In pursuit of the well-rounded curriculum

Chicago Board of Ed Sued for Teacher Allegedly Showing 'Brokeback Mountain' in Class

Sunday, May 13, 2007 Associated Press

CHICAGO — A girl and her grandparents have sued the Chicago Board of Education, alleging that a substitute teacher showed the R-rated film "Brokeback Mountain" in class. The lawsuit claims that Jessica Turner, 12, suffered psychological distress after viewing the movie in her 8th grade class at Ashburn Community Elementary School last year.

The film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.
Turner and her grandparents, Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking around $500,000 in damages.

"It is very important to me that my children not be exposed to this," said Kenneth Richardson, Turner's guardian. "The teacher knew she was not supposed to do this." According to the lawsuit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court, the video was shown without permission from the students' parents and guardians. The lawsuit also names Ashburn Principal Jewel Diaz and a substitute teacher, referred to as "Ms. Buford."

The substitute asked a student to shut the classroom door at the West Side school, saying: "What happens in Ms. Buford's class stays in Ms. Buford's class," according to the lawsuit.
Richardson said his granddaughter was traumatized by the movie and had to undergo psychological treatment and counseling. In 2005, Richardson complained to school administrators about reading material that he said included curse words.

"This was the last straw," he said. "I feel the lawsuit was necessary because of the warning I had already given them on the literature they were giving out to children to read. I told them it was against our faith." Messages left over the weekend with CPS officials were not immediately returned.
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Congratulations to the student and her guardian for taking a stand against the attempted brainwashing of an 8th grade class. While the movie viewed is controversial, ANY rated "R" movie has no place in public schools.

How can anyone support a public education system where things like this are acceptable, disregarded, or conveniently overlooked? How eroded have the values of public education gotten? Shameful.

It wouldn't be so bad if this were an isolated type of story, but looking through the other postings on this blog proves a point. BTW - I don't even look for these types of articles...they simply present themselves as headlines on various popular news websites.

There is a problem with our public education system. The problem has nothing to do with not enough money.