Youngsters Learning about Curse Words in Middle School

NBC -- You'd be shocked to see what 21 nasty words were exposed to 11 and 12-year-olds in class at Tioga Middle School.

This was the faculty's instructions? "These Are The Words That You Are Using For The Lesson On Cussing."

A sympathetic teacher secretly gave the parents of 12-year-old Tioga student Phoenix Hawkins the list.

In Phoenix Hawkins mind, the cussing lesson backfired.

"She didn't tell us the meaning. And I heard other words in the hallway say those words," said Hawkins.

After seeking the meaning of the slang term for oral sex from his mom, a disturbed Erin Hawkins sought answers and the list of dirty words from school Principal Ray Avila and district administrators.

On Tuesday, Principal Ray Avila said he wouldn't give up the list.

"Inappropriate at this time. We feel that it's confidential information."

On Wednesday a shocked mother, Erin Hawkins and fiancé' Tim Baber saw the 21 words for the first time.

"Whatever words these children know and bring to school, in their minds, that's what they know and they don't need to teach them any new words," said Hawkins.

School leaders felt instructing kids not to use these dirty words would curb profanity.

Avila says it worked.

Baber doesn't believe it.

"No one will disagree that this is was inappropriate. This is crass slang. This is not cuss words. This is slang. And I wish I could read these words one by one to every parent," said Baber.

Phoenix says he'd like to keep is innocence as long as possible.

Avila has said they should have included parents in this lesson prior to exposing the profanity to the kids.

But Hawkins and Baber say they have now lost confidence in Ray Avila's ability to lead Tioga Middle School.

Concerned parents plan an information protest as students and teachers arrive here for classes in the morning.