Graphic Texing and Drving Video

YES, you say something to the school.... and also put it in writing...
The kids, are getting post-traumatic trauma from it.... geez.

You know...I don't personally care about notification. They aren't in elementary school. These are kids on the verge of having to become adults. Colleges aren't going to notify parents, of anything they do to teach students. Kids NEED to learn to deal with things and process them without mom and dad's help. She is in high school and it's entirely appropriate, that she should be able to watch a video that NEEDS to be shown, without counsel from mom. Just my opinion. Discussion at home about life, is great. However, I don't think a girl in high school needs a preparation discussion about a video. If she is old enough to drive, she is old enough to see these things without your counsel. She is not a child. She is leaving your nest very soon and needs to handle these things now, or will be very overwhelmed when she's on her own. Life is shocking sometimes, unfortunately...and very soon mom won't always be there, for a prep session.

Unfortunately b/c our kids are bombarded with graphic images all day long folks "ramp it up" further to get the message across.

I remember seeing a similar video in high school before prom about DUI... graphic, but I still remember it so it must have sunk-in on some level! The part that doesn't sit well with me is that you were not notified ahead of time. They don't need your consent to show it, but it would have been a great opportunity for the school to join with the parents! They should have sent a letter home the day before so parents would be prepared for the conversations that they should have with their kids that night.

I would call and ask to speak to the person who coordinated the program. Don't go into the meeting angry, but you have every right to request a warning next time they are going to broach a sensitive and graphic topic!

This is a lot like sex education. The kids and teens NEED to see this stuff from an educational type view... not sugar coated and censored like most parents teach their children on REAL issues.

I applaud the school for showing your daughter's high school - it needed to be seen. I bet that girl who lost someone in an accident will NEVER text and drive, hopefully never drink and drive either!

I showed my own 5 year old daughter the video - it is an Australian commercial. I told her what can happen if people aren't aware and paying attention completely while driving. I told her to tell me to put down my phone if I grab it in the car. I am positive she got the message how important it is.

Here is the link to a different commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMYKXSPgaIw

Here is the other commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8QxZJZfU5Q

Sorry, I have to disagree with your dismay on this subject, I see way too many kids and adults still using phones while driving. The movie is graphic because they are TRYING to SAVE LIVES.

IF THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE they are old enough to see an aftermath of a wreck. The desensitizing created by our fine media due to the freedom of speech creates the need for extreme graphics to get kids attention these days.
You can call the school and complain, but like I said, if she's old enough to drive she's old enough to see the movie. Hopefully it is traumatizing enough to all of them that they will all watch out for each other --and passengers will not allow the drivers to text or talk on the phone.

I think it's about time those videos are being shown.

It sounds graphic, and due to that, there should have been a disclaimer of some sort for the kids. The ones I have heard of offered the students to leave prior to the showing, did her school provide that option for the students? I still think those of driving age are old enough to be taught realities without a parental consent form. (which is wonderful you do this at home, and so sorry about your accident, but sadly many kids do this regardless).

Did she not take driver's ed? They show videos there like this as well.

I am sure they kept it under the PG-13 rating, which does not require parental approval. I've seen those videos and though graphic, they are still pretty tame by comparison standards of what most kids that age see on daily television and movies.

It's sad, so many kids these days are losing touch with social norms, respect and customs and are turning into a bunch of mamby pambies. (Not that your daughter is, just a common observation).

I think you have a valid point that maybe they could have given you a heads up about the video, but honestly, I think most kids AREN'T like your daughter. If she doesn't use her phone while driving for talking or texting she's definintely in the minority for not only her age group but mine too! It is too bad about the other girl who left the room too, but I honestly feel that your two examples are not the norm. Good for you for enforcing such strict rules and try and talk about it with your daughter now...better late than never maybe?

If you do talk to the school I think you should focus more on the issue of the fact that as a parent you would like to know when these topics are going to be discussed in such a graphic nature, I think that's a fair complaint.

