The video graphically depicts a car crash caused by a young driver distracted by texting. The video is a dramatization using both actors and test-dummies, but is geared toward older teens and adults.

Melissa Johnson is a parent of a fifth-grade student in Morgan County. Her daughter's social studies class was discussing the importance of civic duty, no matter how young you are. One example they discussed was the new law banning texting while driving for young drivers. According to the superintendent, the teacher used the PSA to tell students it's ok to tell older brothers, sisters, parents, etc. to not text while drive.

But Johnson says this video was not appropriate for 10 to 11 year olds.

"My child didn't have nightmares about it," said Johnson. "But that's always gonna be in her head."

Superintendent Wales says the teacher saw the PSA on the Today Show and used that footage. She followed protocol by reviewing the clips ahead of time and found them to be a helpful teaching tool.

"The lesson wasn't let's see how much you enjoy the graphic nature of it," said Wales. Instead he said it was used as a teaching tool.

Wales says the fifth grade teachers in the Morgan County RI district are some of the best in the school with consistently high test scores. He said if he could nominate a teacher of the year, this social studies teacher would be at the top of his list.

Johnson says she thinks the school district is great, but decisions on what is appropriate for children to see should be left to parents.

Edited by Suvro Banerji