8th-grader’s homework asked about getting herpes from one-night stand

A South Jersey mother is upset at the assignment her eighth-grade son received from a language arts teacher: His reaction to contracting herpes after a one-night stand.

NBC 10 reports the 13-year-old boy at the Myron L. Powell Elementary School in Cedarville, Cumberland County was given a homework assignment that asked him to give a "reactive response" to a scenario in which the student went to a party and had sex with someone he met for the first time that night after drinking too much.

"A week later you find out that you contracted herpes from your one-night stand and that this is a disease you will have all your life and never know when an outbreak will occur," concludes the description, as described in the NBC report.

Amy Loper told NBC 10 she she was "shocked" at the assignment being given outside of a health class. Loper said she was told by the chief school administrator it was part of the school's core curriculum and goes along with a book given to students called “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens."

The book, by Sean Covey, is a "step-by-step guide to help teens improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, get along with their parents, and much more," according to a description of the book on Amazon. "In addition, this book is stuffed with cartoons, clever ideas, great quotes, and incredible stories about real teens from all over the world. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens will engage teenagers unlike any other book."

The superintendent has not yet responded to a message seeking comment. According to the school's website, there are no classes Thursday or Friday due to an NJEA convention.

TEXT OF ASSIGNMENT:

“You had a really rotten day, but lucky for you your best friend is having an awesome party later. You go to the party and start drinking. You have a little too much to drink and start talking to this girl/guy you’ve never seen before. You head upstairs to get better acquainted despite several friends telling you that you don’t even know this person. You end up having sex with this person. The next day you really can’t remember everything that happened and rely on your best friend to fill you in. A week later you find out that you contracted herpes from your one night stand and that this is a disease you will have all your life and never know when an outbreak will occur.”