Video Guidelines
As a rule, unless schools have a public performance site license they should be purchasing only videotapes of an educational nature from educational vendors and should not be purchasing or renting feature films intended as entertainment.
Copyright Law With Regard to Videos
1. If a school purchases or *rents a copy of a videotape bearing the warning label FOR HOME USE ONLY, it is permissible to use the tape only for face-to-face instruction with students. By this I mean it must be an integral part of your lesson. You may not show the tape for entertainment purposes, ie. rewards, rainy day activities, after school programs, etc. (If your school would like to purchase blanket public performance licensing so that showing tapes for these purposes would be legal you can get further information at http://www.movlic.com. ) *The contract at the rental store may state that the video is to be used for home use only, in which case it may not be used at school.2. Off air taping - A broadcast program may be videotaped and used for 10 school days afterwards for face to face instruction. Videotapes may be retained up to 45 days for teacher evaluation only and must be erased 45 days after recording. *It is not legal to tape programs off cable channels if the program is not available free off the airwaves as well.
3. Off air recordings may only be made at the request of and use by individual teachers. Programs may not be recorded in anticipation of requests.
4. If a program is taped at home and brought to school for viewing it will fall under school rules and must be erased after viewing. This includes videos taped by parents, students and staff members. If individuals do not want a video erased after viewing it should not be viewed at school.
5. Schools are expected to establish appropriate control procedures to maintain the integrity of these guidelines.
Other Considerations
Use of feature films, not originally intended for educational use, can cause problems even when they are used appropriately in the school setting;Movies not rated G all have some material which a parent may object to. All feature films, especially those rated PG, PG-13, and R should be previewed by a staff member and approved by a member of administration for educational use. Extreme care should be used when you consider showing videos rated PG-13 or R . You should consider the content of the video, the age and maturity of the students, its importance to the curriculum and the preparation the students have had beforehand. You may wish to consider showing a portion of the video rather than the whole thing. Administration may also want to send out a permission form for parents and should provide an alternative activity to those students who are not allowed to view the video.
For further information contact the Media Supervisor at 955-6850.