My teacher showed the movie Pulp Fiction in my son's 9th grade class?

Question

Without a permission slip. When my 14 year old son came home he told me he saw Pulp Fiction and said he loved it. What Can I do about this, I am so ticked off right now that the teacher would show this type of movie to my prepubescent 14 year old son.

What Can I do and what would YOU do if the teacher showed this in your son's 9th grade class?

Answer 1

I would find out why. There may be a reason. (none that I can think of or would agree with at the moment) If not, then take it to the school board.

Answer 2

This is probably something you don't want to hear, but if your son is in high school, he hears language WAY worse than in Pulp Fiction on a daily basis. In fact, middle schoolers tend to be worse. And I understand if you are uncomfortable with your son watching a rated R movie, and I do agree that the teacher should have included a note, but in 9th grade we watched Macbeth which was rated R, and all the teacher had to do was use a book to cover up the nudity scenes. We read it because we had just finished reading the book, a truely marvelous piece of literature. We were all mature enough to handle the adult themes and took it quite seriously. It was Shakespeare, after all.

Also, although it is entirely your choice what movies your son is permitted to watch, I believe that there are some rated R movies that he must see. One of these is Schindler's List. It brings tears to everyone's eyes and is surely the saddest movie I've ever seen, but it is a movie that I believe everybody should watch at some point in their lives. I actually think it's better for him to see it during his teens, because he will understand the movie fully and it could very well change his life.

And about your son being prepubescent at 14... even if he is a "late bloomer" (perfectly likely), he's bound to start puberty sometime soon, and there's no way that he couldn't already know what sex is. Students are educated about it in 5th grade, middle schoolers don't shut up about it, and high school, well, it's high school.

I'm not saying that you should have no reign over what movies your son watches, because you should. I am just saying that some rated R movies are very important for him to see, and I doubt that any of the topics in these movies would be new concepts for him.

Answer 3

What would I do? I would congratulate the teacher for exposing high-schoolers to the art of film.

I watched Pulp Fiction at the age of 12 or so, The Shining at 8, and The Fly/The Fly II when I was 5.

Film is an amazing art and Pulp Fiction is one of the best. Parents are ridiculously protective of what their children watch. They don't realize the power and understanding of a 14-year-old's brain. If adults in this country really knew why they were restricting what their children watched, they would cease to restrict. It's a pity, and I hope film becomes an intricate part of high-school, just as literature is. Pulp Fiction should be required watching, and so should Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Reservoir Dogs, and The Godfather.

Answer 4

Knowing that classes are probably only 1 hour each in high school, wouldn't it have taken 3-4 days for your son to complete the movie? Are you saying he never mentioned it once to you before the movie was over? That's hard to believe.

You should talk to the teacher first and find out what the reason for showing the movie was. What was this teacher trying to accomplish? If the answer isn't satisfying than go to the principle of the school. This movie is way too adult for any class in high school.

Good luck friend!

Answer 5

What? Whats up with teacher this days now? Really! As a godfather, I think you should talk to the Teacher & WITH the school Principal. Pulp Fiction it is NOT for kids. They could watch like "Willy Wondka The Chocolate Factory" or "Disney Pirates" (Johnny Depp.) NOT Pulp Fiction. I do remember that I saw the news that 8 grade teacher she played "Brokeback Mountain" & the teacher got fired.

Take care!!!

Answer 6

What is the big deal with that? Is it causing nightmares?

The majority of his class is likely already started puberty, though I don't know what that has to do with watching Pulp Fiction.

I work with kids ages 3-17. Most 14 year olds have seen MUCH worse movies.

I'm not sure why a permission slip would be required?

I really don't know why you're so mad, and there is nothing you can do, your son has already watched it. If its a movie you feel is inappropriate, why not watch it WITH your son and discuss with him the things that you think are wrong for him to see.

Tell the teacher that if he is going to show similar movies to the class, you would prefer your son to be excused. Tell him you're not happy about the situation.

I've brought 10 year olds into see War of the Worlds in theatre with parental consent, I've discussed Eddie Murphy Raw with 12 year olds and I've shown up to baby sit kids under 10 watching Reservoir Dogs.

