Posted on 05/06/2003 1:00:21 PM PDT by yonif
DERBY — A student teacher under an internal investigation after showing the movie "A Clockwork Orange" to a high school contemporary issues class has been placed on leave until the completion of the investigation.
Superintendent of Schools Martin Gotowala sent an e-mail to Board of Education members informing them that the student teacher would be placed on leave. The student teacher, who has not been identified by school officials, began his leave Friday.
The investigation was the result of a complaint filed with Gotowala’s office by school board member Walter Mayhew, whose son Garrett, 18, is a student in the class. Mayhew said both he and his son found the movie to be inappropriate for a high school class, saying the movie amounts to "porn."
On Monday, Derby High School Principal Charlie DiCenso said the investigation into the incident is continuing and that Gotowala was waiting to speak with the teacher’s adviser at Southern Connecticut State University before issuing a final decision.
DiCenso did not elaborate on what type of disciplinary action the student teacher might face, but said he expects the investigation will be completed soon.
"It’s too early right now to say what will happen," said DiCenso.
Mayhew said he felt the investigation was taking a long time.
"The superintendent and the principal have both said the film is inappropriate so really there’s not much left," said Mayhew, a pastor of the Christian Community Church.
During an April 29 meeting of the Board of Education’s Policy Committee, Mayhew urged the committee to adopt a policy that would create more oversight over what movies are shown in school classrooms. He said he believes there should be a review process for showing movies in the schools.
"Someone should be held accountable if an objectionable film is shown," said Mayhew.
Not everyone, however, agrees with Mayhew’s characterization of the movie as "objectionable." Students in the contemporary issues class say it is important to view the film as part of the ongoing class discussion about morality. One student said it is important to face the issues discussed in the movie head-on instead of ignoring them.
The movie was released in 1972 and is considered by many critics as a classic and one of director Stanley Kubrick’s finest works. The movie is set in futuristic London and is based on a book by Anthony Burgess.
The movie’s main character is in a gang that roams about the city, seeking victims in crimes that range from robbery to rape.
"Having read in the paper that the video might have been seen as offensive to girls in the class because of the rape scenes, as a female who saw the movie in class I was not offended. Rape happens to young women, to pretend otherwise is foolish," Sarah Sheridan wrote in an e-mail. "That is like closing your eyes when an old lady is being mugged; it hurts more than it helps."
School officials say they had already begun a review of the school video policy after a screening of "Saving Private Ryan" in the high school. Many parents had called to complain that scenes in the movie were too graphic. The film was being used to supplement a class on the Invasion of Normandy.
Gotowala did not return calls for comment Monday.
As far as showing "Saving Private Ryan" to teach about the Normandy invasion, why not use "The Longest Day" instead? It was more accurate and focused on the big picture from both sides.
That's what I'm seeing here. No practice teacher should be showing a movie or presenting any material in the classroom without the approval of a supervising teacher.
If the supervising teacher approved this; that's the person who should go. The standards of what materials can be used should be very mainstream for a practice teacher. If the school doesn't have such a policy, it's the adminisistration that should be on the line. If a supervising teacher approved this, there's your culprit.
I really can't believe that A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is part of the curriculum. Assuming this practice teacher is relatively young, I can't believe this person has the maturity or knowledge to explain the movie appropriately.
Sounds to me like some overgrown kid who wants to be a teacher decided to be "cool" with the class.
This student teacher is in deep, a blemish on his/her record at this point could deny him/her a public school teaching cert. in the state. The supervising teacher should buck up to the responsibility and take the blame. Tenure is a strong shield.
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