A Miami school has received complaints after students were shown the Winnie the Pooh horror movie.
A math teacher at the Academy of Innovative Education has faced significant backlash after showing 20 to 30 minutes of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey to his class of nine and 10-year-olds.
The film follows Pooh and Piglet going on a bloody rampage after being driven to homicidal madness by Christopher Robin’s abandonment of them.
Yes, a clear departure from the cute and cuddly depiction of A.A Milne’s character.
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The film reportedly obtained an NR rating in the US, meaning it is not rated; however, it's marked 18 and over by the British Board of Film Classification.
One mother of twins said she felt ‘completely abandoned by the school’ after the teacher failed to stop playing the film immediately.
"He didn't stop the movie, even though there were kids saying, 'Hey, stop the movie, we don't want to want this'," Michelle Diaz told CBS News Miami.
She added: "It's not for them to decide what they want to.
"It's up to the professor to look at the content."
The mother, who also met with the school’s principal, said her children had become incredibly distressed by watching the movie.
The outlet also reached out to the school’s principal, Ms. Vera Hirsh, who provided the following statement: “The Academy for Innovative Education has become aware that a segment of a horror movie was shown to fourth graders, Monday, October 2, 2023, that was not suitable for the age group.
"Our administration promptly addressed this issue directly with the teacher and has taken appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of students.
"We are actively monitoring the students and our mental health counselor and principal have already met with those students who have expressed concerns."
Earlier this year, a Florida teacher was investigated by the state’s Education Department after showing students the Disney film Strange World, which features a gay character.
Many parents argued that showing the film in class violated the state’s ‘Parental Bill of Rights’, a law signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis last year.
However, Jenna Barbee, who teaches fifth grade in the Hernando County School District, defended her choice, explaining that the film showcases humans’ relationship to the environment and she wanted to teach her students about our ecosystems, as per NPR.
She added there’s a subplot in which a boy falls in love with another boy, although this never crossed her mind.
"It talks about love to all things, and that's literally what this movie represents," Barbee told the outlet.
"I find it interesting that now I'm getting in trouble for a similar topic."
Topics: News, TV and Film, Education
Charisa Bossinakis