MILL CREEK – Leaders at Henry M. Jackson High School are feeling the heat after a teacher showed the controversial film “Fahrenheit 9/11” to five of her students.
Local Republicans have lodged complaints with the principal because of the movie’s portrayal of President Bush. Filmmaker Michael Moore lit a national firestorm when the movie was released in June. Since then, Moore has campaigned against Bush at college campuses and other venues.
The Jackson High teacher showed the film Thursday to the small government class as part of a lesson in propaganda and politics.
Teacher Judy Baker followed district policy by first getting the principal’s permission to show the R-rated film, and also requiring parent permission. One parent opted to have a student not view the movie.
But the teacher’s lesson itself was the propaganda in the minds of some, including activists outside the school.
“I have a 13-year-old out in Monroe and a second-grader, and I would be up in arms if a teacher decided to show this movie, even if it’s (labeled as) propaganda,” said Darcy Cheesman, get-out-the-vote coordinator with the Snohomish County Republican Party.
“It’s just wrong.”
The local GOP headquarters received a phone call from a concerned parent at the school and an e-mail about the movie, Cheesman said. Office staff then called the school principal to complain.
They also sent a copy of “FahrenHYPE 9/11” – a movie in response to and critiquing Moore’s film – and urged that the teacher to also show that film, Chessman said.
Principal Terry Cheshire said Friday that he hadn’t yet received the film but would approve its use in class if Baker made the request. He was to meet with her to decide what to do next.
“We have a policy that … if we deal with controversial issues, we need to show both sides,” he said.
Regardless, Cheshire said the use of “Fahrenheit 9/11” fit the spirit and goal of the lesson.
“We’re supposed to be training kids to be informed voters. It seems appropriate to help kids critically dissect information and analyze it,” he said.
Baker did not return calls for comment.
Some parents at the school say they don’t see a problem.
“‘Fahrenheit 9/11,’ whether you’re in favor of President Bush or against President Bush, it’s a good propaganda piece and would bring up a good discussion in the classroom,” said Wanda Lehman, a parent active in the school. She does not have a child in the class.
“I don’t feel like it’s brainwashing.”
The flap made KTTH (AM 770) conservative talk-show host Mike Siegel’s Friday morning program. Siegel earlier talked with the principal about the movie, urging that the teacher instead show examples of propaganda from Nazi Germany.
“It raises questions of subjectivity,” Siegel said of the Moore film choice. “It’s a public school.”
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
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