Teacher at DC suspended for showing clips of Passion

[cycloneye]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/03/08 ... index.html

I haven't seen the movie yet so I dont have an opinon about it but I haved seen critics against the film because of many violent scenes however many people like the movie too and the expectation that this film has had at the media has made it the most grossed film since Titanic in less than 2 weeks of showing.

[GalvestonDuck]

School officials also said they are looking into how Anthony obtained a copy of the film, which has not been released on video.

That was the first question that came to my mind. I'm not opposed to him showing it in class IF he had an authorized copy, which I don't think is possible yet.

[cycloneye]

That also is my question how does he had a copy so early just days after the films debut?????

[Aslkahuna]

aside from having a possible Pirate copy to the religious angle. The Film is R Rated which means that if he didn't have the Parent's permission to show it to any kids under 17 he and the school could be in deep doo-doo from that angle as well. Of course, he might have also only shown trailers of the film.

Steve

[rainstorm]

i believe he siad he showed clips of the movie. they have been out for months

[timNms]

Regardless of what he showed, the film is rated R. Parental permission, along with administration permission should have been gotten BEFORE he showed the clips. When I taught, we were not allowed to show anything with a rating over G without parental permission. All of the movies we showed had to be approved by the principal.

[chadtm80]

Same here Tim.. Anything over G HAD to have a permission slip no matter how old you are.. The teacher goofed and is getting punished.

[Anonymous]

Same here Tim.. Anything over G HAD to have a permission slip no matter how old you are.. The teacher goofed and is getting punished.

I think the issue is probably partially that such a graphic movie was being shown to relatively young students, but more importantly that the copies of the movie are not legally available to the public (obviously).

At my public high school in the northwest DC suburbs, teachers frequently show R-rated movies without parent permission forms (just last week we watched "A Time to Kill" in English class with no prior notice). I guess most people around here just figure kids see and hear a lot worse walking down the halls of the school than they will in such movies (which is the truth); I don't think there are many instances of parent complaints.

[Chris the Weather Man]

Brett, Are you a High School Senior?

[mf_dolphin]

The thing is all it takes is one parent to complain and then the stuff hits the fan. I personally question showing clips from an R rated movie to 6th graders without their parents consent. As others have said, the source of the clips also seem to be a big question.

[timNms]

The thing is all it takes is one parent to complain and then the stuff hits the fan. I personally question showing clips from an R rated movie to 6th graders without their parents consent. As others have said, the source of the clips also seem to be a big question.

Once upon a time I taught 7th-10th grade. I wouldn't show anything without the principal's approval. If it had a rating other than "G", I sent parents a permission slip to sign. I rarely showed anything that wasn't educational (tied into the lesson being taught.)
Marshall is right. All it takes is one parent to complain and the trouble begins. There once was a time when teachers were respected by the parents and the children were taught by those parents to respect the teachers. Now-a-days it seems as though many people look at teachers as a way to make some easy money by bringing a law suit against them. I wonder why that is happening so often because teachers surely have little or no money!

[chadtm80]

At my public high school in the northwest DC suburbs, teachers frequently show R-rated movies without parent permission forms (just last week we watched "A Time to Kill" in English class with no prior notice). I guess most people around here just figure kids see and hear a lot worse walking down the halls of the school than they will in such movies (which is the truth); I don't think there are many instances of parent complaints.

You have to be kidding me.. Frequently show R-rated filmes with no permission slips? Well I think that is just wrong. I also couldnt dis-agree more with your well they here worse walking down the halls theory.. Im sure my son is going to hear some bad things when he starts school, but it dosent mean I will add to it. Thats just a flacky argument imo.

[CajunMama]

You also realize that the teacher was bringing religion into a public school which is frowned upon. Personally I believe that 6th graders are probably not too young to view the graphic details...look at the video games their parents let them play.

[chadtm80]

Yes, but the parents get to decide if there kids get to play the video games. Not the school

[Anonymous]

At my public high school in the northwest DC suburbs, teachers frequently show R-rated movies without parent permission forms (just last week we watched "A Time to Kill" in English class with no prior notice). I guess most people around here just figure kids see and hear a lot worse walking down the halls of the school than they will in such movies (which is the truth); I don't think there are many instances of parent complaints.

You have to be kidding me.. Frequently show R-rated filmes with no permission slips? Well I think that is just wrong. I also couldnt dis-agree more with your well they here worse walking down the halls theory.. Im sure my son is going to hear some bad things when he starts school, but it dosent mean I will add to it. Thats just a flacky argument imo.

Well I do see your point and to some extent agree that a little more discretion should probably be used. But really... I'm not sure when or where you went to High School, but there is really no comparison between your standard R-rated movie and the kind of talk that occurs around the school, in the halls, in classrooms, etc. -- literally anything and everything related to sex and sex acts is fair game for being heard discussed in the hallways on a daily basis, and foul language is the norm (and I must admit I have a habit of using some of the language myself, although I try to limit it in front of those I know would be offended).

Now the R-rated movies we have watched in-class throughout my two and a half years in high school have almost always pertained to the subject/topic being studied, and normally were the more "borderline" R's. In the case of "A Time to Kill," the R rating was probably due to nothing more than foul language and violence, both of which needed to be included to accurately portray the Southern race situation. Showing this to a class of high-school juniors (16-17 years old) doesn't seem like such a crime to me, although I'm sure there are many here who disagree.

[timNms]

brettjrob, do you talk that way in front of your parents? My mother would have KILLED me if I'd done something like that lol.

You are right about school being different now than it was when I was in high school. When I taught 7th-10th grade, it wasn't completely uncommon to hear students using profanity. However, in the school I was teaching at, kids were sent to ISS for using profanity (in some instances, sent home).

[Lindaloo]

Well that explains ALOT!!

I agree chad 100%

[Rainband]

School is not a place for R rated movies. Even if some of the kids didn't mind. I am sure the others and their parents did

[Anonymous]

(Edited at the request of KOW... misinterpretation of Linda's post on my part)

Now for my response to the comment and what you're implying. It doesn't explain anything; you do not know me, you have never met me, and you have no clue what I am like... in fact, the only information you do have about me comes from a small sample of less than 100 posts in an Off-Topic forum of a weather message board.

The irony in this is that you seem convinced that I am some lost soul and hopeless deviant who has a negative impact on the world. You obviously hold Christian principles and values very high in importance... and for the most part, my daily actions adhere to the most fundamental of those principles better than many others my age. The only areas where I "stray" are superficial... profanity, lack of religious faith, and other so-called sins that, while the object of much contempt by your religion, are pragmatically unimportant. I get up every day hoping to make the best of what life has to offer, and make sure to have as little of a negative impact on others' lives as possible. You will not see me harassing or bullying other people; you will see me going about my business and allowing everyone else to do the same.

Now let's flip things around; let's consider the many, many teenagers out there who are baptized Christians, attend Church every Sunday... hell, maybe they're even in the Bible Club at school. They are doing great in the superficial area of faith and trust in God; their failings, however, are numerous when it comes to adhering to all the principles set forth in the Bible. Profanity, sexual experimentation, bullying, social elitism... you name it, they do it. This is a good description of many of the Christians I see at my school every day, and most of what they are doing (other than believing in God) you would not approve of.

Now tell me... which is worse for the world?

[Lindaloo]

Um brett? I was replying to Chad. tks. HUH?!!