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ARTICLE On March 3, 2000 the Spokesman-Review reported that "Administrators at Cataldo Catholic School recently decided not to show 'American Gypsy: A Stranger in Everybody's Land' to its junior high students after several parents, including a Spokane police officer, objected to the plan." Teacher Austin DePaolo had coordinated a social studies lesson plan that included a visit from the director of the film, Jamsine Dellal, and a showing of "the award winning film, which offers a rare glimpse into Gypsy culture and history." The Spokesman-Review reported that "DePaolo, the teacher who organized the lesson, declined to comment, saying he was advised to forward all media questions to the principal" and "Principal Richard Pelkie says the decision not to show the film was purely a 'curricula' choice, adding that enough class time had been spent on the subject . . . Pelkie said more than three class periods already had been spent on the film, between the director's visit and classroom discussion. The film wouldn't add anything that hadn't already been discussed," Pelkie said. "That is enough time, and a film by itself isn't the only medium we can use to educate our kids." As reported by the Spokesman-Review, "Originally, the school had planned to show the film to its roughly 80 junior high students. But after sending permission slips home, about a half-dozen parents responded with objections. Pelkie declined to reveal the names of the parents who objected, including the police officer." Film director Jasmine Dellal was interviewed by telephone from New York by the Spokesman-Review, and was quoted as saying "We made an exception for them to see it in advance, since this is a story happening in their community" and "I think it's a shame because the children seemed so interested." The article related that "Jimmy Marks, whose family is the subject of the film, was angered by the decision. 'It doesn't show pornography, it doesn't show violence. It shows a family, a culture and a religion'" and "Marks believes his family's long history with the Spokane Police Department and prejudice against Gypsies are the real reasons behind the canceled showing." The article went on to explain that "in July 1997, the city of Spokane paid the Marks family $1.43 million to settle an 11-year-old legal battle over a police raid at Gypsy homes." Eighth grade student Vanessa Anderson was quoted in the article as saying, "some people are prejudiced against the Gypsies so we should learn more about them and help take that bad judgment away." The article went on to note that "two other students interviewed said they thought the canceled showing amounted to censorship and racism, while another said it just wasn't a big deal." The article concluded with information about awards won by the film and indications that it would be shown in theatres and on PBS during the spring and summer. Back to Roma injustice |
