Teacher Suspended After Class Watches '40-Year-Old Virgin'

[The Straight Story]

Teacher Suspended After Class Watches '40-Year-Old Virgin'

POSTED: 5:29 pm EST January 26, 2006

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Showing the R-rated movie "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" during high school Spanish class this week resulted in suspension for the teacher.

Fernando Del Pino was suspended with pay Tuesday for showing the movie to students at Lexington's Tates Creek High School a day earlier, said Lisa Deffendall, spokeswoman for Fayette County Public Schools.

Del Pino, who was hired in August, could not be reached for comment.

The movie is about a 40-year-old single man whose friends try to help him gain experience in sex.

http://www.local6.com/news/6473374/detail.html

To me this is an educational (and darn funny) movie. I can understand a parent's concern of course in not being informed of what your kid is seeing at school (what next, Hostel for geography class?)

[wtmusic]

1. he crossed the line nt

[GrumpyGreg]

2. Why was it being shown in a Spanish class? Sounds like a

lazy teacher to me. Kill 2 hours with a movie instead of teaching what she was being paid to teach.

[seriousstan]

3. The man is fool. He had a legitimate method for showing the movie

and he failed to follow the rules. He deserves the punishment.

"Parents of Tates Creek students must give written permission for their children to watch an R-rated movie at school, according to the school's video policy. Students whose parents object must be given alternative assignments.

The policy also states that the videos/movies "must be part of the lesson plan with genuine instruction objectives.""

Looks pretty straightforward to me. what part of the rules didn't he understand?

[Skelington]

4. He should be suspended WITHOUT pay,

for breaking the rules with such a stupid $%#@&%^ movie!!! It SUCKED!!

[LisaL]

5. I have absolutely no clue what this movie has to do with Spanish.

[otohara]

6. Justified - IMO

I was pretty offended by some of the nasty remarks about women.

[Contrary1]

8. I turned it off after about 10 minutes.

I thoroughly enjoy off-color comedies. This wasn't one of them.

[Connie_Corleone]

7. Hostel should be shown in American Government class.

I can't see any reason to have high school kids watch "The 40-Year-Old Virgin". I saw the movie. It was alright. But, I thought American Pie (the first one) was funnier.

[LizW]

9. That's just bonkers.

Teachers sometimes show current movies to kids, but "The 40-year-Old Virgin"????

I haven't seen it, but I don't get the connection to Spanish class. Sounds like he was killing time.

My son's just in middle school, but if they are going to watch a movie that is even PG-13, the school sends home a permission form we have to sign saying it's alright.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

10. Was it shown in Spanish?

I think it kinda crossed the line, but if it was in a senior class, all of them would be 17+ (minus people who are damned smart). So they are old enough to see it anyways.