Showing 18 films to underage children at school

florence321

Thanks so much for all the replies. Some really good advice, i'm very grateful.

Sorry about the secret squirrel stuff, I just really wouldn't want anyone to make a connection.

I'm going to bite the bullet and make an appointment.

Thanks again

Miiri

I would say complain.. this happened to me when I was about 14.. our modern studies teacher decided to make us watch Threads (post apopolytic end of the world stuff) and it haunted me a for a long time - I had a very good relationship with all my teachers but ended up really hating him for it.. I'd have never watched it given the choice (sensitive soul I was!) Oh.. and it was last day of christmas term and also the day Lockerbie happened!:rolleyes:

I'm by no means someone who believes in censorship - I think that kids should be challenged but when you show something particularily hard hitting or controversial, you need to make sure the kids are aware in advance and have an 'out' route - however, I think showing an 18 film to 12 years is way out of order and his attitude is also way out of order.

Hope you get a good result

babyhead

I would definately speak to the school about it.

I can remember being in y7 (about 15yrs ago!) and having to get a parental consent slip to watch Dances with Wolves. I have just googled it and that is rated PG13! And even then the 'raunchy bits' were fast forwarded.

Gingham_Ribbon

Idiophreak wrote: »

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...

I wouldn't let a child watch that, personally. I can watch most things, but I was unable to sit through that and even dropped out of my first attempt at getting an English A level because I couldn't bring myself to finish the book.

Idiophreak

maryotuam wrote: »

You are right. This teacher is obviously a rebel and doesn't believe in putting the children's needs first.

Or, they're a good teacher that's just gotten a bit frustrated that they're unable to teach in the way they want to because parents have complained...Teachers try so hard to find ways to make children "connect" with the material - and having to stop teaching in a way that they see "turns on" the children to a subject could well feel the children's best interests are being put secondary to fear of parental backlash.

As I said before, discussing this with students was, perhaps, ill-advised, but I don't think you can infer anything about the teacher's attitude or capacity to teach from this incident...

Bunnie1982

I agree with what others have said about going back to the HoD, perhaps arrange a meeting with him and the said teacher to discuss the matter.

There was a similar incident that occurred with my niece during her last year of junior school, she is of a sensitive nature anyway because of a few disabilities, during a dance class they were shown the entire video for Thriller. The content of this video disturbed my niece and it did take a while for my sister to calm her down over this. Obviously my sister went into the school but they didn't acknowledge it in the same way your childs school has as they couldn't see the problem with showing the video (when my sister researched it, turns out that the Thriller video has a UK rating of 15)

belfastgirl23

Idiophreak wrote: »

Or, they're a good teacher that's just gotten a bit frustrated that they're unable to teach in the way they want to because parents have complained...Teachers try so hard to find ways to make children "connect" with the material - and having to stop teaching in a way that they see "turns on" the children to a subject could well feel the children's best interests are being put secondary to fear of parental backlash.

As I said before, discussing this with students was, perhaps, ill-advised, but I don't think you can infer anything about the teacher's attitude or capacity to teach from this incident...

I do agree in one way, I remember being shown films of books etc and really enjoying this when I was in school. But I will point out that at least three children did not connect at all with the material and were in fact uncomfortable enough to voluntarily exclude themselves. And that showing material that causes these kind of reactions is also divisive. The OP's child was confident enough to identify that they didn't want to watch the material - how many other children did watch but were uncomfortable about it?

I agree too that with one isolated incident you could not infer anything about the teacher, other than that they are perhaps inexperienced (which is fine, the only way you get experienced is by messing up). But going on to do the same thing again with the same group of students is what makes me think there's something else here, particularly if the teacher publicly disagreed with the objection the first time around.

sarymclary

Great advice being offered here.

Anyone else still gagging to know what the film clip was that they were shown? OP give us a clue!

florence321

Yes definitely very good advice and thank you all for it.

I have tried to pm anyone who particularly wanted to know the film title, i appreciate its difficult to judge without knowing what the film was. I know it seems very paranoid but i'm happier doing that than posting it on the forum.

Thanks everyone

neneromanova

yeah I'd like to know which clip too. I think if they'd been 15 and shown an 18 then that fair enough, wrong, but fair enough as there is only 3 years different. there is 6 years for a 12 year old and that is just wrong.

I remember watching a bit of the exorsist at age 12 and nearly throwing up at the cross bit. But watching it again at 15 I felt a bit better and older to understand it.

Contact the HOD/HOY again and say what has been said. Is there anyway to get your son to record anything on his mobile phone if it happens again as this could be used as proof