Sex ed teacher tries humor; student posts video on YouTube
by Lisa Grace Lednicer, The Oregonian
Thursday February 12, 2009, 7:10 PM
The Grant High School teacher is wearing a condom on his head and a pair of red underwear over his pants with a strategically placed hole in the middle. He's trying to explain the dangers of unsafe sex, but the students' laughter and gasps of disbelief drown him out.
A student shot the four-minute video of Norman Scott's sex education class with a cell phone camera late last year. It's received a prolonged life on YouTube and a stern rebuke from school district officials: Don't ever teach that way again.
Lesson transcript
Teacher Norman Scott provided a transcript of his presentation to students. He was playing a character he called "Elmer Beaumont."
Safe Sex Kit
By Elmer Beaumont
Hello my name is Elmer Beaumont and I am an EX high (school) student and an expert on sex. Mr. Scott has asked me to speak on the topic of safer sex and share some of my vast knowledge with you. I have been with 25 ladies and have only gotten two girls pregnant and contracted 6 STD's. I've had to revise my thinking and take some additional precautions to keep my sexual activity if not safe at least safer. How many of you think a condom provides safe sex? I used to think so until I got burned a few times. I've come up with a few practical guidelines for those who want to get it on and keep yourself if not safe safer.
1. Always wear rubber gloves! I know it's a little unromantic, but any hand contact with the genitals can spread an STI. It's probably good to bring an extra pair for your partner.
2. Get out your flashlight! Many times people will lie to you about what they have done sexually or what they have, so you have to check it out for yourself. It's important to check out the mouth for any open sores, herpes infections or HPV warts on the tongue. Also you get to play doctor and shine the light down below. Make sure you check for any signs of herpes sores, HPV warts, along with crabs or any other things that might be living in the pubic hair.
3. Use a CPR mask in making any contact with the mouth. I know it's not quite as fun as kissing, but at least you can blow hot air on your date. Remember gums can bleed and you may have missed a sore in the back of the mouth. Better to be safe than sorry!
4. Put on your condom pants. Some STD's are spread even when a condom is used perfectly like herpes, HPV, crabs and pubic lice. Condom pants will cover you in areas that a condom won't. You should be (in) good shape unless your condom breaks or slips off after orgasm and that only happens once in a while.
5. Now it is time to put on your condom. Remember a condom alone can be dangerous so be sure to follow the above steps so you can have safer sex. A condom easily rolls out and will fit any size male. As a matter of fact it is large enough to fit on a person's head. (If you are brave put the condom on your head over your nose with your mouth exposed and proceed to blow up the condom till it pops).
Conclusion: Remember the best sex is in a lifelong committed faithful marriage relationship or a life long monogamous relationship. If you are in this relationship, you can have maximum sex without the hassle of the above safety precautions. If (you're) not and want to enjoy sex please follow the above guidelines closely for safer sex.
"What you saw in that video in no way, shape or form represents Portland Public Schools' approved curriculum," district spokesman Matt Shelby said. "Sex education can be a tough subject, and I've certainly known health teachers who try to make it a bit more engaging and break the ice, but that was well beyond anything I've ever seen."
Scott, who has taught health and physical education in high school and middle school for 33years, said the video clip doesn't capture the intent of his class, which is to educate 10th-graders about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of safe sex.
The 45-minute class starts out with him dressed in a wig and hat, pretending to be a former high school student who has gotten two girls pregnant and contracted six sexually transmitted diseases. The character gives teens a guide to safe sex and says the best sex is in a lifelong committed marriage or monogamous relationship.
The condom-and-underwear routine was his first, Scott said.
District officials declined to say whether they disciplined him, but he remains in his current job as a health teacher at Grant.
Scott defends the lesson and said he may try to teach it again next year.
"It was very effective," he said. "Sometime you get the point across better when you come back at it from a different angle."
Grant High Principal Joseph Malone said he hasn't received any complaints about the video, just parents asking if he'd seen it and students expressing surprise at Scott's teaching method.
The district has an approved curriculum for sex ed, including how to use a condom. But Malone said it's up to individual teachers how to design their lessons. Asked what he thought of the video, he laughed.
"It's hard to say," Malone said. "There are some things I never would have addressed in that manner."
Esther Kim, the 17-year-old junior who shot the video, said she thought Scott's presentation was amusing and wanted to share it with her friends. She said it has received 600 views, which surprises her because she never thought it would reach so many people. She called Scott "courageous" for putting a condom over his head.
"Instead of a boring film or lecture, I think it was pretty interesting," Kim said. "It was kind of awkward, but funny."
-- Lisa Grace Lednicer;lisalednicer@news.oregonian.com
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