Sweeney Todd at school

[eatenbylocusts]

For those who have seen the movie; what do you think of an English teacher wanting to show this movie to her 15 and 16 year old students?

 

[Jenster]

I'd be interesting in knowing. I haven't seen the movie.

 

[Inkachu]

Well, in the "old days" when I was in high school (in the 90's lol)...our English teacher wanted to show us several "iffy" movies, and she would send home permission slips. If yer mom or dad didn't sign it, you didn't watch the movie.

I don't know if they still do that, but they should! I think I'd be OK with my 16 year old watching it. It's a bit bloody and macabre, but...better than MTV or sitcoms these days that most parents let their kids watch.

 

[eatenbylocusts]

Well, I did see the movie because T took me. It's rated R for bloody violence. There was no way I was going to let my son see this. I rarely see rated R movies and I won't watch horror movies. There were some good parts to the movie, but not enough to warrant my son seeing the rest.

The barber (look away if you want to see the movie) slashes the throats of potential customers and the blood spurts out like a fountain. You actually get used to this after the first few. The part that was the most horrifying to me was when the bodies were dumped down to the stone basement floor. It was graphic and makes my stomach turn just thinking of it.

The teacher sent home a permission slip explaining that it wasn't a board approved movie, but that she would be willing to show it with parent approval. She did not mention it was rated R at all. She actually praised it and said it was an excellent thing for the kids to be exposed to.

My son said that the movie was actually her idea. She looks to be in her 20's. They all just finished some oral reports and she presented one on this movie as an example of how they should do theirs.

I sent an email to the principal and dean of the dept. After a phone call the principal responded to my email saying that he was unaware of the proposed viewing, but she would not be allowed to show it if it was not board approved. I am relieved she's not going to be allowed to sneak this past parents who had no idea what the movie is really like. It's very scary to me that a teacher thinks showing a movie like this is a good idea. Even scarier; if I hadn't seen this movie I probably would've signed the permission slip based on her glowing review.

 

[mina]

hmmm, in my district we have to submit a form for any movie we want to show in class. There are a few R movies that i think are important to show to high schoolers, i.e. Schindler's List, Life is Beautiful (is that one R?) , but i would not consider Sweeney Todd educational. How does this fit in with what they are studying in English? I'm a teacher and i don't think she should be allowed to show it. I don't see how it fits in with what an English class is studying. Even if it's a movie to demonstrate a certian time period , surely a less offensive film could convey the same information. In my senior World Lit. class i remember we watched "Becket" b/c we were studying literature that took place during that time period.

 

[Inkachu]

Well, I did see the movie because T took me. It's rated R for bloody violence. There was no way I was going to let my son see this. I rarely see rated R movies and I won't watch horror movies. There were some good parts to the movie, but not enough to warrant my son seeing the rest.

The barber (look away if you want to see the movie) slashes the throats of potential customers and the blood spurts out like a fountain. You actually get used to this after the first few. The part that was the most horrifying to me was when the bodies were dumped down to the stone basement floor. It was graphic and makes my stomach turn just thinking of it.

The teacher sent home a permission slip explaining that it wasn't a board approved movie, but that she would be willing to show it with parent approval. She did not mention it was rated R at all. She actually praised it and said it was an excellent thing for the kids to be exposed to.

My son said that the movie was actually her idea. She looks to be in her 20's. They all just finished some oral reports and she presented one on this movie as an example of how they should do theirs.

I sent an email to the principal and dean of the dept. After a phone call the principal responded to my email saying that he was unaware of the proposed viewing, but she would not be allowed to show it if it was not board approved. I am relieved she's not going to be allowed to sneak this past parents who had no idea what the movie is really like. It's very scary to me that a teacher thinks showing a movie like this is a good idea. Even scarier; if I hadn't seen this movie I probably would've signed the permission slip based on her glowing review.

Just a thought (and I'm sure you may have thought of this already): NEVER give permission for a school to do anything with your children without thoroughly researching it YOURSELF!

 

[KarrieTex]

I haven't seen it but i want to.

I wonder if the reason they are looking at it is because it was a major hit on Broadway and it is one of the shows that is bringing back the musical.

