Middle School Outraged By Professor's 'Viagra Story

http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2489437



The assembly program for students at the Lewis County Middle School in Hohenwald was suppose to have been about the importance of Science education.

But there must have been some sort of miscommunication. To say school officials and parents are upset is an understatement.

"We got blind sided," says School Principal Tim Watkins.

The auditorium speaker was Dr. Jackie Corbin, a Vanderbilt University professor, who was recommended by one of the school's teachers.

But somehow, the wires got crossed.

Corbin's presentation to some 460 seventh and eighth grade students was what he calls the Viagra Story.

It was about sex education, and in particular, the use of Viagra and how the reproduction organs of males and females work.

Corbin's talk included slides of the human anatomy. But for seventh and eighth graders?

"We're a small community with conservative values and we're still in shock," says the principal.

Maybe the school should have known more about Corbin before inviting him to speak to the youngsters. Corbin and his Vanderbilt research partner were instrumental in the development of Viagra.

Shortly after the talk began, the school's assistant principal rushed to a phone and called Watkins who was at a doctor's office with his two children.

Watkins exploded.

Twenty minutes into Corbin's presentation to the wide-eyed young students, it was abruptly halted by the assistant principal.

Watkins says that was 20 minutes too long. He believes Corbin's talk would have been more appropriate for students in the medical field.

After having his presentation stopped, the Vanderbilt professor offered his apologies, although noting he believed the topic was appropriate.

But before the school's next speaker is invited, the principal says, he will ask for a detailed outline of the speech prior to the speaker taking the stage.

Good idea.