After all my New Year excitement about renewed efforts to make Shakespeare more accessible to school aged children, my enthusiasm has just been dampened. I’ve just learnt that a drama teacher from Canonbury Primary School in north London. has been sackedThere goes Bard 2009!
Mr. Stringer’s employers escorted him off the premises after they learnt of an incident that occurred in a previous teaching role in a different school – the drama teacher had shown the film Shakespeare in Love to a class of seven year old children.
I know this film is rated “15” in the UK, and so a wrongful act did take place, but is it really a sackable offense? It’s been a few years since I saw it, but I remember it being a fairly innocuous film at best.
Although I have to agree that Mr. Stringer’s actions were wrong, I suspect that he was acting with the best of intentions. As I remember, Shakespeare in Love contains less sex and violence than the actual plays. I can’t help but feel that this was a knee-jerk reaction.
Comments
I see your point; however there is a scene that would be considered fairly graphic for anyone under the age of thirteen where a couple is having intercourse while speaking to another character standing in the doorway.
Much as I love Shakespeare and believe his messages are universal and ageless,I don’t think 7-year-olds would have been interested. It would have been difficult for them to follow the language anyway. BUT I definitely don’t think the teacher should have been fired! Where was the administrator? A simple reprimand would have sufficed! I am betting, however, that some parent made a stink–having worked in the US public schools, I know that many administrators nowadays kowtow to irate parents rather than supporting their teachers, simply to avoid lawsuits. ‘Tis a sad situation indeed.
What about the scene where Gwenneth Paltrow shows her breasts?
No the parents have not had any dealings with public schools in usa or uk,they are normal everyday people who took offence to their eight year old child being shown this film, it is a 15 for a reason.The children did not get a choice about watching it, they felt very uncomfortable as they new they shouldnt be watching it, they were to young to go home by themselves and did not want to get in trouble. This situation could have been avoided had he let parents know what he was going to show them at least they could have picked the kids up! I for one am still concerned why children this young have to be shown such graphic detail, why cant they be kids for a bit longer,they certainly don’t do sex education this young so why should the parents except this?? He was not accused of anything else by these parents they were doing their job of protecting their kids he should have been doing his. Im sorry for him and if he was in ill health then he should not have been at work, in life we cant do as we want you do have to respect others and their morals!Yes he made a mistake, no his life should not be destroyed,Believe me if i made a mistake at work i would go to jail not just loose my job!