Nancy, interesting you bring this up.  Over the years, I challenged this same sort of situation several times at my children’s school.

The first was when my youngest daughter was in grade 2 (7).  The story was “The Witches” by Roald Dahl.  Are you familiar with Roald Dahl’s work (Big Friendly Giant, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Magic Finger, etc.) or who he is?

Setting the stage….My daughter has always been an avid and strong reader.  She can read a story quickly and retell it in great detail.  In fact in grade 1 she helped not only peers in her class, but was also sent to help several grade 2 students in her split class.  On most every report card earned an A in reading areas.  When she was in grade 2 she was reunited with her J/K teacher in a 2/3 split. The two of them enjoyed each other and shared a love of reading.  Dahl was this teachers favourite author and he recommended she read Dahl’s biography ~ “Going Solo”. Interesting read if you’re ever bored

One Friday afternoon in November, my daughter came home very upset scared; crying and refusing to return to school Monday.  She explained she didn’t like the ‘new’ book they were reading ~ “The Witches”.  Being a parent who tries to ‘understand’ first, I spoke to my daughter further.  That night, I purchased the book that was located in the ‘teen readers’ section of Chapters.  I went home with the book and began to read it.

The very first page surprised me and quite frankly offended me as a woman.  Before the story begins the book prelude begins as follows: “This is a true story.  All witches are women and if they say they’re not they’re liars; including the one reading this story to you.  All witches want to do is rid the world of children….”  As I read on, it explains, women (witches) dress in costume wearing, wigs, gloves, long sleeves and lots of makeup.  After reading this, I started to understand why my daugher suddenly became afraid of her best friend’s mom, who was going through breast cancer treatment (wearing a wig and long sleeves to hide the chemo shunt) and whose eldest just went off to post-secondary school.  Friday evening I finished reading the book.  I researched Dahl and the book, which was rated for children 12+ not 7 year olds.

I spoke with several other parents.  While many were surprised at the content, they didn’t want to speak up (upset the principal).  Concerned for my daughter and recognizing the relationship she had with her teacher, Monday morning I approached the teacher and asked he find another book for “MY” daughter to read as it was upsetting her. There was NO reference specific to the story or my opinion of it. OMG you’d have thought I asked for the moon.  Later that day I was called into the principal’s office with the teacher AND my daughter, the principal suggesting my daughter was having “comprehension issues”.

Holding “The Witches” (paperback) book in one hand and “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs” (a 14-page early reader) in the other; the principal looks at my daughter and asks if both stories were ‘true’.  My daughter - without prompting or skipping at beat responds with, “Are you a witch?”  Shocked the principal looked at me then back and my daughter and said “No”.  “Well, you must be a liar then.  This book says its true and that’s what it says.” responded my daughter pointing at “The Witches.”  The principal tries to assure my daughter the story in just is fiction.  As only a child could, my daughter looks at me and then at the teacher and says, “Children go missing every day and no one ever finds them.”  My heart sank.  Trying to hold it together, I said “This meeting is done.  Find another book for my daughter and I trust you will not be showing this movie in class.”  From my non-teaching perspective, I think my daughter ‘comprehended’ this story quite well; fiction or non-fiction.  The solution, my daughter was returned to the grade 1 class while they finished reading the book and earned her only ‘B’ in reading.  The teacher did show the movie, but on a day my daughter was home ill.  Parents THEN were livid.

Continued in next comment….

Continued….

The following year, same daughter in grade 3.  The second in the Narnia movies - “Prince Caspian” - was released in theatres.  Having read this series to my children we went to see the movie Friday, opening night.  Perhaps I shouldn’t have been - but I was surprised by the violence and gore.  Each of my three daughters (then ages 8, 9 & 10) were affected by several of the images in the movie.  Monday permission forms came home for my grade 3 class to go to the movie.  Tuesday I was at the school again.  I explained the situation - first the movie was rated PG13 and second, if they were going to send home a permission form telling the parents “about the movie” they should also be responsible to include it’s rating.  Several days later new permission forms came home.  Of the original 50+ students whose parents originally gave permission, only 20 didn’t change their minds.  A letter came home asking the other 30+ students’ parents to keep their children home otherwise their child would be placed in another class and given assignments, while the 20 students and 3 teachers went to the movie.

I have no idea how schools feel they have the authority to watch PG movies without accurately sharing this info with the parents.  Free time Fridays, movies in class…if our children could read, write, add subtract, etc with 100% accuracy….maybe an appropriate movie once or twice a year - but…..

