PERMISSION SLIP FOR VIEWING
GLORY (1989) IN CLASS
As part of our unit on the Civil War, we are going to watch the 1989 movie Glory,
starring Denzel Washington, Mathew Broderick, and Morgan Freeman. The movie
details the experience of the Massachusetts 54th, the first all-black regiment to fight in the
Civil War that paved the way for 200,000 other black Union soldiers. The movie covers
the issues of both fighting a war and racism in the north and the south.
However, the movie has an “R” rating. This is partly because the movie was rated in
1989, when a PG-13 rating was new. The movie contains about 4 “swear” words and no
nudity or scenes of a sexual nature. There are three short scenes of war, none of which
are particularly graphic or gratuitous but do contain some blood. The movie has been
shown in the Brookline middle schools for years, and even is written as a resource on the
town’s Learning Expectations. An edited version exists, but I have been unable to locate
a copy.
Since this version does have an R rating, I will need permission before I can show it to
the students. I fully believe that this movie has great value as a learning tool, and that the
content within the movie falls well within the boundaries of what students can see any
night on network television. If you have any concerns that I can answer, please email me
at jonathan_greiner@brookline.k12.ma.us or call me at extension 4356. If you would
like to learn more about the movie, please read a review at:
http://www.reelviews.net/movies/g/glory.html
Any student who does not receive permission will be given an alternative assignment that
covers much of the same content, and I will not be able to let them watch any of the
movie.
Thanks,
Jonathan Greiner
7/8 Social Studies
I GIVE PERMISSION FOR _______________________ to watch the theatrical release of
“Glory” in the classroom.
Guardian name (written): _____________________________
Guardian signature:__________________________________
PLEASE RETURN BY WEDNESDAY, June 3rd.