Film Restrictions in Montgomery Schools Earn Poor Reviews

Last fall, educators in Montgomery County announced a new regulation that effectively bans high school teachers from showing R-rated movies such as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List" in classes. In middle schools, teachers no longer can show movies rated PG-13 to help illustrate pieces of literature or historical events.

But after complaints from teachers, students and parents, Maryland's largest school system formed a 33-member working group in January to revisit the decision to use Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) ratings as a guide for what is appropriate to show students.

Betsy Brown, director of the department of curriculum and instruction, said the group is examining ways the policy might be altered to address some of the concerns raised. Among the ideas being discussed: allowing teachers to show the movies as long as parents have signed consent forms, or allowing clips of R-rated movies to be shown -- similar to a policy in Fairfax County public schools. An R rating by MPAA requires those younger than 17 to have a parent or guardian accompany them to the movie.

Some might question why teenagers should be able to see films in school that they wouldn't be able to see on their own in a theater, but educators say such movies -- viewed in a classroom with proper supervision -- can be important teaching tools.

For example, at Quince Orchard High School, teachers might use films to complement certain novels, such as "Lord of the Flies," said Barbara Blum, head of the school's English Department.

"Sometimes it's just interesting for students to see the different interpretations," she said, adding that clips of films can spark discussions about less concrete concepts such as tone and character in novels.

Hilary Gates, an English teacher at Walter Johnson High School, added that students "will come in and say, 'I can't tell you how much more vivid this book is to me. It comes to life so much more when I read it having seen the film.'

"We understand people are concerned and that there are teachers who might be showing inappropriate material," she said, "but our professional judgment is being overruled by the county."

The National Council of Teachers of English, which endorses the use of film in English classrooms, said individual movies should be evaluated on their educational value.

"MPAA ratings are not ratings of education value," said Millie Davis, spokeswoman for the council, which tracks the issue. "They don't claim they are, and so for a school district to use them as if they are, is using them in a way that they're not intended to be used."

The ban took many teachers by surprise. It was approved by senior staff members at the school system's central office in the fall, but because the change was a regulation and not a policy, it did not require action by the Board of Education.

Brown said the change was not prompted by any parent complaints. Rather, officials were looking to offer teachers more uniform guidelines for how they use movies in the classroom.