Usually teachers are supposed to keep their superiors informed of their class curriculum, or even get their OK for new stuff.

If the principal didnt know those topics were covered, oopsie, sounds like the either theres loose mgmt, but more likely, a teacher that just forgot to go thru the usaul approval process channels before he chose those articles.

Could be just an honest mistake on either side, (or an attitude problem of the teacher -- in like 'this was a good choice and i wont consider other opinions but my own' but the attitude and how the principal handles it from here on out, now that youeve made them aware of it, will be telling. good luck!! maybe you will have done some good for all students, making sure such controversial issues go thru admin approval first, in the future! yeah for you!!!

When I spoke with the principal, he was startled at the topics and questions. I'm going to follow up with him tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what his take is on the situation after he had his conversation with the teacher and to see what he thinks about how my conversation went. I'm far from done with this.

You can use this example as a way to teach your child, sometime people in authority, even smart people, make dumb (assignement, and other,) choices.
The teacher is not dumb, the choice was.
Just like when kids screw up, its not THEY that are bad, its the choice they made that was poor.

You might consider bringing the matter up with the head of curriculum for the district, and definitely the school board. To inform them of what was covered (they probably have no clue) and let them know your concern, and take other parents with you with the same concerns, if you go to a board meeting to discuss.
Thats the best way to effect change, inform those in charge of whats heppening in the trenches. They arent always aware, and should be.

Are we out of line here? NO
Are these appropriate topics for 12 year olds? NO

Talk also to the school counselor, get their take, they shold know a thing or 2 about child develpment.

sounds like your school admin has had a lapse of judgemnet. can happen to the best. but the way they handled it, and attitude, tells you lots and can make you wonder what do they teach them in the next couple years...scary.

Thanks for the support. I'm not writing a letter, I'm using my voice. I'm going to speak with a valued friend who is a school administrator and get some advice, plus she can always get me calmed down and focused in these types of situations so I can "go in for the kill" with intelligent and concise words flowing from my lips. My plan is to follow up with the principal at the school and even have a sit down with this teacher if needed. I also have a little plan in mind for the next project she is working on: an editorial cartoon. I usually let my children run with things with minimal input as to the direction to take, but the teacher wants the parents to get involved in this. He may regret that.

When my husband and I were discussing this whole issue, we even thought about the other kids in the classroom. What about people with very strong religious beliefs that hold homosexuality as a sin that will send you to hell? What about that child who is sitting in the classroom currently confused about his/her sexual feelings being exposed to these types of controversial and negative situations?

I'd tried to be relatively polite during this conversation because I don't want to have this teacher situation affect my child's treatment in this classroom. I did tell him that just because something is on the front page of the paper doesn't mean that it's "real news" or relevant or appropriate to the life of a 12 year old. It means that it was the most sensational story they could find to slap on the front page to sell their paper.