Teacher could lose job for showing F9/11

[GimmeDANEger]

A Central High School teacher is in some hot water, and it's all over a movie. As WVLT Volunteer TV's Corrina Collins reports, the R-rated and controversial movie, Fahrenheit 9/11 was recently shown to teenagers in one class. Now some moms and dad's are upset.

Cindy Stewart is a Central High School mom. She says, "I can't believe we had no prior warning, there was nothing sent home to us to tell us they were gonna have this movie played in English class." Stewart's son delivered quite a surprise over dinner Thursday night. She says, "Out of the blue, he says, 'You know Michael Moore is a jerk,' and I said, 'Why would you say that?,' he goes, 'We've been watching Fahrenheit 9/11 in class."

Cindy Stewart notified Central High's assistant principal this mornings, and Suzanne Miller wasn't allowed to show the remainder of Fahrenheit 9/11 today. Ed Hedgepath says Suzanne Miller's punishment could range from a verbal reprimand to termination.


http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2437749&nav=4QcHS3uX

We need to do something to make sure that this brave woman is not terminated.

Searching google, I found this

http://www.google.com/local?q=Central-High-School&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&near=Knoxville,+TN&radius=0&latlng=35960555,-83920833,1099851712674005996

It looks like that's the school in question. #'s [phone]. Please call them during school hours and ask that they do not fire this woman!

[JohnKleeb]

1. I have to tell my film teacher about this

She feels tempted to show it to us but if afraid for her job.

[greenbriar]

2. As a teacher who payed 4 times to take different people to see the show

I would NOT show it in my classroom.

It is hard enough to not show bias in my govt class. I do want the kids to research their beliefs and choose who they feel ( do I want them to all vote Kerry...of course) do I have the right to tell them who/what to vote for? NO


now, extra credit opportunities??? you bet

[3113]

7. I would think that when you present all of the facts to your students...

in an unbiased manner that their choice should be obvious. I know, I know, only in a perfect world.

[greenbriar]

9. during summer school, I had my students do a web quest

researching the major issues...they had to choose 5 that were most important to them,

next they researched each candidate's platform and match them to their issues


I don't remember all the class numbers but my biggest class of 42 came down to 2 nader (they love the pot aspect) 4 bush...abortion and the rest Kerry.

I did nothing but give them the guidelines and the web pages.


I was quite pleased with my students!!!

[PinkTiger]

3. Look, it was a stupid move on her part.

The movie is way too controversial for High School, it is rated R, and as much as I am a fan of Michael Moore, I know that to show this film to underage persons in a public school environment is a breach of trust.

That said, I have been showing it to my college students in public relations writing class.
We are discussing it as a propaganda tool and dissecting the powerful messages used.

[bluestateguy]

4. As long as the teacher presents an opposing point of view I fine with this

If she also showed a puff piece like DC 911 or had them read a neo-con book I think this is fine.

[greenbriar]

5. the content is not age appropriate for highschool kids

In my opinion


in a classroom setting.

I have some very zealous parents. One of my students is FORBIDDEN to study greek mythology. STUPID I KNOW>>> but it is not my place to say so to that parent.

to have classes of 40 15-16 year olds hearing burn mother fucker is not good in the classroom

[bluestateguy]

8. You may be right

Junior year we were shown the movie "Boyz in the Hood" in the classroom, but I think it worked out just fine, but the parents were contacted first.

[greenbriar]

10. I should mention I live in KS

bible belt city

[kokomo]

13. Had a parent complain about my showing a film of fruit flies having sex.

There's always that one parent.....

Instead of spending a month breeding flies I showed a good film on the crossing of phenotypes over several generations. Plus I didn't have the funds for the bottles, bananas, live flies, ether, etc. to supply labs for 125 sophomores.

I had to allow this one girl to study in the library while I showed the film, as her parents didn't want their 15 year-old daughter to see flies humping. She had heard about it from others in my morning classes, telephoned her parents who phoned my principal. She also flunked a quiz on Punnett squares then....guess that was my fault.

Because her parents cited religious reasons, she was also able to opt out of watching other nature films from Discovery and National Geographic as there was also animal sex in some of them. She also go to sit out the whole chapter on human sexuality. She barely got her credit, and I curved her grades UP as I didn't want any more heat from her parents nor did I want her back for another year. Hopefully, she never would need the knowledge, just become another dense American watching soaps, having babies.

[Kire]

6. my high school sociology teacher showed us 'Roger & Me'

it really affected me, I became a Sociology major in college

Pets or Meat?

[dave502d]

11. Yes, but Bush could lose his job to.

[MatrixEscape]

12. I am not sure .....

While I can see that politically, it may not be a good idea to expose oneself to the problems that ensue from showing this in a High School class, I have problems with the issue.

If you have researched the subject, or read, "Lies my Teacher Told me" you know that most History textbooks are a form of propaganda. They indulge in heroification and omit important details, etc. Some argue that children should initially be exposed to only pro-government views about History.

Of course, one could respond that teaching critical thinking along with the process of a wider spectrum of exposure through Grade School and on, would allow for a more balanced understanding. Promoting a "patriotic" view and loyalty to one's Government does not have have to be at odds with that.

It seems that, in this case, political and public opinion is clearly shaping education in a more direct, immediate way now. It could be likened to book burning, although I admit that F9/11 is a documentary with a particular message and it is not in the same league as classical literature.

I would caution that this knee-jerk reaction by parents and educators deserves more careful consideration of what is implied and what is at stake. Perhaps this documentary would be best presented in conjunction with opposing ideas and opinions.

I tend to think of books that have been banned and burned in the past. I could think of Orwell's 1984 as being vulnerable as a society moves closer and closer to the kind of political message it warns against.

I won't go into taboo words, but I find that placing too much significance on the horrors and danger of a "bad" word or two represents a form of immaturity and misguidance on the part of adults themselves. The designation of words as good or bad may have some practical values, but in the end the practice can serve as a form of thought control. Context is important when using words, but overlooking a work because it contains some words deemed vulgar or offensive is almost a service to Elitism and a travesty if it yields censorship of ideas and open-minded contemplation.

I admire that teacher for boldly taking a chance and I hope that the penalty is not too severe.