@#%*(@$& :help::help::help: I think I broke policy. I'm pretty sure that our policy says we need to send out permission slips for NR movies/videos/clips but I've shown 2 clips of CNN Student News. Is there any way I can cover my booty now? I know I've messed up so please don't chastise me for it, just help me fix it!
Why do I always read this stuff right when my morning coffee kicks in. If that's the policy you violated, THEN YOU VIOLATED ONE OF THE DUMBEST POLICIES I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!!! This policy would essentially mean that you need to send home permission slips for virtually any educational video you show your students, including the ones that come with state-adopted curricula. Whoever WROTE that policy needs to go straight to the ER before they suffocate because I'm not sure they can breathe with their head where it is currently located. Anyone who seeks to take action against you should join them for the same reason. As for advice, just don't say anything and I don't think anyone else will.
I would just move forward and make sure you get permission in the future. Can you send something home that just says that you occasionally watch CNN student news and other student friendly news programs and get a blanket permission for the year? It does sound like an odd policy, we only need it if it is not G rated, otherwise it would be impossible to show educational clips with lessons.
I want to show CNN student news in the future... should I just send home permission slips now and pretend like it didn't happen? I also thought about sending home a mass permission slip with everything I'll show during the year and a link to my teacher youtube account and "throwing" CNN student news into that list.
Yes, the general persmission slip sounds like a good idea. I'm sure the whole policy was written because ONE parent complained one day about something their child watched in school.
Teachers at my school who show videos with sensitive topics usually put the titles into the syllabus and have parents sign off on all of them at the beginning of the year. You can probably do the same thing (as Tasha recommends) by writing a general letter home, since your videos are educational anyway. I show tons of video clips during the school year, and I couldn't even imagine if I had to get permission for every single one!!
What are they called—passive permission forms? Not sure. Parents only return the form if they oppose. It seems like a waste of time to deal with this extra paperwork for CNN clips.
Ask some other teachers at your school how they handle it without admitting you haven't done it. I can't believe they get a separate permission slip every time they show a clip, youtube song, or whatever.
I also wouldn't worry about what you have shown. If that's the policy, I would send a slip home that asks for permission to show students educational videos from: and then list the sites you might use for videos. I would list all of them you might even possible glance at just so you don't have to worry later. I agree that this is a dumb policy.
That's a silly policy. I like the idea of passive permission slips. Say something like "To enhance the educational experience, from time to time, clips from certain teacher previewed videos will be shown. Please contact me if you do not permit your child to see these clips."
THIS is the problem... and the parent is still a parent at the school. I think this is one of those "woke up in the middle of the night worrying about it and made it bigger than it was" problems. I checked on said policy (this is why I keep a handbook at home) and we are to preview and if there is any controversial issues, then we send out a permission slip. The PROBLEM is that what I consider controversial is not what above parent thinks is controversial. ANYthing said by Obama is controversial to this parent (actually it's a set of vocal parents). I didn't remember this little tidbit until 3:00 am last night and Friday's CNN broadcast had Obama's acceptance of the democratic nomination. I am pretty sure I can CYA on this, though, IF any issues come up.
If a parent objects to their child watching a speech by the president of the United States, then they need to move to a different country. Really, they do. An acceptance speech at a national convention by a sitting president IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL!!!! This is a a battle we need to fight with all the ferocity we have. If they don't like it, they can pull their kids out of school and face whatever happens as a result.
