How is this school appropriate?

katiewhompus

Our school library gets magazines, one of them is ESPN. Today we get this issue
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/07/espn-body-issue-photos-pictures-amare-stoudemire-diana-taurasi_n_753817.html

The library instantly pulls it off the magazine rack and shoves it into her desk. My boss and I open it to see what's up and holy naked people. My co-worker then gets mad that she took it off the shelf. I said (and I quote) "Seriously? How idiotic are you to think this is anywhere appropriate a for high school?" She thought there was nothing wrong with making these images available to high schoolers.

WARNING: Very not safe for work, very very not safe.

SarahPLiz

HA if he can cover his junk with 2 fingers, I'm not interested in seeing it.. 

NatesGirl16

Wait, high school isn't an appropriate place for nudity?


::skulks off to buy clothing::

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Whatever.  My body is way better than any of those posers.

katiewhompus

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_this-school-appropriate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e7c817a4-8e77-49fa-b866-c136e147186bPost:3c8f0a08-dcc0-4d7d-ad4c-bff7f66d4cbb">Re: How is this school appropriate?</a>:
[QUOTE]Wait, high school isn't an appropriate place for nudity? ::skulks off to buy clothing::
Posted by NatesGirl16[/QUOTE]

Ha, yeah well.

[Deleted User]

Is this the co-worker you hate? How did she respond?

Yeah those images are a little much. ANd why are they naked? What's the point of the issue?

MarriedInAFever

I think I'm going to be in the minority. I think issues like this are really cool and encourage healthy body image.

jelique7

HEHEHE
naked bodies....Oh [clears throat] I mean this is very artistic and beautiful.

sucrets4

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_this-school-appropriate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:e7c817a4-8e77-49fa-b866-c136e147186bPost:9dd03af2-7d68-485d-b3fc-f3295567fa85">Re: How is this school appropriate?</a>:
[QUOTE]I think I'm going to be in the minority. I think issues like this are really cool and encourage healthy body image.
Posted by MarriedInAFever[/QUOTE]

I agree, but it shouldn't be on display in a school.

Plus, you know some litigious parent would be waiting to sue.

katiewhompus

She was just like "I don't see the problem with these pictures being in our library. I was looking at porn when I was 14 and you know the kids are too."

Maybe they are, but guess what? We just had a VP get fired (and charged with possession of pornography on a school machine) because he had a confiscated phone with a suggestive photo on it (which was far far more pg rated than these)

I agree it promotes healthy body image out of school, but I don't think it's at all appropriate for viewing in school. I'm guessing there's probably a crap ton of legality issues with providing these images to minors as well.

MarriedInAFever

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_this-school-appropriate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e7c817a4-8e77-49fa-b866-c136e147186bPost:042b96bd-f893-4322-afae-d37b11e7e610">Re: How is this school appropriate?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How is this school appropriate? : I agree, but it shouldn't be on display in a school. Plus, you know some litigious parent would be waiting to sue.
Posted by sucrets4[/QUOTE]

Most likely. I think body image is particularly important in high school and some of the kids could actually benefit from the issue. I wonder what percentage of high school kids have been exposed to nudity in the media or reality. I'd say most. I don't think it's appropriate for school, but I think it's appropriate for teenagers.

RodeoRed

I have to agree with MIAF. I don't know that they should be available in school but I do think that they do promote healthy body image.

And to whoemever mentioned the pic that the guy was covering his junk with a few fingers, I totally started laughing when I saw that one.

NatesGirl16

Yes, the school environment requires a "lowest common denominator" approach (as in, what's the least offensive material and go from there).

Speaking of school appropriate, I just found out one of my former students was caught, To Catch a Predator-style, online trying to seduce a "12 year old" decoy.  It was skin-crawling creepy to find out this morning.

cupcakesfrosting

Eww Nates, that's horrible..

I don't think I would want my younger child looking at that certain magazine, but I don't personally have a problem with it.. However, like AATB said, there would be the one person that would freak, and sue the district or something.. Better safe than sorry..

NatesGirl16

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_this-school-appropriate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:e7c817a4-8e77-49fa-b866-c136e147186bPost:d52d0479-e1ad-4a62-82d4-3e91877df734">Re: How is this school appropriate?</a>:
[QUOTE]Eww Nates, that's horrible.. I don't think I would want my younger child looking at that certain magazine, but I don't personally have a problem with it.. However, like AATB said, there would be the one person that would freak, and sue the district or something.. Better safe than sorry..
Posted by cupcakesfrosting[/QUOTE]
I know.  So disheartening.  Although, I never trusted that kid anyway, so I guess my gut was right. 

missy68

Katie, you know we're finding out daily more and more things are allowed in school everyday...

One one hand, keeping it from  the students, if its a regularly stocked magazine, IS somewhat along the lines of censorship (disclaimer: I haven't looked at the photos), which sends a bad message, too.

Does your library normally pull books off the shelves - just curious (no judging).

katiewhompus

They only pull images that are graphic/inappropriate by school standards. They do look through magazines just to make sure they don't have articles like "How to give the best blowjob" or things like that.

