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School officials say they've seen the show and don't want any bad publicity. "If you look at the last series [Oliver] did in Huntington, W.Va., it was full of conflict and drama, and we're not interested in that," says Robert Alaniz, a spokesman for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), reports the Los Angeles Times. (Guess they missed the heart-swelling finale.) While they assess what to do next, officials have suspended his license to film in the city's schools.
Alaniz says he supports Oliver's goal, but fears the show would unfairly reflect the advances the district has already made towards healthier school food. It has already banned junk food and sodas and has added more produce. "Our guidelines are certainly way above the USDA guidelines," he told the Times.
Officials say it's not only Oliver's show that has been banned. For now, all reality programming productions in LAUSD schools have been shut down. A spokesman for FilmL.A. Inc, the nonprofit group that handles film permits for LAUSD, told the Times that the district's action stems from concern that filming reality shows can be disruptive to kids in the classrooms.
"The district decided that having unscripted reality shoots while classes were still in session was probably not the best idea," FilmL.A. spokesman Todd Lindgren told the Times. "Reality programming is unpredictable."
At a speech this week at the University of California's School of Public Health in L.A., Oliver sounded like he didn't buy the district's explanation. "My filming permit was terminated because I can't promise that the LAUSD (will) look good," he said, according to the Times. "They fail to see me as a positive, and they fail to see the TV as an incredible way to spread the word, to inspire people, to inform parents, to see other teachers doing pioneering things."
All is not yet lost. Alaniz has agreed to continue working with Oliver on a compromise. For now, he's allowed to film outdoors on one school campus "on the understanding that his show would focus on teaching kids in culinary class how to prepare healthful meals," reports the Times.
What do you think? Should reality shoots be allowed in public schools?
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2-04-2011 @12:34PM Mitchell said... Perhaps they have something to hide that would cause bad press?
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2-06-2011 @8:55PM Stephy said... It would be interesting to hear more from Oliver's side of it.
2-04-2011 @1:11PM Laffin said... I don't think it's a matter of the school district having something to hide, rather it's their need to protect the students. We all know that reality shows are far from real - they need to drum up drama to get ratings including taking liberties with the editing to make some people or situations in the show look better or worse than they really are. It seems to me that refusing to allow ANY reality show to film within the schools is good for the students.
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2-04-2011 @1:15PM Bill C said... This show isn't really a reality show to me, it is more of a documentary. I am all for doing whatever it takes to make healthy meals available to kids. The stuff they get in school these days is no better then some fast food.
2-06-2011 @1:04PM Nani said... As a teacher I am all for our schools teaching children how to eat well. We also need to educate the public on the lack of good nutrition and the horrible conditions some of our schools are in. If the Food Revolution is the one to do it... well let it be. I agree some of the drama can be overboard for a school, these kids don't need all of that..
But... We need to do something! Are we not the wealthiest nation in the world? People pay thousands of dollars for superbowl tickets, but will not feed our children properly or fund public schools. Shame on us.
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2-08-2011 @12:24PM Matt said... Jamie is an attention-seeking nag. His way is the only right way to eat. Bravo for the school district for kicking him out. Less self-righteousness might help his cause.
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