Derby schools chief finds film ‘inappropriate’
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Joanne M. Pelton, Naugatuck Valley Bureau Chief |
May 01,
2003 |
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DERBY — Superintendent of Schools Martin Gotowala said
Wednesday that the film "A Clockwork Orange" is
"inappropriate" for use in a high school course and never
should have been shown to city students.
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Gotowala got his first glimpse of the film Wednesday
morning, when he sat down and watched it.
"I looked at it this morning. Based on its content, it was
clearly inappropriate," he said.
On Tuesday, Board of Education member Walter Mayhew, who is
also pastor of Christian Community Church in Derby, filed a
complaint with the board because his son was shown the movie
and was appalled by its contents.
Mayhew said his son, Garrett, 18, a Derby High School
senior, complained to the high school principal after
viewing the film. He said his son found it to be violent.
The elder Mayhew called it "borderline pornographic."
Mayhew had urged members of the school board’s Policy
Committee to watch the movie during a committee meeting
Tuesday night, but board members did not, Gotowala said.
Gotowala said he has asked high school Principal Charles
DiCenso to investigate the incident.
The film was shown as part of a contemporary issues class
and was chosen by an unidentified male student teacher who
has only been teaching for six weeks, officials said.
DiCenso said some 35 students in the class watched the film
and Garrett Mayhew was the only student who filed a
complaint.
"I respect the student who came to me because it takes a lot
of guts to do that," he said.
He said that while the intent of the student teacher may
have been good, he thought the teacher might have used "poor
judgment," in selecting the film.
"He’s new to teaching," he said, of the student teacher.
"The film was used to show contemporary problems and social
issues. No one meant to offend anyone."
School board Chairman James Gildea said the system does not
have a policy regarding content of videos but the board
would be developing a policy. He said the board is looking
at several options, including creation of a pre-approved
list of videos; approval of videos by administration before
they are shown to students, or investigating movie reviews
either at the library or on the Internet before they are
shown.
"The movie (Clockwork Orange) in my opinion was
inappropriate and unfortunate, and this issue needs to be
addressed. We have to make sure inappropriate material such
as this does not make it into the classroom in the future,"
said Gildea.
Mayhew said it didn’t make a difference that the students
who watched the movie are seniors.
"The schools are responsible for providing top quality
education, not porn. I see no other way to describe (the
movie) other than porn," he said. "We’re talking about our
students here; this is not a movie theater."
The movie was released in 1972 and considered a classic and
one of director Stanley Kubrick’s finest works. The story is
set in futuristic London and based on a book by Anthony
Burgess. The film was withdrawn from circulation in England
at the request of Kubrick, and only released again after
Kubrick’s death in 1999.
The movie’s main character is in a gang that roams about the
city, seeking victims in crimes that range from robbery to
rape.
Joanne M. Pelton can be reached at
jpelton@nhregister.com or at 734-2813.
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©New Haven
Register 2003 |
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