NJ Mom: 8th-Grade Language Arts Assignment On Herpes Not 'Appropriate'

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey mother says she was shocked by an assignment given to her eighth-grade son by his language arts teacher that seemed more suited for a sex education class.

Amy Loper said her son was given an assignment that asked him to consider what he would do if he contracted herpes after drinking and having a one-night stand.

"I don't think it's age appropriate. I don't think it's appropriate at all," Loper told WCBS 880. "Just because society thinks that it's OK, let's help them? Let's help all the kids think it's OK?...I just don't understand why anybody thinks this is appropriate."

According to Loper, the homework was given out in her son's language arts class at the Powell Elementary School in the Cedarville section of Lawrence Township.

The question describes drinking and hooking up with a stranger.

"I'm not beyond knowing that this kind of stuff happens," Loper said. "But to just throw it out in language arts, as just nonchalant 'oh underage drinking, unprotected sex, whatever. If you do it, what are you gonna do about it?' That's how it comes across."

Loper said she felt the question didn't belong in language arts, and would be better suited for a sex education class.

She did not let her son answer the question.

"At thirteen, he thought it was hilarious," Loper said.

Loper said she's open and talks to her son about these things, but felt it was inappropiate for a language assignment -- even though the school's superintendent said it was part of the core curriculum, WCBS 880's Levon Putney reported.

After contacting the school, the mother said she was told the assignment was part of the core curriculum that ties into a book students were given titled "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.''

Loper said her son did not complete the assignment.

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