Teacher Tim McDaniel has been teaching the ‘Biology of Human Sexuality’ in Dietrich, Idaho for over 17 years without complaint – until now. The science teacher is under investigation due to complaints from a hand-full of parents who object to his use of the word ‘vagina.’ The biology class, taught in the tenth grade, covers birth control, the biology of orgasm and a video on genital herpes…And follows a text book, which obviously uses the accepted names for various body parts.
Of course a ‘handful’ of parents is a substantial number in Deitrich, Idaho where the total population is just over 300. The story leaves unanswered questions, such as why now, after 17 years? Another burning question is – what word would parents prefer McDaniel use in place of the offensive word ‘vagina?’ Maybe Oprah’s ‘Va Jay Jay’ would be a good euphemism? Then again maybe it would make a better argument for using the scientific term.
John Fugelsang talks with comedian and writer Elayne Boosler, Vulture.com correspondent Julia Klausner and Rick Ungar, a contributor at Forbes.com about this tempest in a text book.