Some schools fielding flak over flick picks

"Romeo and Juliet" is a no-brainer. But "Shrek"?

Wherefore art thou in the curriculum?

Students are getting an eyeful of an array of films from "Jane Eyre" to "Jurassic Park" in their high school classrooms, the Deseret Morning News' "Pulse" teen writers group found.

Most movies shown appear to have ties to what students learn in class, and some school districts require teachers to choose from an approved list to avoid controversy.

Students, however, give mixed reviews.

"I think that most (movies) were a waste of time, but some of them were knowledgable and actually taught us something on the subject," Juab sophomore Meagan Peterson said. "I think that we should cut back, though, and get back to the basics of learning!"

Five high school writers for the Deseret Morning News "Pulse" column — Chris Bliss of Riverton; Coryn Cope of Timpview; Caitlin Holladay of Juab; Kristin Nielson of Bingham; and Nick Parker of Murray — each were dispatched to their respective high schools to ask 10 students which movies they had watched in class this school year, and which they expected to see in the year's waning days.

They returned with a list of 93 movie titles teens reported watching in class this year, and 16 other selections they thought would be waiting in the wings for after they check in their books and clean out their lockers.

The survey was unscientific at best. But it does offer a glimpse of what kids are watching.

Titles — a complete list is available online at www.deseretnews.com — range from "Death of a Salesman" and "Tale of Two Cities" to "Newsies" and "Andy Griffith." There's "Field of Dreams" and "Flubber." Even "Elf" and "Napoleon Dynamite."

"Sweet!" some students say.

"I think we should watch funnier ones and watch them more often," Timpview freshman Alecsis Armstrong said.

A few teens said they were surprised they didn't see more movies this year. Some praised those the teachers did select.

"They are usually class-related, not just for fun," Bingham junior Merideth Marlor said.

Other students are more critical.

"Movies can be very educational if they're part of the curriculum; however, many teachers abuse this privilege and use it as merely a time-filler," said Hillcrest High senior Sindra Garcia.