My kids’ teacher showed them a horror movie in the classroom and I’m mortified

“It's not for kids to decide what they want to watch. It's up to the professor to look at the content,” Florida mum Michelle says. 

It was a regular day in Miami when Michelle Diaz took her twins to school.

Little did she know she would pick up her kids later that day, traumatised by what they were subjected to in their classroom. 

According to the parent, the “careless” maths teacher chose to show the Grade 4 kids a film initially suggested by another student. 

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Michelle Diaz complained after her kids' were exposed to "20 to 30 minutes" of the horror film. Source: CBS News, Altitude Film

Teacher “didn’t stop the movie” after kids begged him to switch it off

So far, so good. 

Here’s the issue - it wasn’t any movie, the parent alleged, it was a horror film. 

“They were exposed 20 to 30 minutes to a movie called ‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey,’” the Florida mum told CBS. 

The film, released in 2023, has been rated R18+ in Australia, meaning it is unsuitable for anyone under 18, especially kids.  

Those who are allowed to see the film have widely panned it online, receiving a low rating of 2.9/10 on websites including IMDb and a pathetic three per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. 

The slasher film follows Pooh and Piglet, who have become “feral and bloodthirsty” murderers, per the film synopsis. 

It’s a traumatising subject matter to expose to the school kids who allegedly begged the teacher to switch it off. 

“He didn't stop the movie, even though there were kids saying, 'Hey, stop the movie, we don't want to watch this',” Michelle said. 

According to Michelle, other parents complained about their kids’ unusual behaviour following the incident. “All these parents are coming up [and saying], ‘Oh, that’s why my son spent the night at my place,” or ‘in my bed, it’s because he was scared,’” she told reporters. 

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Not a kid-friendly film. Source: Altitude Film

“It’s not for kids to decide what to watch, it’s up to the professor”

Despite not actually choosing the movie himself, Michelle said the unnamed teacher had ultimate control over what to show the class. 

“It's not for [kids] to decide what they want to [watch],” she said. “It's up to the professor to look at the content.” 

“I feel completely abandoned by the school,” she told reporters as she left a meeting with the principal of The Academy for Innovative Education, Vera Hirsh. 

Michelle wants the teacher removed from the classroom but was told the school would handle the complaint internally. 

The principal later said they were “aware” of the incident that “was not suitable for the age group.” 

“Our administration promptly addressed this issue directly with the teacher and has taken appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of students,” she said. 

“We are actively monitoring the students, and our mental health counsellor and principal have already met with those students who have expressed concerns.” 

Originally published as My kids’ teacher showed them a horror movie in the classroom and I’m mortified