We are definitely in a very sue happy area, so there is that too. I'm still amazed that we got youtube unblocked this year. I give it until December when the school board shuts it down for too many inappropriate content hits.

thesuninherhead

I don't think I would really care about it (as a parent or a community member) if it were available in a school library, but it's pretty obvious that there's many parents (particularly religious parents) who would take issue with it. 

 

I actually think it's sort of sad that we feel it necessary to shield our kids from nudity. It's fine for them to be exposed to images of war and violence, but the natural, naked body is completely taboo... it just seems a little backwards, IMO.

kimmieniesink

Katie at my school they set filters on the YouTube programs so that only teachers have access to it for educational videos, and if students try to use the programs, it denies access to inappropriate videos. Just an idea perhaps?

Simply Fated

Most of the bits are covered up. And if that magazine is censored, i'm sure all pictures of the David, Vitruvian Man, and La maja desnuda, etc were removed from your school, as well, right?
It's a very gray area as to what is appropriate for high school students. Some people would say The Catcher in the Rye isn't appropriate because of it's language and subject matter. An article with pictures depicting athlete's healthy bodies to help boost awareness and self-esteem could be considered more appropriate than some of Picasso's nude work.

ricksang

It's too bad that the USA makes the naked human body a shameful thing. I think it's a reason why there is so much sex and body image issues. I would not care as a paren if the mag was on display. That being said, I am sure there are parents who do care. Some might care so much as to try to sue the school or something which is dumb but true. So, I understand you all pulling the magazine.

allisong23

I just read that issue. The pictures were incredible. It is amazing how beautiful the athletes' bodies are. That being said, I can understand why it might not be appropriate for a school library. I think that the majority of readers in a high school library won't be appreciating it for what is, and instead will be like "Hey! Naked people!"

ichellemay1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_this-school-appropriate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e7c817a4-8e77-49fa-b866-c136e147186bPost:042b96bd-f893-4322-afae-d37b11e7e610">Re: How is this school appropriate?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How is this school appropriate? : I agree, but it shouldn't be on display in a school. <strong>Plus, you know some litigious parent would be waiting to sue.
</strong>Posted by sucrets4[/QUOTE]

This.

katiewhompus

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_this-school-appropriate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e7c817a4-8e77-49fa-b866-c136e147186bPost:a4b27b5d-aa5e-4128-9a50-7fd13079c530">Re: How is this school appropriate?</a>:
[QUOTE]I just read that issue. The pictures were incredible. It is amazing how beautiful the athletes' bodies are. That being said, I can understand why it might not be appropriate for a school library. I think that the majority of readers in a high school library won't be appreciating it for what is, and instead will be like "Hey! Naked people!"
Posted by allisong23[/QUOTE]

This is my worry too. I mean, these are the boys who look at Grecian art and are like "Omg BOOOOOOOBS" and have to be sent to the office for "groping" the pictures in history/art class.

We already asked the IT guys about using teacher/student filters for youtube and apparently they can't figure it out. Yeah...I spend a good 6 hours out of my 7 hour shift telling kids to stop watching music videos, football games, and other stupid shiit on youtube.

sarah0725

Do they really promote good body image? Looking at pictures of hot naked people just makes me feel worse about my paunch. Now, if it were a bunch of artfully nude pictures of normal-sized people.....

I don't know if I feel like the magazine needs to be pulled from the shelf, though. Presumably, that image is being sold on newsstands, so kids could end up seeing it in the supermarket or something. But I get the desire to be safe.

ESPN =/= Michelangelo, though.

katiewhompus

Agreed Sarah.

Again I don't mind students viewing the magazine, I just don't want to be held responsible for providing it to them, if that makes sense.

I think for me it's the poses too. Some are athletic, other's (like the centerfold) just scream "Look at my naked body!" to me.

M&R7111

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_this-school-appropriate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:e7c817a4-8e77-49fa-b866-c136e147186bPost:6b2f6844-7d0e-4f94-9ae7-2b78e072ac1a">Re: How is this school appropriate?</a>:
[QUOTE]HA if he can cover his junk with 2 fingers, I'm not interested in seeing it.. 
Posted by SarahPLiz[/QUOTE]

Holy crap I just thought the same thing when I saw it. HA!

luckyme502

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_this-school-appropriate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e7c817a4-8e77-49fa-b866-c136e147186bPost:a4b27b5d-aa5e-4128-9a50-7fd13079c530">Re: How is this school appropriate?</a>:
[QUOTE]I just read that issue. The pictures were incredible. It is amazing how beautiful the athletes' bodies are. That being said, I can understand why it might not be appropriate for a school library. I think that the majority of readers in a high school library won't be appreciating it for what is, and instead will be like "Hey! Naked people!"
Posted by allisong23[/QUOTE]

And this is the whole problem with the American take on nudity.  When you are not sheilded from nudity all the time, seeing a naked person is not a big deal.  I will never understand why Americans, in general, have such a hang up with the naked body.  It is completely natural, every one has a body, why such the big deal?