Support Shown For Teacher Involved In Brookfield Sex Survey

BROOKFIELD, WI— Over 2,000 parents and students showed support for a Brookfield Central High School teacher who distributed a sex survey to students. According to an online petition, Frank Pasternak started a petition to Elmbrook School Board.

As of Monday, 2, 743 people have signed it.

Patch reached out to the school district on Monday and was told, "We cannot comment on personnel matters."

Pasternak said his daughter was influenced by the health teacher so much so that she wants to follow in the teacher's career as a health and physical education teacher. The parent said all the teacher's students always have something positive to say about her.

The School District of Elmbrook apologized on March 11 after it was made aware that a Brookfield Central High School teacher distributed an anonymous digital survey about sexual activity to students. A parent expressed concern to the Elmbrook School Board during its meeting Tuesday dealing with the sexual behavior survey given to students.

The optional survey given to 10th graders in a Brookfield Central health class in December. Students were given the option to take the digital survey, which was anonymous and untraceable.

The questions on the survey asked for "true" or "false" answers or "yes, I have" or "no, I haven't" answers. The survey asked students to respond to statements such as the following:

• "I have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs when having sexual intercourse."
• "I've had sexual intercourse with 4 or more people."
• Other questions asked what type of sex a student had had, what method of birth control a student had used or if a student had had unprotected sex.

Brett Gruetzmacher, Brookfield Central principal, said in a statement that the survey was intended to initiate a conversation about abstinence and behaviors that can lead to sexually transmitted infections. "This survey was not approved through the District's Human Growth and Development Curriculum, and should not have been delivered," Gruetzmacher said.

The district did not discuss which teacher administered the survey, nor did it say what actions would be taken against the teacher.

Pasternak said in the petition the survey is being investigated as a result of "a loud handful of parents."

The parent said if people strongly vocalize their support for the teacher she will continue to teach at the school.