sub shows Brokeback Mtn to 8th graders

[Nova]

I have a daughter in 9th grade. I had to sign a permission slip for her to read a certain book for English. I read the first chapter and signed the slip. I recorded Broke Back Mountain a few weeks ago when it was on HBO. I still haven't gotten up the nerve to watch it though. (?)

It's very much a love story, not a sex story. What sex is suggested is no more than most Hollywood movies aimed at adult audiences.

 

[sweetnsonny]

Welcome, sweetnsonny,

What was the book?

Thank you for the welcome. I can't remember the name of the book, it was months ago. I'll ask my daughter & get back to you. It started out being told by a 14 year old and the death of his grandmother & then the grandfather suddenly remarrying.

 

[southcitymom]

It's very much a love story, not a sex story. What sex is suggested is no more than most Hollywood movies aimed at adult audiences.

Also, a story about loss, yearning and the spaces that separate us - so many layers. The sex stuff is very lowkey, IMHO.

 

[southcitymom]

Thank you for the welcome. I can't remember the name of the book, it was months ago. I'll ask my daughter & get back to you. It started out being told by a 14 year old and the death of his grandmother & then the grandfather suddenly remarrying.

Cool - I'm always interested in what titles are worthy of parental signatures to read!

 

[sweetnsonny]

Okay, I guess I will watch it. Not when the kids are around though.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

It's very much a love story, not a sex story. What sex is suggested is no more than most Hollywood movies aimed at adult audiences.

Yes, but we're talking about 12-year olds. I don't know about anyone else's 12-year old, but MINE is 12 YEARS OLD. She's a very protected little girl. She's not smoking pot and having sex already as some people suggested kids are doing these days. While I agree that a lawsuit isn't really the course of action for this "teacher," there is something VERY, VERY wrong with an adult who would show this or any other movie with sex scenes to little kids.

 

[sweetnsonny]

Cool - I'm always interested in what titles are worthy of parental signatures to read!

Here it is:http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Sassy-Tr...3919009?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179261394&sr=1-2

Cold Sassy Tree, a novel full of warm humor and honesty, is told by Willy Tweedy, a fourteen-year-old boy living in a small, turn-of-the-century Georgia town. Will's hero is his Grandpa Rucker, who runs the town's general store, carrying all the power and privilege thereof. When Grandpa Rucker suddenly marries his store's young milliner barely three weeks after his wife's death, the town is set on its ear. Will Tweedy matures as he watches his family's reaction and adjustment to the news. He is trapped in the awkward phase of rising to adult expectations - driving the first cars in town - while still orchestrating wild pranks and starting scandalous gossip through his childish bragging. He seeks the wisdom of his grandpa and has his eyes opened to southern "ways" under the tutelage of Grandpa's new Yankee wife, Miss Love. Still, Will "couldn't figure out...why in the heck she would marry the old man." But Miss Love's influence seems to be transforming Grandpa into a younger man, and the answer unfolds slowly and sweetly as Will Tweedy becomes the confidante and staunch defender of this unlikely couple. The lessons of life and death, of piousness and irreverence, form the basis of memorable characters and a story that is both difficult to put down and hard to leave.

 

[southcitymom]

Here it is:http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Sassy-Tr...3919009?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179261394&sr=1-2

Cold Sassy Tree, a novel full of warm humor and honesty, is told by Willy Tweedy, a fourteen-year-old boy living in a small, turn-of-the-century Georgia town. Will's hero is his Grandpa Rucker, who runs the town's general store, carrying all the power and privilege thereof. When Grandpa Rucker suddenly marries his store's young milliner barely three weeks after his wife's death, the town is set on its ear. Will Tweedy matures as he watches his family's reaction and adjustment to the news. He is trapped in the awkward phase of rising to adult expectations - driving the first cars in town - while still orchestrating wild pranks and starting scandalous gossip through his childish bragging. He seeks the wisdom of his grandpa and has his eyes opened to southern "ways" under the tutelage of Grandpa's new Yankee wife, Miss Love. Still, Will "couldn't figure out...why in the heck she would marry the old man." But Miss Love's influence seems to be transforming Grandpa into a younger man, and the answer unfolds slowly and sweetly as Will Tweedy becomes the confidante and staunch defender of this unlikely couple. The lessons of life and death, of piousness and irreverence, form the basis of memorable characters and a story that is both difficult to put down and hard to leave.

