Wednesday, September 26, 2012
After more than 25 public comments, board members decided Monday night to not temporarily suspend showings of "American Beauty" and "Brokeback Mountain" in a Film as Literature class.
Four hours into Monday's meeting of the District 86 Board of Education, numerous audience members got what they wanted: a vote on whether to temporarily suspend the showing of two movies, “American Beauty” and “Brokeback Mountain,” in a Film as Literature class at Hinsdale South. The result of the vote, on the other hand, was likely not what many of those audience members were hoping for. Board members voted 5-2 to table a motion made by board member Richard Skoda that would have temporarily kept the movies from being shown while a curriculum objection filed by a Hinsdale South parent was processed. READ: D86 Board Does Not Suspend Showing of 'Brokeback,' 'American Beauty' More than 25 parents, students, and teachers spoke during a 75-…
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The two racy films will be shown as planned in a Hinsdale South 'Film as Literature' class.
The Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board Monday night turned down a board member’s request to temporarily suspend the showing of two films, “American Beauty” and “Brokeback Mountain,” that are being shown in a Film as Literature class at Hinsdale South despite being the subject of recent curriculum objections from community members. The school board voted 5-2 to table a motion by board member Richard Skoda to stop showing of those films temporarily. Dianne Barrett voted with Skoda. The motion to suspend could be brought up again by any of the five who voted to table it, though that appeared unlikely. About 40 people spoke during a 75-minute audience communication portion of the meeting. Most spoke against the films said were …
Monday, September 24, 2012
A recent curriculum objection over the showing of sexually suggestive movies in a high school class should get a response from the superintendent within 15 days of the objection's filing.
Since a recent curriculum objection in District 86 over the showing of racy films in a high school class was the first that’s been filed in at least eight years, it’s likely the community doesn’t know how such objections work and what it can expect in terms of when and from whom a response will come. Here are the basics: According to District 86 Board Policy 2:260, its "Uniform Grievance Procedure," once a curriculum objection is filed by a community member with the superintendent, one of the district’s two complaint managers—who are director of human resources Troy Courtney and director of student services Joyce Powell—has 10 school days to conduct an investigation of the curriculum in question, or "appoint a qualified person to undertake…
Victor Casini, who disapproves of students watching "American Beauty" and "Brokeback Mountain" in a high school class, filed the first District 86 curriculum objection in at least eight years on Sept. 12.
After becoming the first District 86 community member to file a curriculum objection in at least eight years, Victor Casini said he wasn’t sure why it had been so long since someone went through the process. He said it could be that the process is onerous, that busy parents just don’t have time. Or perhaps, he said, there hasn’t been anything to object to in recent years. “Maybe mine will open the door,” Casini said. Casini, a Hinsdale South parent and Burr Ridge resident of 18 years, filed his objection on Sept. 12 to the showing of “American Beauty” and “Brokeback Mountain,” two racy and R-rated films, in a Film as Literature course for juniors and seniors. READ: 'Highly Controversial' Movies Being Shown in Class Have D86 Parent …
Friday, September 21, 2012
The superintendent declined to get specific on what sparked the investigation, which police said stems from an influx of emails to the district regarding the showing of "American Beauty" and "Brokeback Mountain" in a Hinsdale South class.
The Hinsdale Police Department says it is monitoring emails to District 86 administration about the Hinsdale South movie controversy, but District 86 Superintendent Nick Wahl said there is no threat at this time to the safety of either District 86 school. “We do not see anything related to this report threatening the safety of any students or staff,” Wahl said. When asked if any administrators were threatened by any emails, Wahl declined to comment. “This is an ongoing investigation and we can’t comment on it,” the superintendent said. Wahl was asked if the district initially reached out to police about the email issue. “We work very closely with the police department on any and all matters that we would deem something that would need …
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The topic has been in the limelight since a Hinsdale South parent filed a curriculum objection over the showing of "American Beauty" and "Brokeback Mountain" in a Film as Literature course.
Do controversial movies that include adult topics and racy scenes belong in a high school classroom? That question is being asked around District 86 after a recent curriculum objection was filed by a Hinsdale South parent upset about the showing of "American Beauty" and "Brokeback Mountain" in a Film as Literature elective class. Burr Ridge resident and father of two Victor Casini brought the issue to the board's attention at its Sept. 10 District 86 Board of Education meeting, saying he was shocked when he looked at his son’s Film as Literature course syllabus recently and saw that the class would be viewing, among other films, “American Beauty” and “Brokeback Mountain.” Casini called the films "highly controversial" because of their …
The Hinsdale Police Department wants to make sure nothing threatening is being sent to district officials.
The Hinsdale Police Department is keeping its eye on emails being sent to District 86 administration regarding the Hinsdale South movie controversy and making sure they don't "venture into the realm of threatening," Deputy Chief Kevin Simpson said this week. Simpson summed up the situation in an emailed statement to Patch: "The police department has been working closely with [District 86] administration following the receipt of many emails from the public regarding the content of movies that were being shown within the classroom," Simpson said. "There is on-going investigation regarding the content of the emails which precludes my discussion of its details; however, I can confirm that there is no imminent threat to the safety of the school…
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Nick Wahl said in a release Friday afternoon that a curriculum objection has been filed by a Hinsdale South parent and until that objection process is complete, the films in question will remain on the Film as Literature syllabus.
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Sunday, September 16, 2012
Editor's note: The following is a release from District 86 Superintendent Nick Wahl. It is in reaction to a curriculum objection filed by a Hinsdale South parent who expressed concern Monday about "Brokeback Mountain" and "American Beauty" being shown in his son's Film as Literature class. Read Patch's original story here. Dear Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Community: I’m writing today regarding a recent curriculum objection filed by the parent of a Hinsdale South senior regarding the newly reintroduced Film as Literature course, which is offered as an English elective that junior- and senior-level students may voluntarily choose to take in order to fulfill their graduation requirements. This course examines topics related to …
Friday, September 14, 2012
Members of the the District 86 School Board said they'd support a discussion on their role in approving movies after a Hinsdale South dad voiced concern over the use of "American Beauty" and "Brokeback Mountain" in a Film as Literature class.
Several members of the District 86 Board of Education said they want to have a formal discussion at their next meeting about the board’s role in approving curriculum materials. The reason: A Hinsdale South parent voiced concern at Monday night’s meeting over two R-rated movies being shown in one of his son’s classes. Burr Ridge resident and father of two Victor Casini said he was shocked when he looked at his son’s Film as Literature course syllabus recently and saw that students in the class would be viewing, among other films, “American Beauty” and “Brokeback Mountain.” Casini called the two films “highly controversial” for their sexual imagery and obscenity. “There are thousands of movies that could be utilized to achieve the teaching …
chet everett
4:51 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
James: Thanks for comments. From your professional biography it seems that your area of expertise is in photograms so I have to wonder why you've taken an interest in a matter that is more about school governance (largely resolved months ago) than any kind of artistic expression. So, as a working artist what would be your suggestion for high schoolers to explore "films as literature" that are … more ›