...well just bloody typical, and the US society is absurdly litigious.

But there are other reasons to not show this in a classroom of 12-year olds. For one thing it is rated R. For another has a quite graphic sex scene in it. I don't recall seeing on-screen intercourse in any of the other movies on your list - but my memory is not perfect.

Are you sure that Schindler's List and The Passion are routinely shown to kids of this age? (both are rated R)

-Ron.

I will admit, I went to high school in the 80s. Now that I've aged myself, they showed the film "The Lottery," from Shirley Jackson's story. Forget about watching people throw stones at the woman at the end of the film. There is the theme of human sacrifice, sadism (a lot of those people got off on it) and let's not forget that the moral of this tale is not good triumphs over evil, but, karma.

Great post Brian.  We saw Romeo & Juliet in my (public) school too, and the teacher was supposed to turn off the projector (in the days before VCRs) during the sex scene but forgot to do it. A few years later (8th grade, I think), we saw all of Roman Polanski's Macbeth (produced by Playboy films, I kid you not), which featured beheadings galore plus full nudity including the three hags completely shriveled and completely naked.  And THAT'S what put me off women for life, I'm pretty sure.

The parents' hysteria is objectionable and obviously rooted in homophobia, but I don't really agree with your excuses for showing the movie to 12-year-olds, either. You do admit that the teacher showed "exceedingly poor judgment," but then you go on to claim that any 12-year-old girl would be thrilled to watch a Jake Gyllenhaal movie, a statement that is both bizarrely arrogant in its heterosexism and blatantly blind to the fact that there are some things that we, as a society, have decided that 12-year-olds are still too young to see, and a movie in which a man gets beaten to death with tire irons is one of those things. I really don't understand at all what your point was in listing those other movies--I wouldn't want a 12-year-old of mine to see Schindler's List or The Passion of the Christ either, and I certainly wouldn't want him or her to be forced to watch them at school. I am also quite dubious of your implication that Schindler's List or The Passion of the Christ are routinely or even "sometimes" shown in schools to 12-year-olds--maybe to high schoolers, but as any parent can tell you, the difference in maturity can be huge between a 12-year-old (remember, a kid who's 12 is generally in the 6th or 7th grade) and a high schooler. To answer Ron Pieket's question, there are several sex scenes in Schindler's List, at least one of them fairly explicit (especially considering Spielberg's prior tame track record up to that point) but I think the violent content far outweighs the sex when considering that movie's suitability for children. Regarding

Wow, anonymous needs his morning cup of coffee! Yeah, Brian, when I read your post, my first thought too was how it was "bizarrely arrogant" in its heterosexism, not to mention "blatantly blind." (I just like writing that.) Brian, I love the title...Escape from Brokeback Mountain. Made me laugh. But then I did have my morning cup of coffee.

My identical twin, fundie brother and his wife refused to let their children watch Disney's animated Aladdin because the main character was a thief and the movie justified and glorified stealing. They could not watch Disney's Hercules because it was about Greek mythology and their multitude of "Gods" instead of the one, true, Christian God. Harry Potter movies were off limits because of the witchcraft & sorcery. Hell, my partner and I were strolling through a Christian bookstore one day several years ago and noticed an entire section of books decrying the evils of Harry Potter books. Now, of course, Harry is a full-fledged hero to the fundies. And don't forget The Chronicles of Narnia, a fundie favorite. It contains a witch, sorcery, drug use, killing, violent warfare, and other themes usually eschewed by "Christians". Family values, my ASS! Their brand of Christianity does more harm to their children than Brokeback Mountain could ever do.

Considering how much flack BM has caused, I would really question the sanity of that teacher. <(I know grown men who can't handle the film due to its emotional intensity)>, Are you kidding? The grown men I know don't even *know* it has emotional intensity. They just tell their buddies to go to the washroom when Heath gets up and goes into the tent. (okay...they are straight...but still) Regarding the beating death part, I wouldn't want to rush showing kids what homophobia is. I think they need to be exposed to normal, healthy relationships of both the straight and gay variety, first. They will figure out bashing is a bad thing. If they have grown up with a gay-bashing attitude in their lives, it becomes a normal way for them to think. They need positive reinforcement first. I think the subtleties of this movie would be lost on 12 yr. olds.

I don't think ANYBODY is mature (or sick enough) to see P of the C. The high schools do show stuff like Schindler's List. It's harsh and it really needs to be discussed with kids which is what happens in most class rooms. But parents need to be acutely aware of any prejudices that the teacher may have. I've never thought that sex was a problem with kids nearly so much as violence. Most kids are thinking about sex by the time they are 12 and probably having it in a few short years, wether they see it on tv or movies, or not. But, the violence and murder that kids are exposed to on prime time tv has numbed them to the reality of it.

 

 

 

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.

I am going to give this post the benefit of the doubt and assume that lesbianism is included in that list due to the sometimes-hysteria that is involved in its "exposure" to public schools, and not because it should necessarily increase the rating of a film.

A little over six years ago I was in grade ten in a Canadian high school, and we were forced to watch a graphic movie on seal clubbing (it was made in order to show how abominable the practice is, and thus displayed every detail it could).  I and a friend of mine asked to sit in the hall, because we were disturbed by the film's excessive violence (I had nightmares awhile afterwards) but we were instructed to stay in our seats.  It would be interesting to look at whether or not anyone who had faith-related or other objections would be allowed to leave.  Not that 12 year olds can generally be kept from trying to see such "forbidden" things, but I digress.

I have to say I think this substitute teacher demonstrated poor judgement. Brokeback Mountain is an R rated movie which means it should not be shown to 12 year olds. There is a rather explicit first sex scene in the pup tent, which sounds like what these parents are most disturbed about. No matter what many of us may see as blatent hypocrisy, there are rules and regulations which we all have to follow, the teacher broke those rules. There is a law enforced ratings system in this country which must be followed no matter what our beliefs. 

Unfortunately for the school and the teacher this family may have a good case. If the case is won and money awarded, I think it will be based on the sexual content of the movie both gay and straight and not on the content of the movie going against their faith. If they try to push the faith part of their lawsuit they may not stand much of a chance. I'm sure their lawyer will advise them otherwise.  

Wasn't Romeo and Juliet condemned by the Catholic Church decency watchdogs when it first came out? I seem to remember being forbidden to watch it, even though it was an extra-credit assignment in public school.