Similar thing happened at my kid's school. Teacher sent a note home with each kid to explain what had happened and how and why.  She apologised profusely!

I phoned the next day - thanked her for increasing the availability of books for the kids to read - offered to buy some myself - and to check any that she got from other sources.

I wouldn't think it was a big deal.  In fact, it gives me a bit of a chuckle to imagine that Grade 8 boy's surprise!  Sounds like the teacher handled it appropriately.  Kudos to her for her thoughtfulness in purchasing extra resources for her classroom - unfortunate tho that this is done so often by our teachers, usually with their own money.  

If my kid wanted to talk about it, we would - probably with some focus on the exploitations of the porn industry and how this pic was not (IMO) likely a representation of most people's sexual activities.

I think I recall that you teach Grade 8, mistsofspring ... I'm curious about your thoughts.

I think a well thought out explanation would be in order, depending how old yer kid was. I would be nervous to give that talk.

I remember one time when I was in elementary school and we found a page from Hustler magazine on the schoolgrounds. We passed it around and were baffled what we were looking at. It was abstract close up photography, and not very interesting. I knew it was something we shouldn't be looking at. One of the kids might have handed it in, or else dropped it in the garbage, I can't remember.

 Grade 8 -- 13 years old....

If I was the parent, I would laugh...tell the teacher it is fine, and probably nothing that hasn't been snuck around or found on a site somewhere....

i would also thank her for finding books, and ask if she wanted any of his when he was done.

Yes, I teach grade 8.  The boy who found it is actually in my homeroom.  From the teacher perspective, I feel pretty much the same...it's probably not anything that he hasn't found online himself anyway.  I just wasn't sure how a parent would feel.  I -think- I'd feel the same if it was my daughter and she was around 13, but at the moment she's only 4.  Actually, I doubt she'd be able to even guess what was happening in the picture beyond noticing that the people were naked.  I am glad that this happened with a grade 8 class, though.  She could just as easily have been teaching grade 4 this year and Harry Potter could just as easily have been on her shelf.  I think the reaction would be a lot stronger if the kids were 9 and not 13.

Edited to add:  I also realized today that we don't know for sure that the picture was in the book when she bought it at the yard sale; it's entirely possible that a kid at school printed the picture on his/her computer at home and brought it to school to share, then stuffed it in a book on the shelf to avoid being caught with it...or possibly as a joke.

 I would thank the teacher for letting me know and communicate my understanding that these things happen.

When my daughter was in grade 7, a student accidentally brought alcohol  (it was cider - he thought it was dry cider like you get in grocery stores) to a class party.   It was served around and it wasn't until a couple of kids complained that it tasted rotten that the teacher realized to his horror what had happened.  He personally phoned every single parent to apologize.

My response was to reassure him that these things are bound to happen,and then I immediately wrote a letter to the principal, again stating my full support for the teacher and my understanding that it could happen to anyone.  It's been 5 years now....I wonder if he can laugh about it yet?

I agree with others on the parental reaction.

What I am impressed by is the 13 year old boy and that he took the picture to the teacher instead of showing *everyone* in the playground.  Kudos to him for being sensitive to the needs of others, including the teacher.

LB

The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.

     Pablo Casals

If my kid were 13, I wouldn't be near as concerned as if he were still in elem school. I wouldn't say anything, just let it slide.

I'd tell the truth in a minimalist way and move on to something else as quick as is reasonable.