[freekitty]

Amazing. Free PR from the innocent.

[Hildy]

Do you have a job?

[gaijin]

Great article!

You wrote this? I believe this. It's SCARY...

[Dianna]

According to both my children (one is 6, the other is 11), neither have ever done anything at school. You see, when I ask them, "What did you do at school today?" they reply, "Nothing."

Of course, I am exaggerating for effect. But what does Jason and the Golden Fleece have to do with Troy? I think the "message" might be a bit too subliminal for kids.

[Khurkris]

Good Observation. Its all tied in.

"Do you have a job?"

...huh?

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I know teachers in Kansas assign movies as homework. R-rated movies.

[inflation]

Why didn't you call the school and ask?

[TXBubba]

Sorry, can't go with your theory. These are 3rd and 5th grade children. I can remember "kids" in high school not understanding why they were studying algebra. And I don't think there were any movies involved.

[thoughtomator]

Aliens dressed like Elvis are trying to eat my braaaaaaaaaaain!

[Born in a Rage]

I don't see anything wrong with using current events and pop culture to teach history if it will help grab a students interest. I homeschool my kids and I think the flexibility we have to do that sort of thing is an advantage.

[Katya]

Public schools are all about the poster....
This is my daughters first year in public school, and basically this seems to be the medium of choice for simplistic communication. I don't think it's all that sublime, as in the teachers union in bed with Hollywood.
The teachers in public schools seem to feel that you can't engage the students without complimentary materials swiped from popular culture. It's the one aspect I find entirely annoying...this constant barrage of pop culture. I remember school as being a respite from the sensory overload....but no more.
Fortunately my kids spent their formative early years in a private school where none of the kids watched tv, and we were able to avoid most of this crap.

[SteveH]

"The Greeks," came her answer.

Hey, at least they're studying dead white European culture in contrast to alternatives ;-).

Seriously, my guess is that the teachers in question simply got together and decided to be inspired by whatever happened to be playing at the Saturday matinee. (These things happen...)