Teacher suspended for showing 'R'-movie excerpt
FORT PIERCE, Florida (AP) -- Usually, it's the students who get suspended for not asking permission.
A high school English teacher was suspended for three days after showing a class portions of the R-rated movie "Dracula" without the OK from administrators or parents.
Teacher Stephen McKee did not show any nudity or parts of the movie that prompted the R rating, but he should have sought approval before showing any movie rated anything other than G, Assistant Principal Terry Davis said.
McKee's English honors class viewed the first 20 minutes of the film as part of its study of the novel.
In a disciplinary letter, schools Superintendent Bill Vogel said teachers are required to protect students' physical and mental health and "the content of this video is inappropriate and unacceptable for the classroom."
McKee, a second-year teacher in the district, was also reprimanded in February for asking questions on a test that referred to a "blonde babe" and a classroom disturbance. Students said the questions offended them.
McKee did not immediately return a call to his home Wednesday.
Copyright 2003 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
