What Were They Thinking?

Michael Moore
The Beaumont Enterprise of Beaumont, Texas, is reporting that the parent of a high school student is upset because his child's principal authorized the showing of Michael Moore's controversial film "Fahrenheit 9/11" in his son's English class.

Pathways Learning Center is an "alternative" high school where students that have had a history of disciplinary problems are placed in order to receive the structure that is needed to correct past behaviors. The EdWonk thinks that this is the last place where such a movie should be exhibited.

The parent, Michael Kurth, expressed concern that an "R" rated movie was shown in class. He told the newspaper that it is "Absolutely wrong for teachers to take a political position with some of these kids at legal voting age." As a classroom teacher, the EdWonk concurs in that assessment.

According to the Enterprise, the principal, Michael Ryals, is quoted as saying, "I didn't hear anything that was offensive to me." Moore's controversial movie is in effect, a condemnation of the Bush Administration's decision to go to war in Iraq.