Of Teachers and Millstones
During the final week of school the librarian at my daughter's elementary school figured she'd offer the 4th grade classes a treat and give them a scary story. She chose a movie about the Jersey Devil. That night, our sweet 10 year old Susanna cried herself to sleep.
In the opening scene of the movie (before Susie asked to be dismissed to another section of the library), Mother Leeds is in the process of birthing her 13th child, which she had promised to the Devil. In the grip of despair and intense pain, as she is pushing this unfortunate creature from her womb, she curses the little devil. "Curse you! CURSE YOU!" she screams at the baby. The librarian also informed the 4th grade students that, as legend has it, the Jersey Devil once entered a home somewhere in south Jersey, and murdered an infant in her bed.
I called the school speaking first to the principal, and then to the librarian. When I questioned her judgment, she informed me, among other things, that she did not believe in censorship. Could she have given a more stupid reply? She works with elementary school kids! She then took my concerned phone call as an opportunity to lecture a backward parent. I was the only parent out of 800 (she informed me) to raise an objection to the film. When the principal had asked to see the movie (for I had previously spoken to him) she readily informed him that unfortunately she could not give him the movie since a parent had come to her asking to borrow it in order to show it to her children at home.
So, you see... I am the one with the problem. And, something is wrong with our Susanna for being so disturbed at the sight of a woman cursing her child during delivery. My wife and I have tried to portray pregnancy and childbirth as a beautiful thing... a gift from God. After this conversation with the librarian it seems we should take Susie to a psychiatrist to find out why she would cry herself to sleep after viewing the birth of the Jersey Devil.
The librarian did tell me that she had intended to shelve the movie until after the principal could review it. But, lo, on the following day there was an outcry from the 3rd graders... "YOU SHOWED IT TO THE OTHERS... WE WANT TO SEE IT." Of course, she would not deprive them of a good scary tale, and so the 3rd graders also watched it. And, I suppose, since this woman does not believe in censorship, the Chuckie series, or something X-rated will be next? Especially if the kids scream loudly enough for it?
It's not a good thing when jaded adults forget that there is an innocency about childhood that ought to be protected and left in tact for as long as possible. Public schools have their share of jaded individuals, and the devil delights in using them to do harm to these little ones. Some of these educators might do themselves a favor by trading in their teaching certificates for a millstone to wear around their neck...
In the opening scene of the movie (before Susie asked to be dismissed to another section of the library), Mother Leeds is in the process of birthing her 13th child, which she had promised to the Devil. In the grip of despair and intense pain, as she is pushing this unfortunate creature from her womb, she curses the little devil. "Curse you! CURSE YOU!" she screams at the baby. The librarian also informed the 4th grade students that, as legend has it, the Jersey Devil once entered a home somewhere in south Jersey, and murdered an infant in her bed.
I called the school speaking first to the principal, and then to the librarian. When I questioned her judgment, she informed me, among other things, that she did not believe in censorship. Could she have given a more stupid reply? She works with elementary school kids! She then took my concerned phone call as an opportunity to lecture a backward parent. I was the only parent out of 800 (she informed me) to raise an objection to the film. When the principal had asked to see the movie (for I had previously spoken to him) she readily informed him that unfortunately she could not give him the movie since a parent had come to her asking to borrow it in order to show it to her children at home.
So, you see... I am the one with the problem. And, something is wrong with our Susanna for being so disturbed at the sight of a woman cursing her child during delivery. My wife and I have tried to portray pregnancy and childbirth as a beautiful thing... a gift from God. After this conversation with the librarian it seems we should take Susie to a psychiatrist to find out why she would cry herself to sleep after viewing the birth of the Jersey Devil.
The librarian did tell me that she had intended to shelve the movie until after the principal could review it. But, lo, on the following day there was an outcry from the 3rd graders... "YOU SHOWED IT TO THE OTHERS... WE WANT TO SEE IT." Of course, she would not deprive them of a good scary tale, and so the 3rd graders also watched it. And, I suppose, since this woman does not believe in censorship, the Chuckie series, or something X-rated will be next? Especially if the kids scream loudly enough for it?
It's not a good thing when jaded adults forget that there is an innocency about childhood that ought to be protected and left in tact for as long as possible. Public schools have their share of jaded individuals, and the devil delights in using them to do harm to these little ones. Some of these educators might do themselves a favor by trading in their teaching certificates for a millstone to wear around their neck...
Labels: Culture War, Guest Post, Home Schooling
posted by Petros at
6:30 AM
2 Comments:
Peter, what were you expecting from the public sector? No one holds them accountable for righteous behavior. Government is like art, it is only a reflection of our culture. When our culture is "seasoned with salt that has not lost it's savor" then we can hope for "decency" in public education. Sadly, our public schools are one of many symptoms of a culture gone bad. We betray our naivete when we expect someone else to do what God has charged fathers to do, namely, to prepare our children for life and encourage them in God's apparent calling on their lives. I know how frustrating this experience must be. I had repeated similar ones with my childrens education. It is amazing what goes unchallenged as education these days. We need an outpouring of the Spirit in a 3rd "great awakening" in our land. God be merciful to us.
JR
Peter, it's hard to know what is more disturbing--the librarian's thoughtless and arrogant response to your concern, or that you were the only parent who questioned the appropriateness of such a movie for 4th graders. Every so often comes a stark reminder of how far we have come as a culture, and that not in a positive direction. Take heart, brother! You did the right thing, and, I am certain, in the right spirit. May God have mercy on us all!
tdb
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