Another example of what's wrong with public education

[Yuvraj]

CHICAGO — A girl and her grandparents have sued the Chicago Board of Education, alleging that a substitute teacher showed the R-rated film "Brokeback Mountain" in class.

The lawsuit claims that Jessica Turner, 12, suffered psychological distress after viewing the movie in her 8th grade class at Ashburn Community Elementary School last year.

The film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.

Turner and her grandparents, Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking around $500,000 in damages.

"It is very important to me that my children not be exposed to this," said Kenneth Richardson, Turner's guardian. "The teacher knew she was not supposed to do this."

According to the lawsuit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court, the video was shown without permission from the students' parents and guardians.

The lawsuit also names Ashburn Principal Jewel Diaz and a substitute teacher, referred to as "Ms. Buford."

The substitute asked a student to shut the classroom door at the West Side school, saying: "What happens in Ms. Buford's class stays in Ms. Buford's class," according to the lawsuit.

[SamTheEagle]

She should have shown Forrest Gump instead.

[Car'a'carn]

So what is the problem? Letting 12 year old in 8th grade?

[whisper]

Ignoring the content of the movie shown, why is a substitute teaching showing an R rated movie to a bunch of 12 & 13 year olds - especially without parental consent - in the 1st place.

Its an R rated movie - what part of R do you think is appropriate for general audiences?

[Car'a'carn]

8th graders should be 14-15 years old not 12-13. IIRC rating R means persons under 17 are not allowed without an adult. Well they were with an adult.

How do you propose for the system to work, if the schools need to ask permission for everything from every parent? We either let the system to "work" or we scrap it. Personally I would like it scraped, but not because of showing movies to 8th graders.

[cubedbee]

Another example of frivolous American lawsuits. I'd like to hear about the half a million of psychological damage that was caused by watching this horrible movie.

[The President]

Originally Posted by Car'a'carn

8th graders should be 14-15 years old not 12-13.

I turned 14 in 8th grade. Some of the kids with birthdays late in the year (october) would have turned 13, so in theory they could be 12 at the start of the year, (and would have turned 16 their jr year in high school, first semester)

[_BullDog_]

Originally Posted by Car'a'carn

8th graders should be 14-15 years old not 12-13. IIRC rating R means persons under 17 are not allowed without an adult. Well they were with an adult.

How do you propose for the system to work, if the schools need to ask permission for everything from every parent? We either let the system to "work" or we scrap it. Personally I would like it scraped, but not because of showing movies to 8th graders.

R - Restricted - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian 21 years or older with photo I.D. So unless you say that the substitute teacher is their adult guardian then she had no right to show the movie. Really what educational purpose does showing that movie have anyways?

[_BullDog_]

Originally Posted by cubedbee

Another example of frivolous American lawsuits. I'd like to hear about the half a million of psychological damage that was caused by watching this horrible movie.

I agree this is a frivolous law suit. Just don't hire that sub again.

[Car'a'carn]

Originally Posted by The President

I turned 14 in 8th grade. Some of the kids with birthdays late in the year (october) would have turned 13, so in theory they could be 12 at the start of the year, (and would have turned 16 their jr year in high school, first semester)

There aren't too many kids who start first grade at 5, so they can be 12 at the beginning of 8th grade.