Long Beach : Filmstrips Returning to Use

A pair of controversial filmstrips believed by a group of parents to promote witchcraft and occultism will be back in use in Long Beach schools by Jan. 5, Supt. E. Tom Giugni has announced.

The educational filmstrips--called “The Headless Cupid” and “Banner in the Sky”--had been at the center of a months-long controversy between the district and the parents. Giugni had temporarily removed the strips, designed to encourage children to read, from use pending the outcome of an investigation. The decision to return them to use, he said, was made because the district could find no legal justification for permanently removing them.

Following a series of meetings with the parents, Giugni did, however, clarify and reiterate a longstanding district policy allowing parents to preview potentially objectionable material and have their children excused during periods when such materials are used.