Resolution on the Media Policy, prepared by Ted Willard

Based on my participation in the MCPS workgroup on the use of films and
discussions I have had with parents, I have prepared the following
motion that I believe represents common ground on this issue.

The recommendations in this motion (specifically recommendations 6, 8, &
9) are also consistent with the recommendations of the MCPS workgroup.

Please review this motion (or at least the recommendations within it) at
your local PTA meetings this month so that we may consider it alongside
the motion put forward by the Richard Montgomery High School PTA on
Media Policy.  I believe that this motion provides clearer guidance to
the school system.

Please contact me if you have any other questions or concerns.

Ted Willard
MCCPTA Curriculum Committee Chair

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Motion on the Use of Films in Schools

Whereas the administration of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
revised its regulation on the Evaluation and Selection on Instructional
Materials and Library Books (Reg. IIB-RA) in the fall of 2005

And Whereas as a result of these revisions, all or part of R-rated films
could no longer be shown to any students, all or part of PG-13-rated
films could no longer be shown in Elementary Schools and Middle Schools,
and all or part of PG-rated films could no longer be shown in Elementary
schools

And Whereas this many parents, students, and teachers consider the
regulation as currently implemented to unnecessarily restrict the use of
media in the classroom in a way that has a negative impact on the
learning process.

And Whereas MCPS has convened a workgroup to develop guidelines and make
recommendations for the implementation of Regulation IIB-RA.

Now therefore be it

Resolved, MCCPTA urges MCPS to implement the following ten recommendations.

1. Films (or other motion media) should be used when their educational
value merits the class time devoted to viewing them.  They should not be
used when the purpose is primarily for entertainment or to keep students
occupied.

2. Elementary School students should not be shown all or part of films
rated PG, PG-13, or R except as noted below.

3. Middle Schools students should not be shown all or part of films
rated PG-13 or R except as noted below.

4. High Schools students should not be shown all or part of films rated
R except as noted below.

5. When a film does not have a rating, educators should use their
professional judgment to determine its appropriateness for the students
at a particular level and then treat it accordingly.

6. Educators may show clips or other excerpts of a film that has a
rating that would preclude its use provided that in the educators'
professional judgment the clips do not contain content that earned the
film a rating that makes it inappropriate for the students who will see it.

7. The MCPS Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs should
develop guidelines for school-based educators to use when they determine
whether the content of a film clip is appropriate for students at a
particular grade level.

8. Educators may show an entire film that has a rating that would
preclude its use provided that the educators have previously informed
parents that the film will be shown and received written permission from
parents for their children to view the film.

9. Students who are seventeen years or older may grant themselves
permission to view an R-rated film, and they may also choose not to view
the film.

10. Students whose parents do not choose to permit them to view a film
(or students who are seventeen years old and do not wish to view it)
should not suffer any negative academic consequences due to their not
seeing the film.