'Sex and Relationships' Too Racy For Mountain View High?

Let's talk about sex. Or maybe not.

Ever since last month, when a group of Mountain View High School parents reacted vocally to the student newspaper's package of stories, "Sex and Relationships," the issue of appropriateness and First Amendment freedom has been bubbling fiercely.

What "action to take" against The Oracle, Mountain View High's student newspaper, because of recently published articles about sex and relationships will be debated at Monday's Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District board (MVLA) meeting.

The crowd is expected to be so large that officials moved the meeting to the Spartan Theater on the MVHS campus. About half of the student population at Mountain View High School come from Los Altos and half come from Mountain View.

Trustees will listen to students, parents and community members who will argue whether the articles violate MVLA board policy.

Board policy 5145.2 states that "the Board respects students' right to express ideas and opinions." However, "expression shall be limited only as allowed by law to maintain an orderly school environment." California State Laws extends broad protection to student publications, except when the expression is "obscene."

This First Amendment issue arose at the previous board meeting on Feb. 11 where several community members called the articles "too explicit" and added that they didn't "meet community standards."

Specifically they attacked the article "What they teach you in health, and what you need to know" by Abby Cunniff. In a statement provided to Patch, Cunniff—who had been in attendance at the Feb. 11 meeting—wrote that "the article explores topics briefly covered in sex education classes that I felt needed more specificity to be relevant to student life."

"The intention of my article was to promote safe, healthy sex for those who wish to become, or already are, sexually active," she said. "I don’t think my article did anything to persuade or affect students who are decidedly against sexual activity, because mainstream media and other teenagers do a much better job than I do."

However, some parents felt the article promoted pre-marital sex and goes against their teachings, according to the Los Altos Town Crier.

District Superintendent Barry Groves contends that the students didn't violate board policy, but believes that they could have been more cognizant about community's standard, the Mountain View Voice reported.

In a statement, Amy Beare—the advisor to the student newspaper—supported the students' thoughtfulness and passion, and saw this experience as an opportunity for growth, though she acknowledged that they could have been more careful.

"As a newspaper staff we made mistakes in this issue that we regret and we will move forward with greater care to ensure that we are true to our goal of provoking thought, not outrage," she said.

However many parents do support The Oracle staff and will join them inside Spartan Theater.

"I am proud to have these teens as a part of my community," Libby Jacobs wrote Patch. "They are fighting what they view as an injustice. I believe their story and their fight is admirable and noble."

For more, also see on Los Altos Patch:

LIVE BLOG: MVLA Trustee Meeting on Oracle 'Sex' Article Controversy