‘Obscene’ films claim denied

Press, 22 February 1980, Page 4

‘Obscene’ films claim denied

Wellington reporter Allegations that the National Film Library had bought “obscene” films, to show school children, made by Miss Patricia Bartlett, of the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards, have been denied by the Department of Education. Miss Bartlett complained that public money had been spent buying a series of six films to show to school children. The films look at sex and sexual perversions. . But the department’s director of curriculum development (Mr P- G. Brice) said the films were rated “T.SP”, which meant they could only be shown to tertiary students or special audiences. The films were produced by Film Australia, the . Australian equivalent of the National Film Unit, and were sought for the library

by university and marriage guidance staff, he said. The six films comprise the , “Growing up” series. / 1 The makers describe them as “a series of six trigger films .to facilitate discussion in areas of adolescent sexual behaviour and social ex-I pectations. The films focus on issues through direct presentation of personal experiences of young people. It is essential that the films be previewed to assess their I suitability for particular j audiences and to prepare appropriate discussion mat* erial.” Only members of the National Film Library may borrow the films. There are I about 3000 school sub- '• scribers and about 5500 community subscribers. Mr Brice said the films i would not be shown .to | school children. Miss Bar- / tlett had been told that.