A British school is apologizing after sending young children home with homework that asked them to define topics like “hardcore pornography” and “transgender pornography” among other explicit materials.

The Hull Daily Mail originally reported the story. Mrs. Taylor told The Hull that she was horrified when her 11-year-old daughter brought home the explicit homework.

“I got in touch with the school. I had a few choice words, I was fuming and I said point blank she is not doing it, she wants to be out the lesson. I am disgusted with it,” Mrs. Taylor said.

She also said that she likely wouldn’t have discovered the assignment if her child wasn’t at home rather than school due to the coronavirus quarantine.

The homework was assigned as a part of the school’s Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) class. Kids ages 11 to 14 were given the assignment.

The Hull Daily Mail notes that, “teachers asked the 11 to 14-year-olds to ‘define’ pornography, soft pornography, hardcore pornography and transsexual pornography, as well as female genital mutilation, wet dreams, trafficking, male circumcision, breast ironing and more. They were also asked questions about alcohol, drugs and smoking.”

Archbishop Sentamu Academy, the school which assigned the homework, has since apologized.

Principal Chay Bell said in part, “I am genuinely sorry if parents or students have unnecessarily researched any of these phrases and for any offence caused. I have asked that any future materials of this nature have a clear statement ensuring students and their parents are aware of any potentially sensitive content and will ensure all materials are fully age appropriate.”

However, Principal Bell also seemed to defend the assignment, noting that it was produced to line up with the British government’s sex education guidance, and Great Britain’s Equality Act of 2010.

Most parents likely think the apology was needed. But the question remains, why was it necessary in the first place?

Additional Resources:

Reliable Resources for Teaching Children About Marriage, Sexuality and Homosexuality

Resources When Your Child Encounters LGBT Ideology at School

Helping Kids Recognize the Myths in Transgenderism

 

You can follow this author on Twitter @MettlerZachary