Whitfield County Parent Upset About Movie Shown in Class

A parent complaint spurs school administrators to investigate a movie shown during a middle school class.
One Whitfield County mother says she was appalled her daughter and classmates viewed a rated R movie in their social studies class.
Tina McCurley says her daughter came home very upset after viewing the R-rated movie "300".
McCurley called the school with her concern.
She wants some answers and disciplinary action.
Tina McCurley, Concerned Parent:  "This is not history."

There is no doubt in Tina McCurley's mind the movie "300" has no place in her daughter's classroom at Westside Middle School.

Voice of Tina McCurley's Daughter: "There was a kid beating up another kid and he hit him and then blood went everywhere."

McCurley:  "It has scenes of decapitation, dismemberment, sexual acts."

McCurley says she was unfamiliar with the rated R movie until her sixth grade daughter came home, saying her teacher had shown the beginning of it in her social studies class.  McCurley says a little internet research was all she needed to contact the principal.

McCurley:  "He's very upset, he apologized about the children being shown this movie."

Schoen: "We take all complaints seriously, our job is to make sure our students receive a quality education. We take that very seriously."

Assessment and Accountability executive director Richard Schoen says McCurley's concern reached the central office.  He wasn't able to confirm or deny whether the movie was in fact shown to the sixth grade class.

Richard Schoen, Whitfield County Schools Assessment and Accountability Exec. Director
"The complaint is under investigation at this time, we're unable to comment because this is a personnel issue."

McCurley: "They are telling me that due to the federal privacy act they cannot disclose the course of action that's going to be taken against him."

But she says even if she gets the answers she wants...

Voice of Tina McCurley's Daughter: "So it won't happen again."

...the damage is already done.

McCurley: "These images that are engrained in my daughters memory can never be erased."

McCurley says other parents contacted her, upset about the movie as well.
She plans to try and move her daughter from that social studies class until the issue is resolved.