The one thought I'm left with after reading this article - is if this parent is upset about these movies just because they are R-rated and mature themes - or if it is because there are gay themes in both movies mentioned. With all the violence teens see in movies - and on TV, and you know many under 17 go to R-rated movies - I'd much rather have had my daughter see these two movies over many graphically violent movies, including some rated just PG-13.

I graduated HSHS in 97 and I remember watching American Beauty in class back then... really..I agree Lynn..what the issue really? If this parent honestly thinks their child isn't watching movies of this caliber or worse already they are sorely mistaken.

I think they are both bad choices and before anybody squawks that I'm prejudice about gays, it has nothing to do with that. I wouldn't let my kids see those so why would the high school over ride me and put more sexuality and foul language in their heads?

Honestly, there's much worse material seen in the hallways, and the teachers do nothing about it. Both of these movies are tasteful in the way they portray these themes, and therefore is not like the movies I'm sure the children watch in their freedom.

Interesting issue, although the larger issue is one I'd like to learn more about. Just from reading this article, I see that the Board approves textbooks. But do we really want the Board to have approval rights for all other additional materials that our educators want to use in their class? Non-textbook reading? Summer reading books? Movies? Seems terribly restrictive on our educators. Will they want to approve outside worksheets for homework not directly taken from the textbooks? Or even any newspapers that may be referenced for current events? Sounds like one big slippery slope.

Both these films would be just fine to study in an elective class intended for juniors and seniors, especially when the teacher offers a variety of films with many viewpoints under careful study and discussion. As a senior at Hinsdale South, I know that this class has a variety of films - not all that focus on "controversial topics." A well-balanced approach makes the most sense. Would we want this class to be all Disney films? (Oh, wait, even "The Lion King" is controversial for supposedly portraying Scar as gay.) Some of Shakespeare would be R-rated today, so "controversial" (if these films even are) doesn't necessarily mean bad, wrong, or immoral. If you look at the list of best pictures, most contain something that could be controversial - which makes them rich for dicussion and study - that's what makes them great. You can't trust teenagers to make judgments on our own? There is a approval process in this class; the kids' parents signed a form to allow them to watch these films. And it's not "illegal" to show R-rated films anway. It's a suggested guideline for movie theatres.

I'm more concerned about this parent trying to push his own agenda on others. If you google him, he is making more than $2,000,000 a year just from his job alone (who knows about his investments). He's one of those 1% guys trying to bully the schools into teaching what he believes is best. Unfortunately, what he believes is best is aligned with one fo the most infamous hate groups in Illinois. Laurie Higgins, from the "Illinois Family Institute," just wrote an internet blog attacking this teacher for using these two films. Why? Because the films' portrayal of homosexual actvities "corrupts" true friendship and love (apparently, gays cannot experience "true" friendship and love?!?!?!). The Illinois Family Institute has been identified as an "anti-gay hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center (this Center happens to be a sponsor of an anti-bullying program called Teaching Tolerance). And I heard that these teacher's words (used out of context) in this attack blog were taken from her personal emails sent to Mr. Casini - emails that she used to explain her rational for teaching this films. I wonder how these emails might have made their way to this hate group? I'm guessing that this parent's complaint is not about sexual imagery or obscenities. Rather, it's because these two films actually contain topics about gays - people are can't have real "love."

So, dude, your kid doesn't have to take this class. It's an elective. And your kid doesn't have to watch these films even if they stay in class. And if your kid watches these films in class, I heard that the teacher is editing some of the sex out. So, what's the problem? Perhaps you should explain to your own kids that it's okay to be different and to be tolerant of others.
By the way, if you check out the Illinios Family Institute, this group also wants to ban the teaching of evolution and remove the separation of church and state. This Higgins lady even has an article about how to attack teachers on this website. What's next? Banning "To Kill a Mockingbird" because it's sympathetic to blacks and hints at an interracial relationship? Getting rid of "Schindler's List" because it portrays Germans in a bad way? We at South are proud that we respect diversity and practice tolerance towards all people and beliefs. And PUBLIC schools should be promoting, not stifling different ideas - as a model of democracy. If this parent gets his way, I'm glad that I'm leaving South soon.

Exactly right, Jack! You r a senior at South? I'm very impressed with your obvious maturity, intellect and compassionate for all humans. Good job to your parents for raising a thoughtful, smart and compassionate young man! Shame on Bill for promoting hate and intolerane to his children.

Jack says, "I'm more concerned about this parent trying to push his own agenda on others."

Interesting that he ignores the fact that the REAL issue is the government imposing mandatory public education, and doubling down by ACTUALLY - not "trying" - to force-feed a progressive agenda on American youth. Would like to know Jack's social studies grades - he does not know history, and the social environment that existed during the days America grew from a few colonies huddling on the East Coast to the greatest Nation on Earth. We did it through the innovation of individual freedom - NOT through fascist standardization.

