Schools ban R-rated films; unrated movies also out, Federal Way board says
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Federal Way High School English teacher Pam Ashe had planned to show the 1961 movie classic "West Side Story" to seniors in her Film as Literature class today. The interracial love story was to be part of a unit studying gender, race and class issues in film.
But a new policy restricting certain movies in classrooms has left a hole in Ashe's plan.
The Federal Way School Board, responding to complaints from parents, voted 3-1 Monday night to ban films above a PG-13 rating. This includes unrated films — "West Side Story" is one of them — that predate the Motion Picture Association of America's rating system in 1968.
"It's pretty much going to devastate my whole course," said Ashe, who has shown the films "Saving Private Ryan," "The Patriot" and "Amistad" in her class.
"Let's be practical. You can read novels about war, but they can never hit home the way a film can."
Until Monday, films with a rating higher than G could be shown in Federal Way classrooms with approval from the principal and from parents. Most King County school districts have similar guidelines requiring films to be age-appropriate, relevant and parent-approved.
"Occasionally a parent will object to something being shown, and we'll investigate," said Joe McKamey of the Northshore School District. "If it's not appropriate, we'll take action. We haven't specifically said we shouldn't have R-rated movies."
The new Federal Way policy does just that. It allows PG-13-rated movies in grades nine and up, PG-rated films in grades seven and up, and only G-ratings in kindergarten though sixth grade. R-rated and unrated films are banned, and the showing of movies at all during school hours is strongly discouraged.
Federal Way parent Randy Nicholls first raised the issue — unsuccessfully — with the School Board two years ago after his then-14-year-old son was to see the R-rated "Schindler's List" in an English class. After an election last fall, he went to the board again.
"My son will be a senior this year, and he still doesn't watch R-rated movies," Nicholls said. "This is a public school. ... All we're saying is that if one student has made a decision to avoid (R-rated movies), why would you want your teacher to be promoting the other side?"
Others lament the loss of what they consider a valuable teaching tool.
"You don't learn anything from a G-rated movie," said Federal Way High School senior Tommy Blevens, 18. "It's an adult world. We're adults. Why are they trying to censor us?"
Blevens cited lessons learned from race and gender issues raised by the "King Kong" movies, which are unrated. He is a student in Ashe's Film as Literature class.
"Making a blanket policy that eliminates the possibility of some very good films that have sound educational value, especially at the senior-high level, doesn't make sense to me," Ashe said. "We have to wonder, what's next? Are books next?"
Pam Sitt can be reached at 206-474-2376.