A COLUMN BY Dick Rolfe Chairman, THE DOVE FOUNDATION

October - November 1999

She wrote:

I have a daughter who is only 6 years old, attending 1st grade. In September, her art teacher showed all the first graders portions of the movie, "Quest For Fire". She was teaching a unit on Cave Art, and wanted to teach the children about what the first man looked and acted like. This movie is rated R, but in my opinion should be rated X! My daughter came home saying that she saw frightening violence - a stick go through an ape-man’s mouth and come out the back of his neck, among many other gruesome acts, animal organs being eaten, and partial nudity.

I have gone to the school board asking for the termination of this teacher. I asked for the district to provide counseling for the children who have been traumatized. All they did was place a "write-up" in the teacher’s file.

In my own investigating, I have found that this teacher is a 20 year veteran. She has been showing this movie for at least the past 12 years! During this time, at least two other parents have complained. One complained 12 years ago, and the other 9 years ago, and to the same principal. The teacher continued showing the movie!

Several children have had nightmares, are afraid of the dark, afraid to be alone in their own bedrooms now, and have dreams that their parents are being attacked by these ape-monsters. The children affected have been pulled from the art teacher’s class, but no alternate teacher has been provided. Our children are afraid of this teacher now, but yet she can still teach. I am outraged that there are no laws against this in my state of Texas!

Jesus teaches us that to offend one of His children is to offend Him. My school has finally pulled the movie since my complaint, but nothing has been done about the teacher.

This kind of cavalier attitude is becoming prevalent in many schools where teachers think they know what is best for our children and will sublimate common sense or school policies in order to advance their own agenda. Teacher tenure can be a good policy, except in cases like this where school boards are intimidated by some Unions that abuse the rule of seniority. It’s small wonder that the Schools of Choice movement is gaining momentum. When school administrators become lax in handling situations like this with dispatch, parents must have access to educational alternatives for their children.

Joan of Arc - Saint or Nut?

Two different releases of the story of Joan of Arc were released almost simultaneously -- NBC’s miniseries "Joan of Arc" starring Leelee Sobieski ("Deep Impact"; "Jungle2Jungle") as St. Joan, and movie "The Messenger: Joan of Arc" starring Milla Jovovich ("The Fifth Element"; "He Got Game") in the same role. The account of the historical events in both films were quite similar, as one might expect from an epic of this notoriety. The two versions’ depictions of our heroine, however, were in sharp contrast with one another. NBC’s version portrays a teenager of great courage and conviction whose passionate is mission to lead a battle to unify France and to crown Prince Charles as king. Her inspiration comes from her "voices" - presumably angels.

The movie, directed by Luc Besson ("La Femme Nikita"), portrays a crazed woman, possessed by demons or evil spirit guides instead of angelic voices. This Joan’s mission was motivated by a huge ego rather than a vision to fulfill her spiritual destiny.

The story below provides some insight into the possible origin of these marked differences in story-telling.

L.A. Times Nov 11 - Luc Besson, director of "The Messenger: Joan of Arc," said that he has taken liberties with the historical record, but defends his script thusly: "I’m not a historian looking for the truth. I’m just an artist." And as for the religious beliefs of its star, Milla Jovovich, she is quite frank. "I think that there is no God." Although she noted, "I enjoy going to church because its nice to see a group of people being sweet to one another..."