PITTSBURGH — A Pennsylvania mother is upset after finding out about a homework assignment in which an educator instructed students to upload a photo of their underwear to an online discussion board.
Briahna Grant told WPXI her 7-year-old daughter was doing her homework when she saw that the child’s assignment prompted students to “post a picture of your creepy underwear ... or just tell us about it.”
She said she believes the assignment was disturbing and inappropriate, and she wants the teacher to be fired.
“I’m upset. I don’t want my daughter engaged in anything that has to do with uploading anything personal to the internet,” Grant said.
When Grant called Pittsburgh Liberty Elementary School to voice her concerns, the principal apologized and said a librarian posted the assignment after reading a Halloween-inspired children’s book to the second graders. The book, titled "Creepy Pair of Underwear,” follows the story of a young rabbit who tries to convince his mother that he’s old enough to graduate to more mature underwear, specifically a glow-in-the-dark pair of underpants with a Frankenstein-inspired design.
“I’m more bothered that myself as well as other parents whose children have seen this have to explain to their kids how important it is not to do this,” Grant told WPXI.
She said she plans to keep a close eye on her daughter’s assignments moving forward.
Officials at Pittsburgh Liberty Elementary have not announced how they will handle the situation with the educator, but the assignment has been taken down.
“The District is aware of a questionable activity assigned by an educator as part of a class reading of the Halloween-themed book “Creepy Pair of Underwear,” a school spokesperson said in a statement. “The incident is currently under review.”
Cox Media Group
