Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 2, 1995 TAG: 9503020078
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: STAFFORD LENGTH: Short
Mike Berry told the Stafford County School Board on Tuesday that he was shocked to find the magazine buried beneath his daughter's homework. Inside, a column discussed lesbianism and sexual arousal.
``I don't want it in my house,'' Berry said after returning the magazine to Gayle Middle School Principal Winston Ward. ``My daughter doesn't need to read that.''
Ward said he didn't know such material was in the magazine.
``I don't read every magazine that comes into the school,'' he said. ``We depend on our librarians to look at these things.''
Ward said the issue won't be reshelved until school officials review it.
The monthly magazine features a sex column addressing such topics as pregnancy, birth control and breast cancer. The title of February's column is ``How can I stop having sex?''
Ward declined to say whether he thinks the magazine is appropriate for middle school students. ``Some parents will say it's fine; some will object,'' he said. ``You can't please everybody.''
Berry, who opted his seventh-grade daughter out of the school's sex education program, said he isn't trying to censor what other students read. He just wants more control over what's available to his daughter in school.
``She will read what I want her to read,'' he said. ``I can't teach her one thing at home and have her taught another thing at school.''
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.