Comments on: Connecticut now run by Taliban? http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:34:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= hourly 1 By: mario boon http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25223 mario boon Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:47:46 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25223 OMG! A non-erect cartoon penis was shown for one second!! God help the children!!!! gimme a break! All Belgian children are doomed for life since one of our national symbols is a peeing naked boy! OMG! A non-erect cartoon penis was shown for one second!!
God help the children!!!!

gimme a break!

All Belgian children are doomed for life since one of our national symbols is a peeing naked boy!

]]> By: Keith L http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25222 Keith L Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:39:05 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25222 Clearly the substitute teacher disregarded direct instructions from the administration and showed this film. As a public school teacher myself, I am very sensitive to need to respect the ratings on films (even if they are generally more relaxed here in Canada). This, even if we all know that most of these kids will be renting the dvd when it appears on the shelves. I had many, many elementary school students who had seen films like "Saw" and "The Ring", but that the prerogative of parents to allow their children to watch those films. As teachers, we don't have that power, even if we are working "in loco parentis". It just makes sense to not put yourself in a compromising position, as a professional. So disciplinary action was clearly in order. But should the teacher have been fired? Seems very extreme to me. And which part of the equation was considered worse: a bootleg film or an inappropriate film? Back in 1991 when I was doing my teaching degree we once had a guest presenter in class, a woman who worked for the National Film Board of Canada. She was there to show us the benefits of using video material in a pedagogical setting. During a discussion she specifically mentioned "The Simpsons" as a television show that she would never show to a class (nor would she allow her own children to watch this show), and I got into an argument with her on this. At that time tv shows were not rated (at least not here in Canada) and my position was that it's played on public television during prime time without restrictions so it seems fair use for even an upper elementary class. We could not come to a consensus on this. I have played episodes of "The Simpsons" for elementary and high school students, and probably will do so again in the future. Sorry, just wanted to include that personal anecdote! Clearly the substitute teacher disregarded direct instructions from the administration and showed this film. As a public school teacher myself, I am very sensitive to need to respect the ratings on films (even if they are generally more relaxed here in Canada). This, even if we all know that most of these kids will be renting the dvd when it appears on the shelves. I had many, many elementary school students who had seen films like “Saw” and “The Ring”, but that the prerogative of parents to allow their children to watch those films. As teachers, we don’t have that power, even if we are working “in loco parentis”. It just makes sense to not put yourself in a compromising position, as a professional.

So disciplinary action was clearly in order. But should the teacher have been fired? Seems very extreme to me. And which part of the equation was considered worse: a bootleg film or an inappropriate film?

Back in 1991 when I was doing my teaching degree we once had a guest presenter in class, a woman who worked for the National Film Board of Canada. She was there to show us the benefits of using video material in a pedagogical setting. During a discussion she specifically mentioned “The Simpsons” as a television show that she would never show to a class (nor would she allow her own children to watch this show), and I got into an argument with her on this. At that time tv shows were not rated (at least not here in Canada) and my position was that it’s played on public television during prime time without restrictions so it seems fair use for even an upper elementary class. We could not come to a consensus on this. I have played episodes of “The Simpsons” for elementary and high school students, and probably will do so again in the future.

Sorry, just wanted to include that personal anecdote!

]]> By: Malus http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25221 Malus Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:11:01 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25221 Apparently a lot of us are. Apparently a lot of us are.

]]> By: The Beat http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25220 The Beat Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:50:54 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25220 Malus, I think you are reading the wrong site. Malus, I think you are reading the wrong site.

]]> By: BradyDale http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25219 BradyDale Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:50:29 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25219 Yeah, I'm with you. I can see going batty over the bootleg aspect way more than the content of the movie. That could potentially get the school in trouble, right? I mean, it is a "public showing" on some level. Yeah, I’m with you. I can see going batty over the bootleg aspect way more than the content of the movie. That could potentially get the school in trouble, right? I mean, it is a “public showing” on some level.

]]> By: Malus http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25218 Malus Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:41:15 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25218 "I think some people are missing the ironic tone The Beat was using. The Beat uses irony a lot. Please readjust your scanners accordingly." Imperceivable irony...works every time. ;) “I think some people are missing the ironic tone The Beat was using. The Beat uses irony a lot. Please readjust your scanners accordingly.”

Imperceivable irony…works every time. ;)

]]> By: Patrick Dean http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25217 Patrick Dean Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:11:32 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25217 I'll edit mine....OH WAIT I CAN'T. I GUESS MOOSEALIINI* RUNS THIS HITLERESQUE SITE THAT SADDAM RUNS AND UPDATES AND MANTAINS.** * That is not spelled right. ** Yes, I know Saddam is dead. But his ghost lives on haunting the PW offices, working a spectral computer tech guy. For those of you in the South, we call this a "haint". I’ll edit mine….OH WAIT I CAN’T. I GUESS MOOSEALIINI* RUNS THIS HITLERESQUE SITE THAT SADDAM RUNS AND UPDATES AND MANTAINS.**

* That is not spelled right.

** Yes, I know Saddam is dead. But his ghost lives on haunting the PW offices, working a spectral computer tech guy. For those of you in the South, we call this a “haint”.

]]> By: Sphinx Magoo http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25216 Sphinx Magoo Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:57:19 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25216 I think some people are missing the ironic tone The Beat was using. The Beat uses irony a lot. Please readjust your scanners accordingly. I think some people are missing the ironic tone The Beat was using. The Beat uses irony a lot. Please readjust your scanners accordingly.

