Batavia aims to slice class movie time

Batavia students may have to put away the popcorn this year.

The Batavia school board heard a proposal Tuesday night to cut down the amount of time movies are used in class.

Teachers would have to get permission from their principal to show a movie "created for theatrical release" in its entirety. They would have to explain the educational value of showing the whole film and how it will help students engage in "higher-level thinking activity."

Often showing clips of a movie is just as effective as watching the whole thing, said Jan Wright, the district's associate superintendent for teaching and learning.

"To watch a movie that's two, three or even four hours long sometimes takes away instructional time that could be used in other ways," she said.

Administrators said the new procedure was drafted to help alleviate copyright concerns and to make sure class time was being used effectively.

The district office would keep track of the movies shown in each building.

The board delayed a vote on the issue Tuesday.

School board President Ron Link asked administrators for more information on why the change is needed.

But other board members said it was an issue that administrators should decide, not the school board.