School films shock Miss Bartlett

Press, 5 December 1979, Page 21

School films shock Miss Bartlett

PA Wellington It was shocking that the National Film Library, a totally Government-fin-anced body, had bought controversial films on sexual perversions for loan to New Zealand schools, said Miss Patricia Bartlett, national secretary of the Society for Promotion of Community Standards. The Gazette, of August 30, 1979, page 2595, listed the Film Censor’s classifications for the following Australian films submitted by the National Film Library, all rated GY and all described as discussion films. “Brad.” about a teen-age homosexual; “Jenny,” about a teen-age lesbian; “Wendy,” about a teen-age abortion; “Kerry." about a teen-age unmarried mother; and “Weekend.” and “Disco,” about teen-agers’ attitudes. “Thousands of films and film strips are listed in the National Film Library Catalogue from whicn practically every school and college selects films for borrowing. It is incredible that six copies of each of the above six films entitled ’The Growing Up Series’ have been purchased,” Miss Bartlett said. In the teachers’ 1977 New South Wales Department of Education Personal Development in Secondary Schools Programme Booklet, “Contact 18,” it said of the film series:— “Some of the behaviour shown would be regarded by many people as controversial and not typical of the majority of teenagers. Since the films avoid making any moral judgment, some teachers and parents could feel that the films are promoting the attitudes and behaviour shown.” About “Brad” it says: “Brad has decided he is homosexual and is happv, largely because he hsa found acceptenace within a homosexual group.” It says of “Jenny,” “An intimate look at the relationship between two yaung women who are lesbians. Some of their social activities are shown.’’ Concerning “Wendy” it says, “A schoolgirl who became pregnant and decided after

discussion with her mother and boyfriend to have an abortion.” Miss Bartlett said the view of her society was that the public submissions on the Johnson Report had not yet been analysed to ascertain if New Zealand parents wanted human development and relationship prog:ammes in schools and if they did. whether they were to include “sexual perversions" based on situation ethics “Situation ethics would condone homosexual and lesbian acts and teen-age abortion in various situations. It appears the National Film Library has no intention of waiting tor the analysis of the Johnson Report submissions being prepared at the request of the Minister of Education by an indepen-

dent firm of consultants.” she said Miss Bartlett said the manager of the National Film Librarv hould answer the questions. Who recommended to him the purchase of the “Growing Up Senes”? Who previewed the films before purchase' Was the Education Department responsible for their purchase? What part did the advisory panel — chosen bv the Director-General of Education last year :epresenting 22 national oig.tnisations to preview material before purchase tor human development and relationship programmes — play in the selecting of these films? How much did the six sets of these six films cost the New Zealand taxpayer?