What the [bleep]? Superintendent backtracks after students exposed to lewd material

The superintendent of a Colorado school district caught exposing children to lewd material, including well-known offensive material in Allen Ginsberg's "Howl," is backtracking and apologizing for refusing to notify parents or offer an alternative assignment.

But he said he intends to continue using the offensive material in the district's classes.

The controversy arose at Steamboat Springs High School, where students and parents raised complaints.

Fox News reported students in a music literature class were ordered to review a song about sexting and offering sexual favors to a teen.

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The other issue was the use in another class of the book "Howl," which six decades ago was in court accused of being obscene.

The report said Ryan Ayala, the teacher who required students to read "Howl," later apologized to parents in a letter for having students fill in the blanks to lines including "f---ed in the a--" and "c—t."

Jeremy Dys of First Liberty Institute, which had written the district a letter regarding the issue, said: "In the age of MeToo and Harvey Weinstein, it's hard for me to understand why Superintendent [Brad] Meeks would think requiring teenage girls to meditate on a song normalizing sexting would be acceptable. If they want to teach on controversial materials, they can, but they should warn parents and give them an opportunity to choose an alternative assignment."

Meeks posted online a statement that "Howl" is thought to be "controversial by some" over the expletives "and portrayals and descriptions of sexual matters."

He said his staff members apparently were unaware of the "proper procedures around incorporating controversial materials," including opt-out options, and the school was working on a solution.

He apologized "for that."

But he dismissed the situation as no more than "an oversight."

And he said "Howl" will "continue to be part of the curriculum."

Fox News reported a complaint came from Brett Cason, whose daughter, Skylar, 16, was subjected to the material.

"Skylar explained feeling guilty and shameful as her teacher asked them about the symbolism of the phrase 'granite c—k' during a classroom discussion," Fox News reported.

First Liberty asked the school district to train staff in its policies so such offenses would not happen again.

The local Steamboat Pilot reported Jay Hamric, the director of teaching for the district, admitted Ginsberg's publication was "controversial."

The paper noted another parent, Ken Mauldin, approached the school board about the staff's mishandling of the situation.

He explained the superintendent should have addressed it properly, but if he didn't, the board needed to.

If that doesn't happen, he pointed out, it's up to parents.

Hamric praised the objectionable work as "an anguished protest, literally a howl, against the era's soul-crushing conformism."

Hamric was unable to say whether any disciplinary action was taken against the teacher.