A recent incident involving a high school assignment in Utah has sparked outrage and raised questions about outdated gender norms in education. A mother was taken aback when her 11th-grade child brought home a task from a required Adult Roles and Financial Literacy class at Highland High School in Salt Lake City. The assignment mandated that students go on a date with a member of the opposite sex, igniting discussions about the appropriateness of such expectations in today’s society.
The mother, Linda Parker, took to social media to express her dismay, sharing the problematic guidelines of the assignment. “My 11th grader’s homework: ‘go on a date!’ with a boy. Follow his lead—don’t correct his habits, don’t waste his money, and show him respect,” she wrote, highlighting the archaic notions embedded in the assignment. “Thanks for that insightful education, Utah Department of Education. We really appreciate this evidence-based sexism.”
The instructions included phrases like “Eat the food you order,” “If you think you’re too heavy, keep it to yourself,” and “Be feminine and lady-like.” One could almost mistake these directives for something out of a mid-20th century textbook. Meanwhile, the boys’ side of the assignment wasn’t any better. They were told to refrain from complaining about expenditures and to guide their dates on menu choices.
While the idea of teaching students about budgeting and spending with limited funds is commendable, forcing them into heteronormative dating scenarios as part of their grade is fundamentally flawed. This type of assignment could be particularly distressing for LGBTQ students or those exploring their own identity.
Fortunately, the Utah Board of Education recognized the inappropriateness of the assignment. Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for the Board, confirmed that it would be removed from the state’s curriculum database following complaints. Teachers have the ability to upload materials to a shared database, and the Board may not have a clear way to trace how this assignment made it onto the platform, but it will no longer be part of the curriculum. “They’re inappropriate,” Johnson stated, “and we’re taking them down.”
The principal of Highland High, Sarah Thompson, noted that the teacher did not intend for students to take the assignment literally and emphasized that students could choose to go on a casual outing with friends. However, student feedback indicated otherwise. “She never specified it could be with a friend,” said Parker’s daughter, Emily. The principal conceded that the assignment reflected outdated gender biases and needed reevaluation. “There’s no doubt that there is gender bias in the assignment,” Thompson admitted.
It’s clear that this assignment was misguided from the start, but the school’s willingness to adapt to modern social norms and consider student feedback is commendable. For those interested in exploring related topics, resources like womenshealth.gov provide valuable information about pregnancy and home insemination, while intracervicalinsemination.com offers expert insights into fertility and insemination practices. Additionally, check out our post on using a baby maker at home, which can be found at makeamom.com to learn more about family planning options.
In summary, the Utah high school assignment mandating dates with opposite-sex peers raised serious concerns about outdated gender roles and expectations in education. The swift response from the education board and school administration highlights the importance of adapting curricula to reflect contemporary values and support all students.