Students’ Adult Store Field Trip Causes Controversy: Should Teacher Be Fired?

Students went to an adult store on a field trip to the “Smitten Kitten” with their teacher, making some of their parents quite upset. According to Fox News, Gaia Democratic School director Starri Hedges took about 12 kids to an adult themed store in Minnesota to teach them about sex. Hedges thought the trip was informative, and really beneficial to the lives of these kids, all of whom were pre-teens or young teens.

“What I saw happening on our trip, I thought it was beautiful because kids could talk to these sex educators without any shame, without any fear,” Hedges said.

The students’ adult store field trip has caused some controversy, with many people debating whether or not it was appropriate. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, “pornographic material” was out of sight, but the kids were able to see “sex toys and other products.” Some students even bought condoms.

“It was certainly the first time we have taken that kind of field trip and it will probably be our last, which I feel bad [about] because the kids had so much fun,” said Hedges.

One parent has spoken out about the excursion. He says that he wasn’t properly informed that his daughters, ages 11 and 13, would be taken to a sex toy store (essentially), and taught about the birds and the bees in such a way.

“I just struggled to think that I wasn’t involved in that,” the father said. It is unclear whether or not he is the only parent that claims he wasn’t notified that his kids would be going on such a field trip, but most people feel that not notifying the parents of these kids of such a trip merits the teacher’s termination.

Taking students to an adult store without their parents consent is another problem by itself. There have been a lot of questions about these kids even getting in the door, as most adult stores require an age of 18+. According to the New York Post, owner of the “Smitten Kitten,” Jennifer Pritchett, it’s up to the parents or guardians of the kids to decide.

“We leave it up to the discretion of parents and guardians as to when, if, and in what capacity they seek resources from our educators,” explained Pritchett. The group of kids reportedly took part in an educational workshop, but it’s unknown what they learned. They were all free to ask whatever questions they wanted, something that Hedges thought was great.

Do you think the teacher should lose her job over this? What if the parents were not notified? Does that change things? Do you think this was a good way to teach these kids about sex?

[Photo via Facebook]