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Lawsuit over Brokeback Mountain in class
ednbarby:
Perhaps I'm reading too much into this (I'm guessing not), but I think the thing the girl was "traumatized" by was the homosexuality. That whole "against our faith" thing regarding the "literature" they were having the kids read (What was it? Some Graham Greene stuff? ;)) is a dead giveaway.
While I agree that a teacher is ill-advised to show any R-rated film to a class of 12-year-olds, I can't help but think that this girl and her family need to get a frigging clue. I'm sorry, but really.
I think Daniel makes a very valid point re: Schindler's List. My husband was a Catholic altar boy who, at the age of 10 or 11, was shown graphic documentary footage of the treatment of Jews in concentration camps in his fifth grade classroom. It fucked him up big-time. Was the teacher wrong to show it? That's a tough one. On the one hand, it did indeed traumatize him enough that he basically became an atheist on the spot. On the other hand, he still thanks that teacher for showing him the light (or maybe a better term is the darkness).
It'd be one thing if this girl was traumatized by Jack's murder or by the heterosexual sex scenes which are actually quite a bit more explicit, as we all know, than the homosexual ones. But clearly that's not the issue.
God, I hate what Bush has done to this country. So to speak. I also can't help but think that this kind of crap would not fly at all if we had a social liberal in the White House. Nor should it. Ever.
Kerry:
--- Quote from: jpwagoneer1964 on May 13, 2007, 09:15:31 pm ---A teacher should not be showing ANY R rated move to a 12 year old student.
--- End quote ---
I agree. If Brokeback Mountain can effect an adult's life to the point where it's changed forever (MINE!), imagine what it can do to a child's. I have never before seen a film that has made such an enormous impression on me. I love Brokeback Mountain, which is why I'm here at BetterMost. But I personally don't believe it should be shown to children. Apart from the nudity, swearing and sex scenes, there are other aspects of Brokeback Mountain that are probably not appropriate for children to see; for example, the portrayal of the trauma created by divorce (I wonder why this child is living with her grandparents?). I also believe the depiction of adults incessantly smoking does not set a good example for children. These people may be genuine in their claim or they could, alternatively, be simply trying to opportunistically cash-in on this teacher's mistake. Because that's what I believe it was, a mistake on the part of the teacher. If the teacher was wanting to explain the gay lifestyle to her class (there may have been a child in the class with two mummies, who was maybe being bullied by the other children?), there are certainly more appropriate ways to do so. Here in Australia, for example, there are a series of lovely children's books that explain this issue in children's terms.
ednbarby:
I don't know of any such series of books in this country, Kerry, unfortunately. As Daniel said, for a land "of the free," we sure are also free to be just as hateful as we want.
But I agree - it was inappropriate for that teacher to show Brokeback to 12-year-olds. It's an R-rated movie, plain and simple.
The raciest thing I was ever shown in school at about that age was Franco Zefferelli's "Romeo and Juliet." And I still thank that teacher every day of my life for starting my love affair with Shakespeare. Robert Warren was his name - a Vietnam vet who lost a leg over there, sort of ironically enough. I was in the 8th grade. And I was utterly captivated. I don't know what the rating was at that time or if there even was a ratings system in place. While there was certainly no nudity, there were adult themes galore: unconditional physical love; family ties that make us feel behooved to be somebody we're not; societal intolerance; suicide. I see Brokeback as a version of that story.
I'm sure that teacher had the best of intentions. She wanted to show the class a modern-day "Romeo and Juliet" and she probably also wanted to teach them a little something about acceptance and love. But knowing it was R-rated already put her in muddy waters. I feel for her, but ultimately I think she was wrong. I also think it's wrong to sue over something like this. The school board apparently did not know she was showing the film (given the closed door bit). The grandparents must be aware of this. And yet they sue anyway. They are just trying to make a point, a la Beth Farmer in "Donnie Darko," and like hers, their point is "We don't like to be exposed to anything different from what we believe." I'm sorry, again, but get the hell over it.
injest:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on May 13, 2007, 10:21:10 pm ---I don't know of any such series of books in this country, Kerry, unfortunately. As Daniel said, for a land "of the free," we sure are also free to be just as hateful as we want.
But I agree - it was inappropriate for that teacher to show Brokeback to 12-year-olds. It's an R-rated movie, plain and simple.
The raciest thing I was ever shown in school at about that age was Franco Zefferelli's "Romeo and Juliet." And I still thank that teacher every day of my life for starting my love affair with Shakespeare. Robert Warren was his name - a Vietnam vet who lost a leg over there, sort of ironically enough. I was in the 8th grade. And I was utterly captivated. I don't know what the rating was at that time or if there even was a ratings system in place. While there was certainly no nudity, there were adult themes galore: unconditional physical love; family ties that make us feel behooved to be somebody we're not; societal intolerance; suicide. I see Brokeback as a version of that story.
I'm sure that teacher had the best of intentions. She wanted to show the class a modern-day "Romeo and Juliet" and she probably also wanted to teach them a little something about acceptance and love. But knowing it was R-rated already put her in muddy waters. I feel for her, but ultimately I think she was wrong. I also think it's wrong to sue over something like this. The school board apparently did not know she was showing the film (given the closed door bit). The grandparents must be aware of this. And yet they sue anyway. They are just trying to make a point, a la Beth Farmer in "Donnie Darko," and like hers, their point is "We don't like to be exposed to anything different from what we believe." I'm sorry, again, but get the hell over it.
--- End quote ---
Oh I agree completely that therapy and a lawsuit is ridiculous!
Making a mountain out of a molehill...and causing more 'harm' to that kid than any movie ever could!
Kerry:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on May 13, 2007, 10:21:10 pm ---I don't know of any such series of books in this country, Kerry, unfortunately.
--- End quote ---
The books are written by Vicky Harding and are titled:
* My House
* The Rainbow Cubby House
* Koalas on Parade
* Going to Fair Day
The complete teachers' manual by Vicky Harding, titled "Learning to Include - Teaching & Learning about Diverse Families in a Primary School Setting," is available at:
www.hotkey.net.au/~learn_to_include/pdf/manual.pdf
It is a a PDF file, which means you will need to have Adobe Acrobat on you PC to view it. Adobe Acrobat if free, at their site.
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