Showing 18 films to underage children at school

florence321

First post so please be patient!

I am going to try to give very sketchy details because I don't want this post to be identified for the sake of all parties involved. I hope it makes sense.

Last week our child came home and a teacher had showed the class a 10 minute clip of a film that is certified 18. The film itself was particularly controversial when released and the scene shown was one of the most graphic and disturbing in the film. The class of children are around the age of 12. We had had no notification or request for consent from the school.

The children were told they could stand at the back of class if they were uncomfortable, my child was one of 3 who did this, facing the wall and covering their ears.

Whilst my child obviously did not view the film i felt showing such material was entirely inappropriate and put those children that didnt view it in the position of being made to feel wimpish by some of the other children. I also feel sure that there were kids who were not comfortable with what they were watching but who will have given in to peer pressure and watched the disturbing material.

Consequently I called the head of department. This was primarily because 2 months ago in a different class my child was shown a graphic clip from a certified 15 film. The teacher was different but it was within the same department and I wanted to mention this too.

I did not go in all guns blazing. I told him how much my child enjoys the lessons in his department and that they actually didnt want us to call because they didnt want anyone to get into trouble or think they were complaining but i felt i should raise my concerns with him. The HoD was polite and professional. He was clearly not aware of what had been shown. He called me back after discussing the matter with the teacher concerned and said that this teacher puts a great deal of thought into what is shown but they had watched the clip again and agreed it was indeed inappropriate and would not be shown again. He apologised and I thanked him for dealing with the matter so quickly and was satisfied.

However, a few days later it emerged that the teacher concerned had gone into another class with older pupils after the event and been annoyed and told the pupils that a parent had complained about him showing ****** and that they had no right to complain because he could show exactly what he liked in his classes.

My child was mortified because they had told no one that we had called the school and they found this out by a fellow pupil asking her if we had complained, because although we were not named there were only 3 pupils who stood at the back and did not watch so they had obviously assumed it was us that had complained.

I am very angry that this teacher has gone into class and discussed a parental complaint with a group of pupils in any manor at all but i'm even crosser that he has clearly been moaning about it and shouting about his right to show whatever he likes. Totally unprofessional?

I feel we were extremely pleasant with the way we brought the issue up, we did not make a big fuss or shout about it even though i think his showing of the material is a very serious matter. I pride myself on my good relationship with the school and consequently handled the issue very sensitively. I now feel quite angry that this teacher has innappropraitely discussed this with a group of students thus allowing my child to be identified and showing a great deal of disrespect to us and to the rights of parents and children.

So my question....whilst i really dislike conflict and was pleased that the matter had, I thought, been settled I feel I need to go back to the school. I am unsure as to whether i should go to the head this time or back to the Hof D. Any advice much appreciated or anyone who has any knowledge of whether there are guidelines governing what is shown to children in school, film wise.

Many thanks for your help.

MrsTinks

Go back to the person you dealt with last time who handled it professionally - after all they obviously handled it well last time and it's unfortunate that the teacher chose to be unprofessional. Let the HoY handle it and escalate it if it's not handled to your satisfaction.
And well done for not going in all guns blazing

Idiophreak

What exactly was being shown and to what end?

The only thing like this I can remember from when I was at school was us being shown parts of Schindler's list when we were too young - entirely appropriate, I thought...

Just curious, I'd be surprised if anyone identified you by the name of the film etc...

Katie-Kat-Kins

I'd be curious to know what the film was, as surely it would have to have some educational relevance to be shown in class.

I'd be concerned if they were just showing the most graphic part out of context though..... that seems almost the opposite of what you would expect.

I can imagine that showing schindlers list as the poster above mentioned would be relevent, and also that the educational benefit could be gained without seeing some of the scenes involving sex etc.

Having said that I think the standard viewing of the birth video on biology/pshe is far more graphic and gory that the scenes in most 18 certificate films.....

got-it-spend-it

To be honest I'm amazed that you are the only parents to complain! I would definitely go back to the head of department and explain how uncomfortable this has made your child feel. I think you have been very reasonable about all of this.

I'm also very curious as to what the film is....

[Deleted User]

This might help.. http://www.parentsbbfc.co.uk/faqs.asp?showpopup=n&#Can%20a%20school%20show%20DVDs%20of%20a%20particular%20category%20to%20children%20below%20that%20age?

It's unprofessional to not get parental approval before doing this

Kimitatsu

My thoughts on it are that firstly the techer should have got parental approval because of the age rating of the film.

Being honest to my mind regardless of which bit of the film it was if it is rated as an 18 and was being shown to a 12 year old then that is innapropriate and unprofessional. The fact that they gave the children the choice to stand against the wall with their hands over their ears also beggars belief a little in this day and age :eek:

If it was me having taken it through the HoD I would put in a written complaint to the Head Teacher and let them deal with it, it has put your child in a difficult position and as they are supposed to have a pastoral duty of care as well as an educational one then I think that needs to be addressed.

belfastgirl23

I usually have sympathy with the teachers but not in this situation. What on earth were they playing at? Even if it is very directly curriculum related, it is never ever going to be good practice to show a film that has three people at the back covering their ears. Not a good way to run a class besides anything else. And the complaining to other pupils is even worse. It sounds to me like the teacher concerned is quite immature and 'rebelling'. It sounds like you handled it well last time so no advice there, except to say you are well within your rights to address this.

RAS

Going back a long way, when our Film club wanted to show rated films after school, we were required to obtain parental consent for any pupil who was under the required age.

I would have thought this teacher is heading for a disciplinary.

Paparika

HoD should know before hand what his/her staff are teaching children.

The teacher who showed the film and then went on to have a hissy fit because a parent dare'd to complain, I'd be questioning his ability as a teacher and wonder (out loud) if they are in the right profession.

What happened to the parental consent forms..... Both the teacher and the HoD have a lot questions to answer....

maryotuam

You are right. This teacher is obviously a rebel and doesn't believe in putting the children's needs first. At 12 there is no grey line like there might be at age 15. I t was obviously inappropriate. This teacher's subsequent behaviour was petulant, unprofessional and lacking any concern for his pupils' welfare.

I would definitely return to the person you last spoke to and fill them in on what has happened. You may not be the only parent who has drawn his attention to this unfit teacher.
Of course you must stress that it is his duty of care to ensure that your child should not be put in a spot again.He may need your report to enable him to take appropriate action against the teacher. Well done for keeping your cool and Good Luck.