Ah - a terrific book from my own state! It does have some mature themes, but is overall an excellent read.

 

[Ang50]

Here it is:http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Sassy-Tr...3919009?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179261394&sr=1-2

Cold Sassy Tree, a novel full of warm humor and honesty, is told by Willy Tweedy, a fourteen-year-old boy living in a small, turn-of-the-century Georgia town. Will's hero is his Grandpa Rucker, who runs the town's general store, carrying all the power and privilege thereof. When Grandpa Rucker suddenly marries his store's young milliner barely three weeks after his wife's death, the town is set on its ear. Will Tweedy matures as he watches his family's reaction and adjustment to the news. He is trapped in the awkward phase of rising to adult expectations - driving the first cars in town - while still orchestrating wild pranks and starting scandalous gossip through his childish bragging. He seeks the wisdom of his grandpa and has his eyes opened to southern "ways" under the tutelage of Grandpa's new Yankee wife, Miss Love. Still, Will "couldn't figure out...why in the heck she would marry the old man." But Miss Love's influence seems to be transforming Grandpa into a younger man, and the answer unfolds slowly and sweetly as Will Tweedy becomes the confidante and staunch defender of this unlikely couple. The lessons of life and death, of piousness and irreverence, form the basis of memorable characters and a story that is both difficult to put down and hard to leave.

This is an absolute classic - what a great pick! I don't remember anything wild in it, but maybe schools just do this to cover their butts now... OR - classic marketing - it makes the kids more interested to read this book!

 

[Ang50]

Also, a story about loss, yearning and the spaces that separate us - so many layers. The sex stuff is very lowkey, IMHO.

That's what I loved about it - the men were committing adultery... but wouldn't have made that choice if they felt they could be together in society. But does that make it OK to decieve wives? But the other choice is what?

And on and on - great movie for discussions. Bad movie for discussions w/ 8th graders. I would not TOUCH the adultery subject in any form with 8th graders.

 

[Ang50]

Just one more story on the subject...

We read Ethan Frome (Edith Wharton) in 9th grade. From what I remember, the entire book is all about how this man married this woman because he felt so guilty over this incident that happened when they were teens. It scarred her for life, and he felt so guilty he stayed with her over his true love.

I read the boring thing cover to cover in one sitting b/c I was dying to find out what the incident was... Even a 9th grader's mind comes up with all these incredible possibilities...

I get to the end and the incident was... SPOILER ALERT ....



A sledding accident. SLEDS! I felt totally cheated. Anyway, I haven't picked up the book again, and maybe I would read it differently now. But even as a 9th grader I wanted some real scandal - drunk driving, whatever... sledding was such a disappointment.

 

[Marthatex]

Here it is:http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Sassy-Tr...3919009?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179261394&sr=1-2

Cold Sassy Tree, a novel full of warm humor and honesty, is told by Willy Tweedy, a fourteen-year-old boy living in a small, turn-of-the-century Georgia town. Will's hero is his Grandpa Rucker, who runs the town's general store, carrying all the power and privilege thereof. When Grandpa Rucker suddenly marries his store's young milliner barely three weeks after his wife's death, the town is set on its ear. Will Tweedy matures as he watches his family's reaction and adjustment to the news. He is trapped in the awkward phase of rising to adult expectations - driving the first cars in town - while still orchestrating wild pranks and starting scandalous gossip through his childish bragging. He seeks the wisdom of his grandpa and has his eyes opened to southern "ways" under the tutelage of Grandpa's new Yankee wife, Miss Love. Still, Will "couldn't figure out...why in the heck she would marry the old man." But Miss Love's influence seems to be transforming Grandpa into a younger man, and the answer unfolds slowly and sweetly as Will Tweedy becomes the confidante and staunch defender of this unlikely couple. The lessons of life and death, of piousness and irreverence, form the basis of memorable characters and a story that is both difficult to put down and hard to leave.

That's one of my very favorite books.

 

[Nova]

Just one more story on the subject...

We read Ethan Frome (Edith Wharton) in 9th grade. From what I remember, the entire book is all about how this man married this woman because he felt so guilty over this incident that happened when they were teens. It scarred her for life, and he felt so guilty he stayed with her over his true love.

I read the boring thing cover to cover in one sitting b/c I was dying to find out what the incident was... Even a 9th grader's mind comes up with all these incredible possibilities...

I get to the end and the incident was... SPOILER ALERT ....



