We had to watch Titanic in my Aquatic Science class and I always hated the hype built up around that movie so I refused to watch it. I finally watched it for the first time a few months ago. It was about what I expected.

Back on topic.

First, there is no mainstream (read: high production value) "documentary" of the opposing view to global warming because there isn't a whole bunch of rich people that want to make a movie about it. I think we can agree that the people saying global warming, if it exists, is caused by humans are "Global Warming Experts," which means that if there is no global warming they are out of a job. I have not seen the Al Gore movie, so I can't make any judgments other than him being an arrogant, hypocritical sack of shit that made this movie just so that he would be relevant again, and like all politicians he needs fame and a job (bling bling on the liberal speech circuit!). That being said, if the movie is heavy on political agenda, I don't think it should be shown. If it states the opinions of the scientists and labels the information they present as "probable" or "likely" then I'm all for it. If the movie presents the information as FACT then I don't think it should be shown. I don't mind a bunch of kids seeing a movie that will get them thinking about their impact on the environment and interest them in doing more research, but I don't want agenda driven hollywood productions shown to them in an environment where they are forced to watch.

(Cliff's Notes: If the movie is anything like a Michael Moore film where it twists the truth and spins everything, it should not be shown.)

On a side note, I know that the company that helped Al Gore make this film offers a seminar where they teach you how to present the material that Al Gore presents in the film and give you the rights to the Power Point presentation to spread the word. Of course, you have to pay for the rights and the seminar. I think it would be hilarious if they sued the school district for showing the movie.

As far as Brokeback Mountain? That one is more simple. That movie should not be shown in any circumstance I can think of in public school. The subject matter is intended for mature audiences and should only be shown to a young person at the discretion of their parents.


SHIT (I had to put this here because I got to the end and realized that it's my first techsans post that is void of profanity)

I suppose I can see why people wouldn't want an inconvenient truth shown in the classroom.

As for Brokeback Mountain, I don't see what the big deal is. It's just a little sex and not very graphic sex at that. 12-13 is the age kids start developing sexually, so that's the best time for them to be exposed to it.

Yeah, but if it were shown it should be shown in the proper context with a full explanation from someone. That is a tender age for kids. I'm sure there are a lot of kids that have been raised by their parents to be homophobic, so those kids will be cracking jokes, insulting gays, etc. If a young kid is watching the movie and thinks he might be gay, he's going to either be forced into the closet for a long time for fear of being hated or his self esteem is going to plummet. I'm not against introducing homosexual material into the classroom, but I don't know if a fictional movie with as much hype built around it and set in the old west is the best way to do it.

IMO...I have no problem with films being shown in the class IF THERE IS A STRONG CONNECTION TO THE TOPIC AT HAND. For instance, I think in a science class, when talking about the atmosphere and mans effect on the earth, National Geographic has a LOT of really good films. If you wanted to actually use film as a teaching tool, you could also use things such as environmental activist films (Incovenient truth) and contrast it to something a bit more..... scientific. Counterbalance things to show multiple viewpoints. The recent Romeo and Juliet was also brought up. I think that it would not be a terrible idea to show it to an english class to show a more modern styling of what happened (my English teacher used West side story), or even better, have them write an assignment that shows what they think would happen now instead of having them waste a whole class being uncreative.

However, I think if a film is going to be shown in class the teacher should fill out a request form in advance, with specific topics that the film is intended to cover, and the purpose of the activity filled out in a lesson plan format, complete with objectives, additional activities, TEKS requirments, the whole shibang. I also feel that the teacher (for his or her own protection) should get it cleared thru the school first and recieve a copy of SOMETHING saying that they have gotten it approved IN WRITING.

I know this seems like a lot....but for Christ's sake, filling out lesson plans and requests are not that hard, and its for both the teachers protection AND (more importantly) the students protection.


anyway...thats my spiel on it.,

The day those kids can grow up without ever having to hear those kinds of jokes will be a great day for all of man kind. As it is though, young gay kids learn at a very young age that there are people out there that don't like them because of their sexuality.