Our children are desensitized at a very early age.  Systems telling parents they can’t care for their children’ yet blaming these same parents for all the ‘wrong’ with them: detachment, aggression, un-empathetic kids, etc.  I don’t understand why ANY adult would want to take a group of young children to watch a movie about killing to win with the reward being monetary/power.  Ah but wait…isn’t that very similar to what adults watch on TV?  Survivor, Jersey Shores, The Bachelor, etc????

Aggression being rewarded with ‘things’.  Talk about your mixed messages.

So at school, while children read and watch movies about killing and beating each other up our boards spend thousands of dollars on ‘cheap talk’ to “address” bullying.  The ‘new’ thing is the “UPSTANDER”.  Thinking about Nancy’s email and my experiences with my children & families I work with as well as the many other stories we may never hear about, I’ll close with a few quotes from the Thames Valley District School Board’s website.

“What is an UPSTANDER?
An UPSTANDER is an individual who acts to make a positive difference in the life of an individual or inspires change in the community.

What is an UPSTANDER Campaign?
On one level, we want students to speak up or stand up when they see inappropriate behaviour…. On another level, we want students with the help of teachers to take the lead. The Upstander Campaign should be student driven. - ... “

Carleana,My daughter 17 has watched the movie last weekend and she liked it ( of course she knows it is just a move and she is age appropriate )last week there was invitation form P4E (people for education to join discussion how to improve parents involvement in education system through their school). Your story can be my best answer for their question , it was never the matter how parents get involve but how parents get frustrated from school behavior in undermining parents understanding and being right and They are wrong, if the move rated PG 13 that is the end of the story ! it is typically our education system full with ignorant and unaccountability .

From both the blog and comment, it sounds to me like teachers have a hard time settling down to work.  It’s baffling that they’d take a day off after being absent for a week!  You’d think that they would be anxious to get back to teaching the curricula; not running off to a movie—and, to boot, one that has no educational value whatsoever!  Why did the principal allow this to happen? 
From other blog posters, it’s strongly implied that the ministry, right down the chain to the principals keep a strick vigil on teachers and what and how they’re teaching.  These blog stories don’t support this.
The sooner we get merit pay and a voucher system in place in Ontario, the better:  it’ll get staff focused on their job.

Just returned from our trip…..
And almost from plane to movie theatre went my 13 year old to see the Hunger Games: a date she made with her friend and of course Dad - all three are huge fans of the trilogy and devoured the books quickly. My daughter is now re-reading for better enhancement of the political nuances. Slightly disappointed by the movie, because as usual the book was more vivid and imagination better than the condensation of Hollywood.

Here’s the thing: all 3 who went today went as a treat to “see” what they read. They are fans of the literary work, and make references to other similarities and differences in other works. They are also emotionally able to handle the material.

I and my 8 year old are not able to deal with the subject matter. So we stayed home. To each his own.

Schools should also not advocate movies! At least not due simply based on popularity. This is a matter for parents to become more involved in what their kids are doing and determine whether they are mature enough to a) understand and b) handle the subject matter. But first they must be made aware of the subjects of history, geography, philosophy, war, survival, etc. and then have suitable material presented to further enhance the concepts - ideally teachers could and should do this too BUT are many of them suitably educated and prepared to do so? 

The determination needs to be made on an individual basis and not because something is “popular”. When we discussed history - WWII specifically, and wanted to “show” our daughter the uprising in Poland compiled with dedication and perseverance I chose “the Pianist”.  Good movie but she was too young - 10. We had to turn it off, discuss it, and comfort her. Not everything is appropriate for everyone and education must be more tailor made to the specific needs of each child. The Hunger Games are no exception other than people like to “go with the flow”.

Nothing is “taught” at schools and if parents don’t do it at home, then we are churning out masses of stupid followers. Only the very naturally super intelligent few will be able to “naturally” discern things in life - and that’s probably because they continue to question and educate themselves. Something we had so much more of in past generations.

I also made a point of telling my daughter that I will not go and see the movie at a theatre because it is too similar to “Logan’s Run” and to “The Omega Man” both of which traumatized me for months during the Cold War - I followed it too closely and believed at the time that it was an inevitable reality. Again - every one can handle life differently and our experiences shape us. It is up to the more experienced part of society to help educate and shape and develop - but what to do when the formal “educators” are lacking in foundational knowledge and discernment themselves????  We need to “SQE” louder, I guess.

First I so agree….... absolute nonsense!

But here is what I think the “real conversation” needs to be on sites such as this—- How does the Principal who answers to the Superintendent—-both stellar members of the Sunshine list—rationalize this type of decision?  Why is the school council and the parents who sent $$ to support this mis adventure missing in action?
Things get stupid when stakeholders do not step up.  I would love to hear a follow up from Ms. Wagner on how this issue was tackled at the school council meeting and how the principal responded to parent concerns that I am certain were registered vociferously.