A sledding accident. SLEDS! I felt totally cheated. Anyway, I haven't picked up the book again, and maybe I would read it differently now. But even as a 9th grader I wanted some real scandal - drunk driving, whatever... sledding was such a disappointment.

You forgot the part about the broken pickle dish. Riveting!

The sledding disaster wasn't an accident; Ethan and his wife's cousin Mattie were trying to commit suicide because they were in love, but couldn't afford (morally or financially) to be together. The suicide went awry (sledding into a tree is not the most efficient method) and both were crippled, Mattie to the point of being a perpetual invalid.

So Ethan is left partially crippled and with the wife he hates and the lover he has destroyed and forced to wait on both, hand and foot.

(The illnesses and handicaps are metaphors for moral and spiritual impairment.)

Personally, I loved it. But I didn't read it in high school; I read it much later, after I learned that life is all about disappointment and shattered dreams.

 

[Nova]

Yes, but we're talking about 12-year olds. I don't know about anyone else's 12-year old, but MINE is 12 YEARS OLD. She's a very protected little girl. She's not smoking pot and having sex already as some people suggested kids are doing these days. While I agree that a lawsuit isn't really the course of action for this "teacher," there is something VERY, VERY wrong with an adult who would show this or any other movie with sex scenes to little kids.

Jeana, you came to the thread late. I was telling an adult poster that Brokeback would be okay for HER, not a child. From the beginning, I have agreed with everyone here that showing the film to middle schoolers is both pointless and inappropriate.

 

[nanandjim]

Yes, but we're talking about 12-year olds. I don't know about anyone else's 12-year old, but MINE is 12 YEARS OLD. She's a very protected little girl. She's not smoking pot and having sex already as some people suggested kids are doing these days. While I agree that a lawsuit isn't really the course of action for this "teacher," there is something VERY, VERY wrong with an adult who would show this or any other movie with sex scenes to little kids.

I haven't read this entire thread; however, I feel certain that the movie's rating has been discussed. This movie is rated "R" or restricted. That means it contains content deemed inappropriate for children under 17 years of age. If the substitute teacher wanted to show this movie, IMO, she should have gotten approval from the parents.

I realize that you can't protect your children from the outside world, but, Good Lord, you expect teachers to use good judgment and to err on the side of conservatism for the children.

Nothing can be done now that the movie has aired. I would expect the school to establish some written guidelines for staff as well as substitutes. So, this doesn't happen again in the future. I would also expect that this substitute would not be used again.

 

[southcitymom]

That's what I loved about it - the men were committing adultery... but wouldn't have made that choice if they felt they could be together in society. But does that make it OK to decieve wives? But the other choice is what?

And on and on - great movie for discussions. Bad movie for discussions w/ 8th graders. I would not TOUCH the adultery subject in any form with 8th graders.

A little off topic but I read a review on this movie that is almost as beautiful as the movie itself at a site called www.pajiba.com. Just go to their search engine and put in the movie's name.

 

[Nova]

A little off topic but I read a review on this movie that is almost as beautiful as the movie itself at a site called www.pajiba.com. Just go to their search engine and put in the movie's name.

Anyone who liked the film should read the novela by Annie Proulx on which it is based. I loved the movie, but Annie Proulx is a genius!

 

[southcitymom]

Anyone who liked the film should read the novela by Annie Proulx on which it is based. I loved the movie, but Annie Proulx is a genius!

I love Annie Proulx too, Nova. She is amazing!

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I haven't read this entire thread; however, I feel certain that the movie's rating has been discussed. This movie is rated "R" or restricted. That means it contains content deemed inappropriate for children under 17 years of age. If the substitute teacher wanted to show this movie, IMO, she should have gotten approval from the parents.

I realize that you can't protect your children from the outside world, but, Good Lord, you expect teachers to use good judgment and to err on the side of conservatism for the children.

Nothing can be done now that the movie has aired. I would expect the school to establish some written guidelines for staff as well as substitutes. So, this doesn't happen again in the future. I would also expect that this substitute would not be used again.

Absolutely. The teacher should have had the approval of the school first and then the parents, which I'm pretty sure would have been impossible to obtain. There's no way my child would be allowed to attend another class with this teacher after something like this.

 

[Nova]

I love Annie Proulx too, Nova. She is amazing!

Somehow I suspected you would.

In our next lives, let's don't do this separated-by-a-continent thing, 'k?