They didn't need to fire Robin Williams in Dead Poet's on any grounds other than his cavalier approach to the school's Health and Safety Manual.
I like the kids sitting at the back covering his face. At least someone's been keeping up with their H&S reading. He can't be held accountable as technically he is not a witness. Plus, they can use the footage from the movie to prove he did not tacitly take part in this foolhardy activity.
Besides, those lights are worrying low, I for one do not like the sharp edges on the desks and ink wells? Do you want third graders to poison themselves and die? Or second graders to drown in an ink well? Would somebody please think of the children.
Strewth, when I was teaching Media Studies we once wanted to set something on fire for a film, a Barbie Doll, I think. Yes, very postmodern. After obtaining a waiver from both parents, countersigned by the students involved (yes, we're over 16 and yes we know what a lighter is...), we then needed the school's janitor to oversee the whole procedure. Madness. All that just to melt Barbie's face.
And as for you, Ms Pfeiffer, a Dangerous Mind indeed. You just can't go judo throwing students to the floor, no matter how poor or disenfranchised they are. It's all in the manuel, page 72, sub section 4a. So much for all the 'there ain't no victims in my classroom' speech. Come on.
Michelle Pfeiffer, in Dangerous Minds, had a saying that she would live and die for: 'In my classroom, poetry is its own reward.' Well, the Board of Governers too has a saying: 'In the classroom, Health and Safety is very important.' Oh, it might not make it into your modern day cinemas, and Coolio may struggle to drag a song out of it, but carefully planned lessons and risk prevention measures is where it is at.
Peace.
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