 

[GritsnGrace]

hmmm, in my district we have to submit a form for any movie we want to show in class. There are a few R movies that i think are important to show to high schoolers, i.e. Schindler's List, Life is Beautiful (is that one R?) , but i would not consider Sweeney Todd educational. How does this fit in with what they are studying in English? I'm a teacher and i don't think she should be allowed to show it. I don't see how it fits in with what an English class is studying. Even if it's a movie to demonstrate a certian time period , surely a less offensive film could convey the same information. In my senior World Lit. class i remember we watched "Becket" b/c we were studying literature that took place during that time period.

I agree. I don't see anything that even relates to educational in this film. I haven't seen it, but from the reviews here, I don't even want to.

 

[covenantwmn]

Probably most could handle it, but for the few who could have issues, no way. And since there's no way to know who those are, i'd say no way period. I liked it tho, lol.

 

[eatenbylocusts]

hmmm, in my district we have to submit a form for any movie we want to show in class. There are a few R movies that i think are important to show to high schoolers, i.e. Schindler's List, Life is Beautiful (is that one R?) , but i would not consider Sweeney Todd educational. How does this fit in with what they are studying in English? I'm a teacher and i don't think she should be allowed to show it. I don't see how it fits in with what an English class is studying. Even if it's a movie to demonstrate a certian time period , surely a less offensive film could convey the same information. In my senior World Lit. class i remember we watched "Becket" b/c we were studying literature that took place during that time period.

From my son, I get the feeling she's a Depp fan. She sent me an email today apologizing for offending my standards and trying to tell me that even though most of the kids had already seen it, they wanted to see it again after watching her presentation that she did on this movie. The class will be watching All quiet on the Western Front which is an approved movie.
I just don't get how a teacher (a person placed in a position of trust) could even consider showing such a questionable movie to the kids placed in her care. It sounds like she knew she was breaking the rules and was trying to slip it by the parents by not even mentioning the rating. Why? The teacher had already seen it. It's almost like she was trying to be the kids' friend, or she's just a nutty fan.

Just a thought (and I'm sure you may have thought of this already): NEVER give permission for a school to do anything with your children without thoroughly researching it YOURSELF!

Yeah. I know that now.

I haven't seen it but i want to.

I wonder if the reason they are looking at it is because it was a major hit on Broadway and it is one of the shows that is bringing back the musical.

She mentioned this. Not a good enough reason for me.

I agree. I don't see anything that even relates to educational in this film. I haven't seen it, but from the reviews here, I don't even want to.

I'm not a big baby. I mean I stick my fingers in people's wounds and orifices all day long at work and it doesn't bother me at all, but parts of this movie made me feel sick. I guess it's the pain factor. I generally don't cause too much pain and if I do, it's for a good reason and then I give drugs (or before).

Probably most could handle it, but for the few who could have issues, no way. And since there's no way to know who those are, i'd say no way period. I liked it tho, lol.

But, they're 15 or 16 years old. I think that rating says something that should be considered. I just think the brains of the young uns should be filled with as much good stuff as possible, not this kind of stuff.

 

[mina]

From my son, I get the feeling she's a Depp fan. She sent me an email today apologizing for offending my standards and trying to tell me that even though most of the kids had already seen it, they wanted to see it again after watching her presentation that she did on this movie. The class will be watching All quiet on the Western Front which is an approved movie.
I just don't get how a teacher (a person placed in a position of trust) could even consider showing such a questionable movie to the kids placed in her care. It sounds like she knew she was breaking the rules and was trying to slip it by the parents by not even mentioning the rating. Why? The teacher had already seen it. It's almost like she was trying to be the kids' friend, or she's just a nutty fan.


Yeah. I know that now.


She mentioned this. Not a good enough reason for me.

I'm not a big baby. I mean I stick my fingers in people's wounds and orifices all day long at work and it doesn't bother me at all, but parts of this movie made me feel sick. I guess it's the pain factor. I generally don't cause too much pain and if I do, it's for a good reason and then I give drugs (or before).



But, they're 15 or 16 years old. I think that rating says something that should be considered. I just think the brains of the young uns should be filled with as much good stuff as possible, not this kind of stuff.

i'm a teacher and i agree with you. There are nuts in every profession. I still don't see how it fits in with English class. Maybe she's just lazy and didn't want to teach that day so she's just going to show a movie. All Quiet on the Western Front is based on a novel, but I don't see how it's a related substitution for Sweeney Todd. What English or literature objective is she trying to teach?