Daughter's school showed Cat in the Hat

[Shonahsmom]

Ugh!

My dd's pre school occasionally shows movies on Friday afternoons. I'm not thrilled about it, but I realize its done in moderation and is presented as a special treat.

I have made a huge stink about various movies they've shown that I found inappropriate. I made it clear, verbally and in writing, that I wanted the opportunity to OK a movie before my dd watched it. That the teacher's needed to plan ahead to decide what movie they were going to show and to notify, IMO all of the parents, but me specifically. I also made it clear that showing anything above a G rating in a pre school was unacceptable. They agreed, promised to notify me and guarantedd they would not show anything but G movies.

Well, this morning my dd reveales to me that she watched "Cat in the Hat" yesterday (Monday).



I am so aggravated over it. I repeatedly turned down my 4 y.o. dd's request to see this movie. The humor in it did not seem age appropriate to me. Mom says no over and over and then the school lets here watch it!

I spoke to the director briefly this morning. She apologized profusely and then stated that the teacher who showed the movie told her it was rated "G". When I pointed out the fact that I had instructed the staff to inform me and receive my consent prior to any movie, she said that she thought that was only in cases where the movie was rated worse than "g". She did apologize but also seemed to not really be accepting the blame at all, by placing it on the other teacher (who apparently lied to her or the director is lying about that) and by claiming to have misunderstood my previous request.

Plus, why are they watching a movie on a Monday. The director stated that it was because they had their annual DCFS inspection for their liscensing and that they needed to keep the kids occupied and all in one space.

I am just fustrated and needed to vent!

[Trishy]

The movie is rated PG, not G.

[Shonahsmom]

Yes, I know that.

That what I was referring to when I wrote that the teacher lied in telling the director the movie was rated "G".

[Graceoc]

I am guessing that the answer is yes - but are you sure it was the new Cat in the Hat movie? I know that they have the original Cat in the Hat animated 'books' on video........

[Shonahsmom]

I am sure. I asked the director specifically which version it was.

[daylily]

I would be blowing a gasket. Isn't preschool kind of expensive? Why should parents pay tuition and fees so that their children can watch crappy movies? I hope you give 'em hell.

[lilyka]

Wow, I won't let my seven year old watch that and I have pretty loose standards. here was way too much sexual humor in this movie, and that is just what I have seen on the comercials. It amazes me what people deem acceptable for small children. dd went to a slumber party at her Martial arts school and they were going to be watching the Karate kid (wax on wax off, no big) but ended up watching Men in Black. totally inappropriate in my opinion. No warning or anything and kids as young as three were at this party. I just couldn't believe it.

[jannan]

i would be livid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i agree, why should a pre-school show movies anyway. i made a big stink about dd pre-school showint Blues' clues every afternoon. and then it stopped. pre-school is not the place to show the cat in the hat. especially not that cat in the hat.but i think you handled it pretty well

[napless]

In preschool??!!!? You're kidding! When I first read the post I thought you were talking about elementary school and I was livid (a friend had a similar experience recently - the kids were shown "Pirates of trhe Caribbean", which just reinforced my desire that my kids never attend public school) . But preschool? Why would they be watching videos at all - even "appropriate" ones? I would be absolutely raging!

[mammastar]

I would be very upset, too.

They needed the children all in one place for their licensing inspection??? Somehow I doubt the licensing authorities expect every facility to use an electronic babysitter (showing a parental guidance advised movie to little kids without their parents' permission) while they're being visited for an inspection...presumably in lieu of adequate supervision in line with the child-teacher ratios required by law??

I would point this out to the school and possibly to the authorities as well. I would either withdraw my child or (if that would be too difficult on short notice/she would be really sad) not re-enroll her for next year and make it clear why - and tell them you'll certainly let other parents know your concerns.

[Ragana]

Re: Daughter's school showed Cat in the Hat

Originally posted by Shonahsmom
Ugh!

Plus, why are they watching a movie on a Monday. The director stated that it was because they had their annual DCFS inspection for their liscensing and that they needed to keep the kids occupied and all in one space.

I am just fustrated and needed to vent!

I agree with the above poster. Our preschool shows no TV and they have no problems keeping the kids occupied and in one space. We are NAYCE accredited. Are there bigger problems here?

[Mom4tot]

Originally posted by daylily
I would be blowing a gasket. Isn't preschool kind of expensive? Why should parents pay tuition and fees so that their children can watch crappy movies? I hope you give 'em hell.

I am speechless. I hate to say it but I would consider leaving the school. You mean to tell me they can't figure anything else out for that couple of hours?? How inappropriate. At 4, my dd would have been afraid of that movie...shame on them.

As far as the other movies go being shown to older grades, I think it is ridiculous.

[LunaMom]

I'd be really pissed. Honestly, having children watch movies in preschool is totally inappropriate. I think it's inappropriate in ANY school unless it is tied in with a unit of study.

Is finding another school totally out of the question? 'Cause that's what I'd do.

[momsgotmilk4two]

I'd be pissed. We said no to Cat in the Hat too. They don't even show movies at all at our preschool. Shoot, he can sit here and watch movies at home, why would I shell out big bucks for him to do that at preschool? And then to top it off, they select something so entirely inappropriate. I'm shocked that they'd think it was okay to show a PG movie at a preschool. Doesn't PG mean *parental* guidence?

[bellydancegoddess]

OMG!!!!

I wouldn't let my 6.5 year old to watch that! It has sexual hummor in it! I do talk to my DD about sex in correct terms so shes never nervous to talk to me about it, besides I'd rather her here about sex from me than at school. I dont want her to grow up being nieve about it, then not knowing what to do when she gets confronted with it. I wish my mother was more open to talk about it with me (maybe I wouldn't of been a teenage mother ) anyway, preschool! With what you pay and you can never take back the fact that she watched that. I would give them more than h*ll, I'd go for their licence!

[joesmom]

wow, we did not see that in the theatres but my dad got it for joe. he watched it a few times, i was in the next room, going in & out, etc. i watched a bit of it with him but it was in the week before our autism walk & i was BUSY.

anyway, there is a part where the cat cuts off his tail & he says, SON OF A BeeeeeeeeeP!

joe said that the other day! i know that is not earth shattering but it sounded terrible from a 5 yo.

i would be SO mad if he was in a preschool & they showed that movie. you are right to be upset.

[MommyWendy76]

When I was in Middle school, we watch Romeo and Juliett, and that has a part where they are nude making love! I was in MIDDLE SCHOOL! I covered my face and everyone else was laughing and the teacher told us we had to act mature or she would turn off the movie!

I would be mad too if my childs teacher showed a PG movie. (I unschool, but if I did have a child in school, Id be mad about it)

Wendy