Human Sexuality course at Western Nevada College now off-limits for high school students

With little discussion, the Nevada State Board of Education voted unanimously Friday to remove Western Nevada College's Human Sexuality class from the list of courses that high school students can take for dual credit.

"If we say it is a dual-credit course, the state board becomes an endorser in some sense," said trustee David Cook in an interview after the meeting. "The State Board of Education takes pupil protection very seriously."

As part of an agreement between the Nevada Department of Education and Western Nevada College, some college courses are available for students to take while in high school. The student receives both high school and college credit for the class.

Keith Rheault, superintendent of the Nevada Department of Education, said the psychology class was approved as one of a list of classes submitted by a charter school.

However, once reports were published in the Nevada Appeal that WNC student Karen Royce had filed a formal complaint with the college in October, Rheault said he asked the board to revoke the dual-credit status.

Royce said Human Sexuality professor Tom Kubistant crossed boundaries in the class, including a directive to students to increase their masturbation habits and to draw their orgasms.

The college determined Royce's complaint to be unfounded. It remains under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.

Carson City resident Karl Neathammer addressed the board Friday in opposition to the class.

"I have read the syllabus for this particular class," he said. "A reasonable person would arrive at a somewhat definitive conclusion they would no be expected to perform or to commit to a sexual act on themselves or on another in order to complete the requirements for this class. I am concerned by the fact that this class has been certified for dual credit, and I believe this course should be decertified as such."

He also added that he wished to see a letter of apology from WNC President Carol Lucey to Royce and to the community as a whole, and he called for "a complete review of this instructor's notes on this issue, if any, and an outside peer review of this entire course."

All WNC officials contacted for comment have referred inquiries to Mark Ghan, WNC's general counsel and vice president for human resources.

Cook emphasized that the Nevada Department of Education oversees grades kindergarten through 12th, and has no authority over the college or its course materials.

Neathammer said he would forward his complaints to the Nevada System of Higher Education's Board of Regents.

The Rev. Ken Haskins of Carson City also spoke at Friday's hearing in favor of revoking the dual-credit status of the class.

Ghan has said he didn't know of any high school students who had taken the class.

He said three students under age 18 have taken the class in the 6 1/2 years it has been offered - one in 2006, one in 2008 and one in 2011.

In order for a high school student to take a college course for dual credit, he said, the student must get permission from a parent and high school official.

"It doesn't really have anything to do with the college," Ghan said.

Cook said the Nevada Department of Education follows closely the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, which prohibits teachers from asking personal questions, such as political affiliations or sexual behavior, without detailed written consent.

Although it's not under his jurisdiction, Cook urged the Nevada System of Higher Education to make clear its stance on student rights.

"I would like to see the proper state agencies conduct a full investigation of this," he said. "The proper governmental authorities have an obligation to step forward and clarify this issue. I think everybody deserves a clear resolution here."