By David Eck

ARCHDIOCESE — Whether it’s an adult magazine hidden in a bedroom or today’s Internet web sites, adolescents sneaking peeks at pornography is not a new problem. But the likelihood of kids encountering pornography has increased as its outlets have proliferated.

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, children ages 12-17 are the largest group of consumers of online pornography.

CT PHOTO/ISTOCK

The world-wide pornography industry’s estimated revenue jumped to $97 billion in 2006 from $57 billion the year before.

Porn industry revenues are larger than those of the top technological companies combined.

There are 420 million pornographic web pages, nearly 90 percent of which are U.S.-based.

40 million U.S. adults visit pornographic websites regularly.

But discussions of pornography — and about protecting oneself on the Internet — are finding their way into local Catholic school classrooms.

In the younger grades, teachers and administrators focus on Internet safety.

"They really are trying to educate kids," said Jan Kennedy, an assistant superintendent in the archdiocesan Catholic Schools Office. "It’s something that has to be internalized so that kids understand the dangers so (they) can protect themselves."

Younger students also need to be made aware that they may accidentally find pornographic web sites when they are online.

As students move into the junior and high school grades, classroom discussions at high schools include human dignity, postponing sex, abuse and use of pornography

"We have posters year round throughout the school that nurture those positive values," said Elder High School’s principal, Tom Otten. "We hit it in our health class. We hit it in our religious classes."

Parents brought officials from a local pregnancy center to the school to discuss pornography, Otten said. The school also has a Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter in which the topic is discussed.

"We’re trying to reinforce the values that they are taught at home. It’s pretty much what the parents expect us to do," Otten said. "We’re here to tell them ‘Your parents have it right.’ "

Teachers are also encouraged to tackle subjects and discussions as they come up in classes.

"It’s all about the teachable moment. If it’s a teachable moment, grab it, run with it," Otten said. "Our job here is to educate. There is no value to pornography."

At St. Xavier High School, the topic is addressed in several ways. The school surveys freshman and seniors on pornography and other behaviors, and covers the issue in sophomore religious classes, junior morality curriculum and a senior elective relationships class.

"As far as how we handle it in class, we try to do it in an open style that encourages students to be honest about the role pornography plays in their lives," said Bill Schlater, chair of the school’s religion department. "The initial goal is to bring this topic to the light and show it for what it is."

"Others would be that these boys begin to realize that pornography isn’t harmless or victimless. It has an effect on their lives and their psyches and the lives of those involved in the industry," he said. "We do discuss it and teach directly that it is a severe objectification of women and therefore a sin."

Bringing pornography out in the open takes some the mystique from it and allows for broadened discussion.

"It really thrives in the dark," Schlater said. "Once you begin to discuss it, it opens up."

Students tend to be open to the discussions, Schlater said, and parents are appreciative that the issue is also being covered at school.

"The majority of parents seem to feel pretty good that we’re doing something about it," he said. "Most of them are very happy we’re aware of it and addressing it formally."

Administrators in the archdiocese also discuss the topic as it relates to human dignity and the objectification of women. It’s important that students are taught that sexuality is a gift, and that pornography can threaten that gift.

Pornography can threaten marriage as it destroys intimacy, according to the USCCB.

"Pornography on so many levels is a threat to human dignity," Kennedy said. "If we neglect that human dignity fact, we cannot claim we are respectful of life."