Teachers ought to take pride in their ability to pass on this unique American tradition of freedom and excellence - not in being able to push a personal agenda on a captive audience. If Jack wants to grow up and have his kids subjected to these materials - great. But don't send the government into my home and force me to have my kids watch it.

Oh those naughty liberals seem a bit too informed to avoid marching the goose step of the self appointed righteous!

It might be informative to know whether those objecting to these two films have actually viewed the movies themselves...

I'm not clear on what the purpose of the class is. I have seen American Beauty, Brokeback Mountain, and two other films on the syllabus, The Graduate, and Old School. The name of the class is Film as Literature, so I suspect movies are to be broken down like when we studied books when I was in high school. Each book and a theme that we were studying. So what is the theme of Old School. Is there really anything to be learned by the movie Old School? Don't get me wrong; I love the movie and this story will probably get me to dig it out and watch it again, but it's just a fun time. There is nothing intellectual about it. I think if the lesson plan were more transparent, many parental concerns could be relieved.

As for the commentors that feel the board should not have approval rights over what is in class or the summer reading lists, please remember that movies, music, and summer reading are all a part of the ciriculum. You can't say one media (textbooks) is ok to screen and others are not. This is especially true today with the way many teachers are looking at alternative ways to teach our children as a way to reach and stimulate our childrens' minds. Textbooks are gradually going by the wayside. We elect our school board members to spend our tax money wisely and make sure our children are prepared for college and their adult lives. The board is supposed to represent us. Teachers should never have cart blanche as to what they teach. What if the class had movies such American History X, Birth of a Nation, or that stupid Innocence of Muslims movie? Wouldn't parents have a right to be concerned and upset then? Sure they would.

Is there a chance that Mr. Casini is grandstanding? Sure. In my opinion, I think this elective is a fluff class that has very little academic merit, but that is my uniformed opinion based on the things I can see and not on what I don't know about the class. Transparency would help us parents a lot. I think that the focus on the objection to Brokeback Mountain and American Beauty distracts us from the real issue of what kind of say do we have in the education of our children.

The banter and comments are as polarized as the presidential election. Let's not have the intolerance that exists in politics show up in our schools and our children's education. We need to live together and our children need to learn together. We have an amazing school district and I trust our educators in this community to do the right thing. Not blindly, but let's all agree we have a great school system here by any comparison. This course is an elective. If a parent doesn't like the content, have your student take another class or pass on the objectionable film. Don't impose your morality/beliefs on the rest of us. It is bad enough in politics--let's let this great school keep doing what it has done so well...inform our kids and educate them about the real world and involve the parents in their progress. Censorship is dangerous. Very dangerous.

To Bob Smid:
What is the "line" that was crossed? I don't understand your point. Who is drawing the line and is that line based on religion, politics, personal beliefs or education? There is nothing in these films that our students don't already know about. Isn't it wise to have them discuss it with their teacher and peers as to the impact it has on them and society? In terms of "influence our kids", what do you mean? Are you against them becoming more tolerant of other lifestyles or do you believe that by seeing "Brokeback Mountain" they could be inclined to become homosexual? I am trying to understand your logic flow so we can help our educators. I respect the fact that you might not feel certain kids are mature enough to learn about these topics and therefore as a parent should not have your student see the film or take the class. But what about parents that feel their student's are mature enough to deal with these issues? My point is that there are some parents that actually believe that evolution should not be taught in school. Do we alter the teaching of science to satisfy them? So where is the line....that is they key question.

"If you insist on government run schools.....",Now we have the profiteers,the corporate school advocates posing as reformers of those nasty beuracratic public schools.They claim their intent is to safeguard the curriculum and protect the children from teacher indiscretion but their primary motive is the bottom line.

Proud Teacher....Are you serious?Like the parking meter debacle in Chicago or the Sky Way privatization;even the chicken hawks got their moneys worth out of the juicy para military contracts during the Mid-East conflicts,What's next...Hinsdale opting for Charter Schools.Who speaks with fork tongue?

I am the parent that initiated the objection here, but I am by no means alone. Numerous other parents and taxpayers have echoed my concern about the appropriateness of showing these films in a high school classroom. But the thing that surprises me most about many of the posts above is the assumption that my (our) position can't be a legitimate, reasonable concern. Many of you have attempted to assign motives to my position without knowing anything about me. One of you even attempted to find out my compensation! For all the talk about tolerance, where is the tolerance and respect for an opposing point of view?

Sue....Thanks for your comments.I'm going to saddle up and ride out to the West and leave these matters to those in charge.Hopefully,respectful civil dicourse will achieve the proper solution.