Monday, 6 October

Students completed the "Radio Lab" piece from last class.

Students had some time for SSR.

Students received a grade print out to check their progress and for errors.

Students were reminded that Mr. Zartler would be out next week.

Students were also given the following letter to bring home; this letter was also emailed home.

October 6, 2014

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Teachers at Grant have shown the movie Crash for several years now because the movie brings to the forefront the themes of conflict and racism, two themes we have been studying this last month as part of our identity unit.  We haven’t received any complaints from students or parents about studying this R rated movie in classrooms in the past, but I want to be sure you are fine with your student seeing this movie.  Crash was nominated for six awards at the 78th Academy Awards and won three, including for Best Picture. It was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, one for Best Supporting Actor (Matt Dillon) and the other for Best Screenplay (Paul Haggis and Robert Moresco). 

The following is from a website called Common Sense Media that rates films for families.  I’ve copied and pasted here what the website has to say about the drawbacks of the film:

Parents need to know that, as the film interrogates urban fears, violence, and racism, the language, particularly the use of racial epithets, is rough. The film also features several violent scenes, including a carjacking, a pedestrian hit by a car, a five-year-old child shot by a handgun (with her parents watching), and several car crashes. Policemen, detectives, district attorneys, and an insurance adjuster prove untrustworthy; characters steal cars, do drugs, drink, smoke cigarettes, and have sex (including implied oral sex in a car and a cop putting his hands on a woman's private parts, in front of her upset husband, under the guise of "patting her down.")

Viewing this list alone, the film would appear to be inappropriate by some parent’s standards.  However, I’ve seen the strong positive influence the film has on students as they study the effects of prejudging another and how that can snowball into something unpleasant.  What the review doesn’t include is a synopsis of the many random acts of kindness that occur in the film.  Also, the film isn’t any worse than what one sees on broadcast television, with the exception of the swearing that would be bleeped out.

I strive to treat my seniors like adults and prepare them for a college experience that many will have next year but they are still considered minors.  I do believe, however, that the material is appropriate for high school seniors, and will provide for a rich addition to our curriculum.

If you have an objection to your student viewing this film, please let me know and I will provide an alternative assignment.

Sincerely,

Jamie Zartler