The Pitch
County Loosens Ban on R-Rated Movies: Lengthy approval process still unpopular among teachersThursday, November 02, 2006 By Allison Gabala
MCPS has again revised the R-rated movie ban in high schools that was implemented last year. The IIB-RA: Evaluation and Selection of Instructional Material and Library Books now states that students may watch R-rated movies under the stipulations that the movie is approved by MCPS and a parent consent form is signed. With the new revisions, teachers must submit a request for a waiver to show the film, including rationale, specific performance indicators, impact on instructional time, copyright date and cost. The film will then be reviewed by an Evaluation and Selection Committee. MCPS predicts that this will take 60 days or less. If MCPS approves the movie, a parent permission form will be sent home and the movie may be shown to the students. Gail Bailey, Director of the Schools Media Library Program for MCPS, said, “I look at it is establishing criteria and/or guidelines to help the teachers and students select the best material for teaching the MCPS curriculum.” MCPS hopes that the guidelines will better support the new curriculum. Bailey added, “I think teachers will use film in a more purposeful way; consequently, students may have a clearer understanding of the subject area.” WJ Media Specialist Erica Lodish has a different view on the subject. Lodish said, “I think that it is a shame that teachers and professionals can’t be given the responsibility to make their own educated decisions and that the system has become so restricted.” Teachers of all subjects are being affected by the change. Foreign Language teacher Katherine Baird said, “We do an entire film unit. I think there is no way that it [the new policy] is actually going to work. By the time you wait for the waiver and permission slips, there is no point. Plus, there will always be that one kid who forgets to turn in the forms. What do you do with them? It’s just too much energy.” |