I would not have a problem with a grade 9 class watching this movie.

Now if he was showing them Debbie Does Dallas, I'd address it with the teacher and likely the principle.

Do you really think its nothing he's seen before?

Answer 7

well the teacher was wrong for letting 14 year olds watch a rated r film but when i was at that i age i've seen some really crazy things on tv and online. first thing you should do is talk to your 14 year old about the movie and how he felt about it and how he feels about the teacher, because if you go to his school and complain about the teacher, you might just embarrass your son and that probably leave a very bad impression of your son to the teacher who he has to see every day at school

Answer 8

I'd talk to the teacher WITH the principle in attendance.. Honestly, if a kid wants to see it.. he will, but that is NOT a film for school.. parts of it were more graphic than I would watch.. and I dont' mind that normally.. and I believe it is rated R.. so, they would by law REQUIRE a signature.. I would NOT however try to make money off of it or have the teacher fired.. just make sure they get signatures for any other movies rated over pg13, or take the movie out of their lessons..

Answer 9

Based on the answers given, I gather the information that this movie is rated R and has abusive language and/or content.

If your son is telling the truth, then I'd call the school board and tell them what happened. The teacher should be fired for doing this.

If your son is not telling the truth (most likely), I would punish him for lying to an adult.

Answer 10

Your son is in 9th grade, he is 14 years old. What is your reason for being upset?

Do you have cable television? Does he watch it? Has he ever watched broadcast television beyond 9 p.m, the same and more are available 24-7 on cable and satellite.? Has he ever played Ninendo, XBOX, PlayStation? Has he ever watched the evening news?

If he has done any of these, what is it you think he saw in a Pulp Fiction that he hasn't experienced one thousand times over by now?

Did you know that most of all reading materials, books, novels and magazines are written on a 9th grade level. That means nearly every topic available in bookstores and libraries are aimed at his reading level.

Do he have access to the internet? There are more things to be worried about on YouTube and FaceBook not to mention chatrooms across the board that are far more alarming than anything contained in Pulp Fiction.

By the time my siblings and I were 14, we had lived on three continents in more than 9 countries. We have all seen more of life of an adult nature on the street than is depicted in the movie?

If you haven't explained life to your 14 year old by now, you have really hindered him, not the movie. There are too many channels of information aimed at your child by people who have an agenda designed to seperate him from every penny he will ever earned to not have him prepared by now to deal with Pulp Fiction.

The President of the United States has totally trashed the US Constitution. His staff are deserting their posts in larger numbers than those in the Nixon administration. The Attorney General of the United States Alberto Gonzalez resigned in disgrace, White House Spokesman Tony Snow, the fourth spokesperson since Bush took office resigned today. Congressman Craig was caught and arrested for a lewd act in an airport bathroom.

The single largest government shakeup is looming on the horizon.

As of Wednesday, August 22nd, at least 3722 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war. Osama Bin Laden, mastermind and funder of the horrific terrorist plot of 9/11 is still at large and the US has been at war in the Middle East longer than it fought in Europe during WWII.

The United States is at war with two nations and more terrorists than we can name and you are upset by your 14 year old watching Pulp Fiction at school.

Do you think your 14 year old doesn't know any of this has happened? This is reality and our military men and women are being slaughtered in the streets of Baghdad.

Please tell us that you have talked with your 14 year old about what is really happening in the world. Tell him that anyone who makes less than $24, 000 dollars a year lives below the poverty level and paying attention in school and studying every chance he has may be the only thing that saves his life in the long run.

What would I do? First, I would sit down and discuss the movie and his impressions. Then I'd would why I didn't know he was such a complex person who is growing and experiencing more than I realized. Then I would have to evalute myself and figure out why I'm so far behind his natural development.

Next, I'd ask these questions:

In which class was the movie shown?

Why was the movie shown?

What is it's educational value?

How does that relate to him and students at his maturity level?

Then, I would ask what other films are scheduled for his viewing.

Then, I would apologize to him for not being more involved with his education.

What are you waiting for?