing so. Only those parents should be mad and only at their unsanitary offspring. The other parents should be relieved that they have children with common sense.

[peggybac]

We weren't allowed to chew gum while growing up, of course, once we were out the door for school, etc. in came the Juicy Fruit!

[Zeon Cowboy]

See, I'm not crazy! Someone else here "gets it"...

[rawhide]

The ones leading this 'lesson' went way beyond stupid. There is no way the counselors can justify that this was a legitimate lesson. What were they thinking? and this lesson occur at least at 4 different schools.
Where were the teachers? Did they put their dunce hats on and go sit in the corner?
And the students, what can I say to their intelligence?
There was another article in the WaPo that said there was an additional 'lesson' given where the students were asked to eat some chocolate, with one of the piece containing a laxative. It was to show you never know about what you are getting yourself into.
I really think the pregnancy center might lose their license over this and be shut down. I would not all that surprised to see a lawsuit come about over this, perhaps class action? I imagine the law sharks are circling as we speak. I just hope that the churches who financially support this pregnancy center are not sued also. What stupidity!

[rawhide]

WaPo article link

[OldFriend]

Very simple. Every student should have just said NO.

I suspect most if not all did say NO.

[The Great RJ]

Asinine

[USMCWife6869]

I'm trying to get over a huge horrible nasty cold right now. Our school had so many absences over the last month due to this nasty cold going around. This is cold and flue season. That alone should have made someone think twice about this experiment. I mean after, of course, the basic EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW factor of the whole thing.

But then again, who said Liberals ever think.

[SampleMan]

The lesson was created by the Rockville (Md.) pregnancy counseling center in order to show students how easily sexually transmitted diseases are spread from person to person.

What a great idea. And if the kids get oral herpes from this, its a lesson they'll never forget.

[STONEWALLS]

thanks for posting this Stainlessbanner....as an ex-resident of Maryland it's not really that surprising to me...Montgomery Co has been whacked out for years....remember a couple of years ago when they wouldn't let Santa Claus ride on a fire engine in the Christmas parade?....remember when they tried to outlaw smoking in people's apartments?....remember when they abolished gun shows?....my daughter lives in Montgomery Co and pays $10,000 a year in property tax....isn't that classic!....high taxes and ultra liberal politics go hand in hand in the Disarmed People's Republic of Montgomery...

[IronJack]

Graphic way to demonstrate the principles (or lack thereof) of promiscuity. A little over the top, I believe, but probably pretty effective as an object lesson.

What's ironic is that of the students who went "Ewwwwwwww" and refused to do it, I'll bet a sizable number have had sex with a relative stranger. These are the same spoiled twits who whine if there's a water spot on their silverware at Applebee's.

[basil]

Our "educataors" have gone completely mad!

[millerph]

Not AIDS, must be a blood transfer, but you're on target with the rest. This is outrageous!!! So they gave them a choice, these are easily influenced kids not old enough to make a rational choice. Every one of these kids should be taken to the doctor for a complete check and the school should foot the bill along with any other expenses that do arise from transfer of disease. Unbelievable!!!!!

[LadyNavyVet]

"I suspect most if not all did say NO."

The WaPo article said 18 students chewed the same piece at one school. No details on how many chewed the same piece at the three other schools. I don't know who's more stupid, the students who chewed the gum or the teachers who allowed it to happen.

I've homeschooled for many years now. Years ago I used to get the occasional negative comment about it. Not anymore. The most common question I get asked these days when people find out I homeschool is, "Will you teach my kids, too?"

[pandoraou812]

I hope so....I don't allow gum in my house lol. I remember the days of getting caught chewing gum in school and having the gum stuck to your nose. ~~P~~