I will grant you that there are much better gay movies out there (I recommend Dorian Blues to anyone who hasn't seen it ), but I think Brokeback mountain would still be a decent choice. I mean, it deals with two people who have gay feelings but still try to act the way that society expects them. And that's something that a lot of kids that age can relate to whether or not it's because they're gay.

I just think that a teacher showing their class a film like Brokeback Mountain can be taken completely out of context and confuse the children. What if kids at that age (12-13) haven't started to think about their sexual attraction and are swayed to think that the reason they don't think about the opposite sex is because they are gay. Kind of the opposite of kids being taught they are straight forever only to find out they are gay later. I don't know, obviously I'm ignorant on this subject to an extent, but I don't agree that showing that movie to kids of that age without consent from parents is a bad idea. I don't consider myself homophobic, but I still feel uncomfortable at the sight of two men kissing or being affectionate, so some kids might feel the same way. I contribute that to societal influences. It's probably a good idea for schools to introduce the idea of homosexuality at a younger age, but I really don't think our society is at that point yet. Unfortunately it's like integrating black people into white society: you have those who see homosexuals as normal people and those who think they're sub-human. It takes a while for the thought of equality to work its way in through the younger generations.

I think I just babbled a whole lot.

NINJA EDIT: I'm mostly opposed because it just seems creepy that it was shown by a Substitute teacher. If some kind of point is being taught over this it should have been introduced by a teacher who knows the class more intimately than a sub and is there for the long haul to continue the education of this matter.

and this is the kind of opinion that further pussifies the young people of our country. the idea nowadays seems to be, lets not teach our kids to deal with adversity, lets not let them get in fights at school, lets not spank them that's too harsh, lets not keep score we don't want them to get upset if they lose. it doesn't have to do with gays. kids make jokes in school. they're KIDS. they'll make fun of the fat kids, they'll make fun of the skinny kids, they'll make fun of the short kids, they'll make fun of the clef-palette kids, they'll make fun of the wheelchair kids, they'll make fun of anything, any race, any color, any accent. about any kid. if we can't teach our young population to deal with these kinds of pressures, we'll have the 100% pussification of an entire generation of americans.

as far as showing movies goes, most parents have a certain level of morals & virtues they teach their kids. /gasp RULES even. a teacher at a public school shouldn't be undermining the parents ability to raise their kids how they see fit.

i actually agree impala. a part of me thinks that kids are shooting these schools up is because they have never had to cope with anything. they never learned that "life sucks, get a fucking helmet"

1. I agree with impala on the mass-pussification of the kids of today. the whole absence of keeping score in sports irks me to no end. that is teaching them it is ok to be mediocre. when in reality this isn't a socialist society (yet?!) and there is a pecking order. a harsh reality they will find out later instead of sooner.

2. R-rated movies have zero business being shown in public schools. Period.

damn you, Brandon. damn you!

you know you love the abuse

I cant believe some of you are saying that Brokeback Mountain is ok to show at school. Honestly, I think the only reason that Pebkac is saying that is because he himself is gay... yeah, I said it. Honestly, it is fucking ridiculous. If a kid wants to be gay, fine; but in my opinion the gay community is trying to rally as many people to their community as possible, as seen in this thread by Pebkac. What happened to letting kids be innocent minded? I can guarantee that if the teacher had shown some movie like Unfaithful Pebkac would be bitching. I dont think anything should be shown to children that is sexually suggestive. We have enough problems with teen pregnancy and high STD rates that we dont need to show sex at school. Get over your attitudes that kids need to see this kind of stuff to be educated on the outside world. Part of the fun of being a kid is the innocense that is associated with it. You can guarantee that I would go the school board and whoever else if my 8th grade family member had been shown that movie.

so keeping them ignorant to the risks of sex will prevent teen baby makers and the spread of stds?

this has nothing to do with gayness in the anus. my beef has to do what is appropriate to show in a public school.

movies rated R are for adults. I'd sue the shit out of the school that showed my kid an R rated movie. faggotry, war, cussing, sexytime, whatever...

that shit should be shown under the supervision of the parent only. not from some teacher with a social agenda.

bingo, and lol "sexytime"