Camp intern fired over lesbian talk

A 22-year-old intern at a San Diego County office of education outdoor camp program was fired after she discussed lesbianism with sixth grade students at the camp, according to school officials. Jim Esterbrooks, a spokesman for the San Diego County office of education, said the intern at Camp Cuyamaca intervened when some of the students were calling one another lesbians. She explained that their behavior was inappropriate and then told them about her own first lesbian encounter. "This type of discussion is clearly inappropriate to be happening in a classroom or in a school setting. It is something that should be happening in the home with parents," Esterbrooks said Wednesday. Esterbrooks said the training for interns is specific. "We advise them really clearly that everything they say and do with children needs to be appropriate," he said. The name of the intern was not released. The incident occurred on February 17, and a letter dated February 18 was sent to parents of students at Joan MacQueen Middle School who attended the camp. Esterbrooks said the school's principal planned to send another letter to parents this week because of media coverage of the incident. The San Diego County office of education said it would review its training program. (AP)