I would be in the school the next day and would NOT drop the issue until they developed a policy about graphic images and parental consent. In a college science/tech class we were given the option of watching a video simply explaining the medical procedures involved in abortions, and many students chose not to watch. (I wish I had declined, now I have to live with those images, and they were not really graphic, either.) I am so sorry she had to experience that, but you are right to be angry and again, do not let the school ignore this one.

They did this in my school 15 years ago (but for drinking and driving). At the beginning of the assembly a warning was issued excusing any students who felt that they would not be able to handle graphic photos of car accidents should leave now. Several did. Most of us stayed for various reasons.

In my middle school (20 years ago) in a different state, there was usually a video to the same effect shown (like sex ed at that age it required parental permission)... but there was an accident right outside of our school where a cop car smashed into a van full of illegals during lunch causing it to flip and burst open. 3 of them were decapitated (one head was on our playground...ugh)... nearly all of the passengers of the van were killed in very gruesome ways right in front of us. Sadly, the police crashed into it because the van stomped on it's breaks because there were kids running across the street. None of the school kids were injured, but everyone in the van died, and the officer was injured. It's one of those "everyone and no one" is at fault accidents. The biggest thing that came out of it was banning high speed pursuits in school zones. Later I think CA banned them in residential zones, and possibly all together, but I could be wrong.

Anyhow... they didn't show the "what accidents really look like" video in our middle school that year, since we all got a first hand view of a really bad one. Next year, however, it was business as usual.

They do give you the option in the beginning of the assembly to leave. (in our area anyway) I showed my kids a texting and driving psa on my own. It was not too graphic. I am all for putting a little scare in them. I would rather have them scared and alive....then make a stupid mistake and dead :(

I remember 15+ years ago when I was in school that we had the same type as most everyone else responded for the DUI. The difference is my school contacted the parents ahead of time that this would be taking place so they were aware of what was going on at the school and were prepared to discuss it with us before and after the event. If your daughters school would have done this ahead of time your daughter would have been prepared and so would you. This would have also prevented the poor kids that just lost her family from being hurt all over again. I agree that schools should make sure these kids are aware of what happens but they also need to be in communication with the parents as well. There are far too many ways to be in contact with parents these days that there is no reason not to be. If it were me I would most certainly contact the school and work towards getting a policy like this in place. Communication is key!!

On a side not I want to congratulate you on teaching your daughter about the radio and phone in the car. I see way too many people texting these days while driving and it causes way too much damage.

Good Luck!

You (and your daughter) have every right to be upset with them for showing this video without your prior knowledge and consent!! I would contact the principal or school board and let them know (if they don't already) this video is being shown to the students. If they are aware of the video, watch it with them, reminding them the age group of the students! (They may have approved of the ordering of the video strictly by title and brief description.) Make sure they know how traumatic watching this video was for your daughter - and that they need to issue a WARNING prior to the viewing to give the students an out if they want it.

I remember a video that my mom had to sign for me to see from (?) driver's ed class that showed CARS that had been in accidents - but NO BODIES! It was bad enough to see the CARS that had been crushed under semis, wrapped around trees, smashed into telephone poles, and driven over guard rails!! Your imagination is enough to scare you into driving sober and alert - and ALWAYS with a seatbelt! (This was loooong before cell phones.)

Hi Christi, we have the same (or similar) program here in our district. Both my high schoolers have the assembly every fall. Of course they are both boys.

It's nice to hear at least ONE kid has not been de-sensitized, they are exposed to such graphic things these days.

While I suppose families SHOULD have the choice to see it or not, clearly it effects them, and that's the point. At least it'd be nice if they WARNED them when to cover their eyes for the wicked parts.

It good that they saw the video. It would have been nice on the school part to send a letter before hand on this. So parents would know what going on. I pray and hope this video was a wait up for the students who are driving and those who be driving later. Driving a care is not a job. Driving a care and not do things correctly will cause you to be as it was in the video.