Teacher Suspended: Showed Kids Abortion Film

cbs4.com ^ | Oct 27, 2006 | Evan Bacon

[paltz]

(CBS4) FT. LAUDERDALE An art teacher at a Fort Lauderdale charter school is facing indefinite suspension after showing a self-made documentary on ‘good and evil’ to a group of 10 and 11 year old students, featuring gory abortion scenes. Some students and parents complained, and the school objected, but teacher Marc Greenblum says he has no regrets in showing the graphic video.

The film was shown approximately two weeks ago in Greenblum’s art class at the Downtown Academy of Technology and Arts, a charter school funded with tax dollars and under the oversight of the Broward County School Board.

The video, as described by parents who saw it with school officials, included graphic images of the Holocaust, 9/11, and the Ku Klux Klan, among others, and juxtaposed them with extremely graphic images which were allegedly from abortions.

School officials declined to allow CBS4 to view the video, saying they wanted it first to be viewed by Broward County School District administrators, but one student shared his memories of the presentation.

“It was very gory, and all red all over the place,” said one 11-year-old student whose identity is being withheld by cbs4.com at the request of his parents.

“I don’t have any regrets for having shown it and presented it,” teacher Greenblum said Thursday, admitting that even he found the abortion video in the documentary disturbing enough to make him cry. Some of his students said the video was upsetting.

“There was this disturbing picture of a baby’s hand reaching out from the Mom’s stomach and grabbing the doctor’s finger, and there was a baby in a bucket,” the boy said, describing the film played to his art class by Greenblum.

“It’s just so graphic, and I broke down in tears,” said parent Joan Daniel, whose son attends the school and viewed the documentary. Daniel said she viewed the video for the first time Thursday, after her son complained to her, and she complained to the school.

The film was made with the knowledge of the school, and even featured an interview with the school’s principal, according to parents who viewed the video. However, school officials say they were unaware of the full content of the final product and had not authorized its presentation to students.

“He should not have shown this,” said principal Jim DiSebastian, who suspended Greenblum Thursday after CBS4 News began investigating reports of the video’s classroom presentation.

Daniel said she was upset it took two weeks for the school to show her and another parent the video after they complained, and in that time, other parents were not notified the film had been shown, and teacher Greenblum continued to meet with students. When they viewed the video Thursday, the school has yet to take action against Greenblum, and she was at a loss to understand why.

“Someone that’s an educator should know that this is not acceptable, should already know what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable, and this is way over the line,” Daniel told CBS4’s Evan Bacon in an exclusive interview.

“There are consequences,” said DiSebastian, “and he didn’t think, and it can’t ever happen again.”

But despite the objection of his employers, Greenblum remains unapologetic for showing his young students the graphic and bloody images without the permission of the school or their parents.

“I regret maybe showing it a little prematurely,” Greenblum said, “but having done it, no, and having shown it and educating them and maybe it will change their lives, and they’ll say ‘hey, I saw that' and they’ll talk with someone why may be considering it, and then they can actually touch other lives that way, no, how could you say I would regret that, no.”

Not all parents objected to the video. Some gathered at the school Thursday and spoke in defense of Greenblum, saying they believe students need to know about ‘evil’ in the world.

“Instead of keeping them in the dark”, said one parent, “Might as well they be exposed to everything. That’s my opinion. I have no regret.”

The film was turned over to the Broward County School Board, which controls the charter under which the Downtown Academy of Technology and Arts operates. The Academy receives tax dollars for every student enrolled, and most follow all state laws and meet state and county requirements to keep its charter.

Thursday, school officials said they were looking into the situation but had no immediate reaction.

At least one parent was reported to have withdrawn her child from the school over the incident.

[little jeremiah]

The bottom line is that even the best charter or private schools may show or teach things that parents will be disturbed about. The culture of death and vice is so all-pervasive that parents have to be ultra careful with raising their children.

[Steve_Seattle]

I'm no fan of abortion, but this guy is an art teacher, so why is he using his authority to proselytize on a topic that has nothing to do with his subject matter? If this guy were a liberal showing his art class films about global warming, we'd all be outraged. I think he was out of line.

[Hildy]

These are his words:

But despite the objection of his employers, Greenblum remains unapologetic for showing his young students the graphic and bloody images without the permission of the school or their parents.

“I regret maybe showing it a little prematurely,” Greenblum said, “but having done it, no, and having shown it and educating them and maybe it will change their lives, and they’ll say ‘hey, I saw that' and they’ll talk with someone why may be considering it, and then they can actually touch other lives that way, no, how could you say I would regret that, no.”

The guy is a freaking art teacher. He has another agenda and he's showing who he is. He does not belong in a classroom with children.

[Scotswife]

"The guy is a freaking art teacher. He has another agenda and he's showing who he is. He does not belong in a classroom with children."

If he doesn't want to reconsider his position then he will have to suffer the consequences.
If he is already tenured it will be very difficult to get rid of him.

You don't have much experience with art teachers do you?

[Hildy]

You don't have much experience with art teachers do you?

