Dear Parents,

This year we are offering an elective course called “Contemporary Cultural Issues”.  I will be teaching this course. Your son is currently enrolled in one of my classes. 

The purpose of the class is to explore and examine some of the various elements that make up American popular culture.  It is my belief that movies, TV, radio, and even the print media that teens are exposed to not only reflect the culture in which we live, but act as an influence on the attitudes and behavior of our youth.  My intention is to teach your son to critically examine the elements of American popular culture in a scholarly fashion.

As a result of the nature of our current culture, I intend to have the class examine a variety of Hollywood films, documentaries, TV shows, and popular songs.  We will attempt to identify themes, which are prevalent today, and ask your son to share his thoughts, feelings, and attitudes about those themes.  A few of these themes will deal with adult content.  I would like to ask your permission for your son to watch, listen and talk about the content of these media.  I hope you trust me and the other teachers at DeSales to do this kind of work in a truly academic atmosphere, with the hope that we can help your son learn to make well-reasoned decisions about what he watches and listens to. I will continue to challenge each student to bring Christian morality into the equation.  Although the content of some of the media pieces will be somewhat controversial, I believe it will be a great opportunity for your son to apply the Core Values we teach at DeSales to the media he is exposed to. If you do not wish for your son to be exposed to “R-rated” material I will try to find some other activity for your son to do while the class in viewing such material.  If you would like to have the right to give topic-by-topic permission I will send you a permission slip for each new theme we discuss.  I can be reached by phone at 239-1393, or you can call my cell phone (386-1828) or email me at tburke@desaleshighschool.com 

Sincerely,

Mr. Tim Burke
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Please sign and return:

My son ___________________________ has my permission to study “R-rated” content of media chosen by Mr. Tim Burke, as a part of his class “Pop Culture Seminar”.

Parent/Guardian Signature:___________________________________ date: ______