School Climate & Safety News in Brief

After Protests Fail, ‘Bully’ Film Released Without MPAA Rating

By The Associated Press — April 03, 2012 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The Weinstein Co. decided to move past the R rating earned by its documentary “Bully” and was set to release the film unrated last week.

“Bully” was to hit theaters March 30 without a rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, meaning some theaters may choose not to show it. The film, directed by Lee Hirsch, examines school bullying as it follows five children and their families over the course of a school year.

The MPAA gave the film an R rating for language and declined to change it when the Weinstein Co. appealed. It received the rating, which restricts children younger than 17 from seeing it without an accompanying adult, because of six expletives. Harvey Weinstein, the film’s producer, claims the rating restricts the very audience the film can most benefit: teenagers.

Teenage activist Katy Butler started an online petition seeking a lower rating so more young people could see the movie and has collected more than 475,000 signatures so far. She even met with MPAA officials earlier last month, but the group stood its ground.

Mr. Hirsch said he declined to edit the documentary’s offensive language because it would diminish the painful reality of bullying. He expects many young people to see the film, “so it’s up to the theaters to let them in.”

AMC theaters announced last week that children younger than 17 will be allowed to see the film without an adult if they provide a signed permission slip that can be printed from the company’s website. Many schools and districts, however, prohibit teachers from showing R-rated films in class or planning outings with students to see them.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the April 04, 2012 edition of Education Week as After Protests Fail, ‘Bully’ Film Released Without MPAA Rating

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School Climate & Safety Q&A What a 'Positive, Proactive Approach' to Chronic Absenteeism Looks Like
A Kansas City, Kan., leader explains how her district shifted its approach to chronic absenteeism.
6 min read
Naomi Tolentino Miranda walks into J.C. Harmon High School on Jan. 16, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. Tolentino Miranda is the Coordinator for Student Support Programs and often visits school administrative teams to check on their progress combating chronic absenteeism among their students.
Naomi Tolentino walks into J.C. Harmon High School on Jan. 16, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. Tolentino is the coordinator for student support programs and often visits school administrative teams to check on their progress in lowering chronic absenteeism among their students.
Erin Woodiel for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Opinion Schools Can’t Just ‘Return to Normal’ After a Climate Disaster
This is what’s missing when education leaders urge schools to return to normalcy too soon after crises or disasters.
Jaleel R. Howard & Sam Blanchard
5 min read
A jungle gym melted and destroyed by the Eaton Fire is seen at a school, Jan. 15, 2025, in Altadena, Calif.
The Easton Fire melted a jungle gym outside a school in Altadena, Calif.
John Locher/AP
School Climate & Safety Tracker School Shootings This Year: How Many and Where
Education Week is tracking K-12 school shootings in 2025 with injuries or deaths. See the number of incidents and where they occurred.
3 min read
Sign indicating school zone.
iStock/Getty
School Climate & Safety As Wildfires Devastate Los Angeles, Educators Offer Help and Refuge
As wildfires rip through the region, educators band together for support as they work to help students and families.
9 min read
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2025.
Ethan Swope/AP