Permission Letter for film in Japanese 1 (sent home with students)

February 19, 2009

Dear Parent/Guardian :

Your child is currently studying Japanese language as part of the coursework in 1st or 2nd year Japanese class. To enhance your child’s learning experience, and to increase understanding of Japanese-American immigrants’ history, I am planning to show Allan Parker’s 1991 film, Come See the Paradise (given 3 stars by Roger Ebert).

Though the film is rated R, I am convinced of its educational value. It concerns the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, seen partly through the eyes of a young Irish-American labor organizer (played by Dennis Quaid) whose wife (Tamlyn Tomita) is sent to a prison camp with her whole family. The rating is due primarily to language issues, having particularly to do with immigrant groups’ use of American slang. Dialogue is in both Japanese and English, and thus the different linguistic competencies of first, second, and third generation Japanese-Americans are highlighted. I can assure you that the film will be shown in appropriate context, including discussion and activities before and after viewing. I sincerely believe that my students have the maturity to view this film and that they will gain a deeper understanding of both American history and world history as affecting Japanese and Japanese-Americans.

Please complete the form below by February 24th, either granting or refusing permission for your child to view Come See the Paradise. If I do not receive this signed permission slip, I will not permit your child to view the film. If you do not wish to have your son or daughter view this film, I will gladly provide a relevant and appropriate alternative assignment.
Please feel free to phone or email if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

(Mrs.) Carol Ruth Kimmel, Japanese language teacher
Email: crkimmel@cps.edu
_____________________________________________________

Please complete the following:

Name of student_______________________________

____ I grant permission for my son/daughter to view the film.

____I prefer that my son/daughter NOT view the film.

Parent/Guardian Signature: _____________________________________________