`Sicko' film at Doral school irks some parents

[Billy Burnett]

`Sicko' film at Doral school irks some parents
http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/1262410.html

A teacher's choice to show the controversial Michael Moore
film `Sicko' to students is now being questioned by some
community activists.

As the debate over healthcare reform intensifies, one Doral Middle School teacher sought to engage his students by showing them a documentary depicting countries offering universal healthcare coverage -- France, Canada and Cuba.

It's the inclusion of the latter country that has irked some parents and Cuban-American activists who are upset by the teacher's choice: Sicko -- a film by controversial filmmaker Michael Moore.

When the film hit the big screen in 2007, it was largely protested by leaders of South Florida's Cuban exile community who said it glorified the communist island's medical system.

In the film, Moore takes a a group of 9/11 rescue workers suffering from respiratory problems to receive free medical services in Cuba that they could otherwise not afford in the United States.

Before showing the film to his social studies students, teacher Eudelio Ferrer-Gari, 41, sent permission slips home with students and had parents sign off on whether their child could view the film.

Out of 102 students, only two opted out.

Those who opted out were told on the form that they would still be responsible for knowing about differing healthcare systems as covered in the film and in class.

With little dissent from the parents, and no complaints reported at the offices of the Miami-Dade School District, the viewing went on Thursday as planned, said Miami-Dade Schools spokesman John Schuster.

``The school district always encourages teachers to use a variety of resources when they plan their lessons,'' Schuster said.

``Teachers are always encouraged to use common sense and sensitivity when selecting their materials.''

Still, some question why the film was shown in a public school, calling it indoctrination.

``I wouldn't have liked for my girls to see it either,'' said Bibiana Salmon, an activist whose daughters recently graduated from Doral Middle School.

``The kids in middle school are at a very vulnerable age and the topic is too intense and too political even for adults. Maybe it would have been fine in a debate among high schoolers,'' Salmon said.

She added: ``I don't think we should try to push them to one side or another because it becomes indoctrination. All you do is confuse children at that age.''

Ferrer-Gari has been a teacher for more than eight years, according to his MySpace page.

He did not return calls from The Miami Herald Thursday night.