Teacher Suspended for Showing ‘Merchants of Cool’

From: http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_127131818.html

Teacher Suspended for Showing Eighth-graders “Inappropriate” Video

May 6, 2004 11:00 am US/Mountain

A Sandy business teacher is on administrative leave after showing her eighth-grade class an inappropriate video.

The Albion Middle School principal says he received phone calls yesterday from parents whose children told them they watched the video Tuesday.

The documentary called Merchants of Cool depicts American marketing strategies executives use to sell products to teens. The video contained sexuality, violence and foul language.

It aired on the Public Broadcasting System in 2001. And though the PBS Web site says the viewers’ age level should be at least ninth grade, school officials say the movie is not appropriate for any age level.

The teacher’s name has not been released. The school plans to send students home with letters of apology today.

Copyright © 2000 The Associated Press

Thanks to Professor Pan for alerting me to this story!