School District’s Ban on R-Rated Films Tossed Out

In a case closely watched around California, a school district’s ban on R-rated films, including such acclaimed movies as “Apocalypse Now” and “Rain Man,” has been declared unconstitutional.

The Contra Costa County Superior Court ruling Friday by Judge Richard Patsey stops the district from enforcing a 1986 policy that banned movies based solely on the Motion Picture Assn. of America’s rating system.

The San Ramon Valley Education Assn. filed a lawsuit against the district in 1988, maintaining that the ban violated teachers’ rights to free speech.

Teacher Dianne Mayer, one of four teachers named in the lawsuit, used to show “Das Boot” when teaching World War II history to juniors at California High School.

“I feel (the ruling) is just another vindication for the teachers trying to keep education open for the students,” Mayer said. “I think the teachers are professional enough to make decisions of what is of educational value.

“If they can get away with (outlawing films) with schools, then they can get away with it with books and newspapers and freedom of speech, press, assembly,” she said. “It’s a dangerous first step.”

Patsey’s ruling states that the board cannot rely on the MPAA’s guidelines for rating films.

“Those who do the rating for the MPAA need have no qualifications or experience in education,” Patsey wrote. “The rating system does not concern itself with educational quality or utility.”

The policy was spurred by a parent’s complaint about “The Emerald Forest” being shown at Del Amigo Continuation High School.