Apparently not!!! I don't remember going to art class and being shown movies about social issues. I remember alot of paper mache and acrylic paint!!! :)

[Scotswife]

"Apparently not!!! I don't remember going to art class and being shown movies about social issues. I remember alot of paper mache and acrylic paint!!! :)"

That's how it SHOULD be - but it isn't always.
It is difficult to find a good art teacher with a good head on his/her shoulders, who exhibits good common sense, and who keeps their political/social opinions to themselves.

Usually when they go off the deep end, they lean to the left.
What if this teacher had created a pro-abort image using condoms as the medium?
Would he have been suspended? Or merely reprimanded?

[wagglebee]

Hildy, do you think that with older children (say 15 or so) it would be appropriate to show this film is a health class? What if the parents were notified (as opposed to signing permission slips) ahead of time? Do you think it would be appropriate to show this film to EVERY woman who was considering an abortion?

[DadsGirl]

We are not only pro-life, we are pro-parental rights, and, as such, we should not violate our own ethics and principals to try to win the culture war. To impose these images on young children should be offensive to all of us. These are 11 year old children. I am saving my copy of "The Passion of the Christ" to show to my grandchildren when they are old enough to understand the graphic nature of the violence visited on their Lord for their sakes. This type of violent imagry must be reserved for those that are able to handle it. As I read the posts that say "The other side is doing it, so we should, too", I'm shocked that we who call ourselves Christians want to use evil tactics to achieve righteous ends. The death of Christ Himself should prove to us that God can use the evil tactics of others to His righteous ends, but He Himself does not perpetrate evil. Why on earth would we want to? This teacher is wrong, no matter the ends he is trying to achieve.

[Hildy]

do you think that with older children (say 15 or so) it would be appropriate to show this film is a health class? What if the parents were notified (as opposed to signing permission slips) ahead of time

I think that if parents were notified before hand and gave permission, absolutely. I don't understand your point about permission slips and notification. As ar as EVERY woman considering having an abortion, only if they CHOSE to see it.

[wagglebee]

When schools teach sex education, generally the most that is done is a notice to parents. A "non-response" to this is considered consent.

So you support not giving women the facts about their planned surgical procedure? Should doctors be required to tell people the potential risks of other elective surgeries?

[Scotswife]

I don't think many are disagreeing that this film is inappropriate for kids.

One issue seems to be - how to punish the teacher?

In that area, it DOES seem relevant as to how "the other side" has been punished in similar situations.

If he doesn't show remorse or reconsider his tactics - then he will have suffer the consequences - absolutely.

[Hildy]

Would he have been suspended? Or merely reprimanded?

How am I supposed to know? However, if you really go back and read this article, it seems the teacher really went out of his way to get this thing shown. It sounds like he duped the administration, because they said they knew about it, but not how graphic it was going to be. Sounds like he proposed one thing, but did something completely different. Maybe that's why he was suspended? Like everything, we don't know all the facts in this case.

[wagglebee]

As I said, this should probably be toned down for younger children; but when it comes right down to it, I would prefer to see a ten year old girl horrified by the truth than see her commit suicide a few years later because she was never told the truth and was overwhelmed by guilt.

[Hildy]

He also did not get permission to show the video, and that in and of itself, is reason for termination.

[cpforlife.org]

Speaking of an Abortion Film,

Please watch the video available on-line called Hard Truth at Abortion Videos . It is perhaps the most powerful film ever produced on abortion. Actual footage of living, in-utero children and their aborted peers tell the hard truth about abortion in ways "just words" never will. Hard Truth packs such unprecedented power that viewers can scarcely watch without being profoundly affected. In total, the film is only nine minutes long, and except for the introduction, there is no narration.

Then go to http://www.priestsforlife.org/resources/abortionimages/index.htm , and see the horrible reality of abortion via color photographs.

I also highly recommend reading Abortion: the Silent Holocaust. It was written by Fr. John Powell, S.J. (Click on “abortion: books” then scroll.) I believe it is one of the most important books on the subject ever written. This book has overwhelming importance for readers from high-school age onward, as well as adult study. The author speaks directly to the reader as few writers can. He takes you along his personal journeys from his studies in Germany and tour of the death camp in Dachau, through his work in the pro-life movement.

Comprehensive education of adults, and more importantly school students, is
THE MISSING KEY OF THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT

Ignorance is the greatest weapon of the pro-abortion side.

Pro-Life PING

Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

“The attack on life doesn't begin in the womb. It begins in the minds of people.”
--Ron Galloy

[LWalk18]

When schools teach sex education, generally the most that is done is a notice to parents. A "non-response" to this is considered consent.

They teach sex education in art class?

[Scotswife]

If he duped the administration - he will be on their "list" - and will suffer for it.
If he has tenure...it will be difficult for them to get rid of him.
A teacher practically has to commit a crime in order to get fired...but that's a topic for another thread.

[Old Professer]

Reminds me of a thread from a few days ago where a woman who shared a common backyard with a neighbor who had dogs but wouldn't pick up after them took it upon herself to cover the deposits with inverted flower pots.

[wagglebee]

This is a response regarding what I said in #107.

[Hildy]

Do you actually know anyone who committed suicide because they had an abortion? Be honest,