]]> By: Patrick Dean http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25215 Patrick Dean Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:42:08 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25215 Oh yeah, another note; Taliban comparison = Hitler comparison. The next time someone says; "Wow, they're strict! They're just like the Taliban!", tell them they pulled the Taliban Card and that they just damaged their agrgument by making such a ridiculous comparison. This used to be called the Hitler Card, but Hitler's sooooo 20th Century. Oh yeah, another note;

Taliban comparison = Hitler comparison.

The next time someone says; “Wow, they’re strict! They’re just like the Taliban!”, tell them they pulled the Taliban Card and that they just damaged their agrgument by making such a ridiculous comparison. This used to be called the Hitler Card, but Hitler’s sooooo 20th Century.

]]> By: snoid http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25214 snoid Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:21:41 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25214 Does the beat have an ideal what PG-13 means? Since you compared public school policies with the Taliban I would think you have no ideal at all. What's sad here is not that some sub got fired, it's that you think we live in a Taliban type state. Does the beat have an ideal what PG-13 means? Since you compared public school policies with the Taliban I would think you have no ideal at all.
What’s sad here is not that some sub got fired, it’s that you think we live in a Taliban type state.

]]> By: Michael http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25213 Michael Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:00:05 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25213 "there’s a reason the creators got to show Bart’s penis in the movie and not on the television show" Yeah, it's called "the FCC sucks." “there’s a reason the creators got to show Bart’s penis in the movie and not on the television show”

Yeah, it’s called “the FCC sucks.”

]]> By: Mickle http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25212 Mickle Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:43:07 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25212 Seems to me he's getting fired more for not following orders- orders that are there to save the school district from being sued by parents and copyright owner - than because he chose to show the movie per say. And, as a sub, he's probably not part of the union. Dumb, dumb decision on his part. If I was a parent, I'd be pretty pissed. Especially if he wasn't disciplined in some way. Not because I'd think my child was damaged beyond, but because the school district would have in effect lied to me about what would happen at school. And just because they make kid's pj's doesn't mean it's ok for kids. Nudity or not, the Simpsons isn't really meant for little kids. Third graders especially are still a little shaky on the whole sarcasm thing. They get it, but they are by no means experts. And even fifth graders often need metaphors pointed out to them. Fully understanding the Simpsons requires proficiency in sarcasm and metaphor. If nothing else, I question the sub's understanding of child development. Seems to me he’s getting fired more for not following orders- orders that are there to save the school district from being sued by parents and copyright owner – than because he chose to show the movie per say. And, as a sub, he’s probably not part of the union.

Dumb, dumb decision on his part.

If I was a parent, I’d be pretty pissed. Especially if he wasn’t disciplined in some way. Not because I’d think my child was damaged beyond, but because the school district would have in effect lied to me about what would happen at school.

And just because they make kid’s pj’s doesn’t mean it’s ok for kids. Nudity or not, the Simpsons isn’t really meant for little kids. Third graders especially are still a little shaky on the whole sarcasm thing. They get it, but they are by no means experts. And even fifth graders often need metaphors pointed out to them. Fully understanding the Simpsons requires proficiency in sarcasm and metaphor.

If nothing else, I question the sub’s understanding of child development.

]]> By: Malus http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25211 Malus Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:40:41 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25211 There's no valid comparison, period. There’s no valid comparison, period.

]]> By: Steve Taylor http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25210 Steve Taylor Mon, 22 Oct 2007 05:12:41 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25210 I understand you used the phrase "Taliban" sarcastically and didn't really mean to minimize the horrible things for which that group is allegedly responsible. I guess I'm not surprised to see people get a little twitchy about it. Maybe you should have used the phrase "Office Of The Attorney General," or something. The rhythm's not as funny,...but,.... I understand you used the phrase “Taliban” sarcastically and didn’t really mean to
minimize the horrible things for which that group is allegedly responsible. I guess I’m not surprised to see people get a little twitchy about it. Maybe you should have used the phrase “Office Of The Attorney General,” or something. The rhythm’s not as funny,…but,….

]]> By: Scott Roberts http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25209 Scott Roberts Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:04:13 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/10/21/connecticut-now-run-by-taliban/#comment-25209 What was the purpose of showing the film in the first place? Are third graders attending school to be entertained? Did it in any way tie in to their studies? Seems there would be hundreds of better choices of film for a third grade class, and something legally released might have been a sound idea. The movie does have mature themes, and it is a pirated copy. If parents wish to allow their kids to see it, and are prepared to discuss anything the kids might not understand, that is their choice. The school's reaction is hardly comparable to the taliban; especially if they had already said no. The freedom our country fought for is not license to be irresponsible. Discretion is not censorship. What was the purpose of showing the film in the first place? Are third graders attending school to be entertained? Did it in any way tie in to their studies?
Seems there would be hundreds of better choices of film for a third grade class, and something legally released might have been a sound idea.
The movie does have mature themes, and it is a pirated copy. If parents wish to allow their kids to see it, and are prepared to discuss anything the kids might not understand, that is their choice. The school’s reaction is hardly comparable to the taliban; especially if they had already said no.
The freedom our country fought for is not license to be irresponsible. Discretion is not censorship.

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