The San Francisco Chronicle, August 4, 1993:

An attempt by a tiny private high school in rural Sonoma County to provide students with complete information on issues relating to their sexuality has alarmed parents and county authorities.

As part of a sex-education course at the Cazadero Academy last spring, a school official distributed a one-page handout to 14- to 19-year-old students on how to induce an abortion with an herbal tincture.

The detailed instructions explain how to mix herbs such as cohosh and pennyroyal with vodka, then describe a daily and weekly regimen for drinking the tincture until bleeding begins.

But the sheet contains no instructions on what to do if any emergency arises or any suggestion that a woman should consult a parent or physician.

Carol Miller, administrator and teacher at the small school, conceded that the omission was unwise but said that she covered that information in the classroom. "I told the kids if they are going to attempt an abortion on their own," she said, "they should also have guidance from a midwife." ...

"It's basically a good school," said one parent, who asked not to be identified. "But this is too much. I was horrified."

Another parent, Terri Carpenter, said her daughter had discussed the handout with her—but, she added, "I didn't know about the vodka."

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