A guide given to 8th-grade students in a Mapleton Junior High School English class contained suggestions to include sexually inappropriate interactions between story characters, according to documents shared by a concerned parent. The guide, disseminated by Mr. Austin Andruski, encouraged students in a creative writing section to develop characters with a variety of “love languages,” including “physical touch,” described as “feeling or expressing love through physical touch & accessibility, including kissing, cuddling, holding hands, and sex.” Another portion of the guide encouraged inserting “numbing” behaviors of characters, such as “alcohol, drugs, and sex.”
According to Nebo School District policy, sexual content, including “the intricacies of intercourse, sexual stimulation, or erotic behavior” and “the advocacy of premarital or extramarital sexual activity,” may not be taught in schools; this includes the prohibition of sexual content in the form of “instructional materials, direct instruction, or online instruction.”
In a discussion with a concerned parent, Andruski acknowledged the presence of sexual suggestions in the writing guide, stating that he uses the guide for his personal writing. This acknowledgment, however, directly contradicts a later statement given by Tona Graff, Principal at Mapleton Jr. High School, that the addition of the portion suggesting sexual content was “an honest mistake.”
After his conversation with the concerned parent, Andruski disseminated a redacted version of the writing guide to his students, removing the inappropriate content. However, the inappropriate material’s original dissemination and later redaction were not explained to parents, with Principal Graff explaining that she “did not find that it was necessary.” The concerned parent described this lack of transparency as inhibiting “trust between parents, teachers, and administrators” and argued that “parents have the right to know that a paper containing salacious material” encouraged “students to explore writing about sex, alcohol, and drug use.” The parent also argued that the presence of an “LGBTQIA flag” on Andruski’s desk, intended to convey his role as a “‘safe’ teacher,” was inappropriate.
Despite these concerns, Troy Peterson, Nebo District’s Mid Level Coordinator over Secondary Education, described that while the guide “would be considered curriculum material” according to Nebo policy, the inappropriate content “is not a violation of district policy.” Furthermore, Peterson described any accusation that the guide “was intended to explicitly teach” or “have students write on” sexual content as “not supported by evidence” and “merely a supposition.” The question, then, is why the teacher removed the inappropriate portion if it was neither inappropriate nor a violation of policy.
The Cougar Chronicle contacted Nebo School District for comment and received the following response:
“Nebo School District is committed to providing all students a safe and respectful learning environment. We strictly adhere to all applicable state laws and Nebo School District Board policies regarding health and relationship topics.
Allegations circulating on social media and elsewhere suggesting that a Nebo School District teacher violated these laws and policies are unequivocally false. We take any potential violation of these regulations with the utmost seriousness and will always take appropriate action. After a thorough investigation, we have found no evidence to support these claims.
We understand the importance of transparency and accountability in matters related to student well-being. We encourage members of our community to speak with their school personnel if they have questions or concerns. Nebo School District remains dedicated to providing high-quality education while upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and legal compliance.”
Again, The Cougar Chronicle raises the following questions: If the inappropriate content did not violate district policy on sexual content, why, then, was the portion silently removed from the writing guide? And, if the Nebo district places a high priority on “transparency and accountability,” should they have reached out to parents regarding the material that was removed?
Written by: Jacob Christensen
Editor of the Cougar Chronicle
The Cougar Chronicle is an independent student-run newspaper and is not affiliated with Brigham Young University or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Cover photo: https://www.homes.com/school/mapleton-ut/mapleton-junior-high-school/5783h3jscg1tv/