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AIBU?

Learning about Jack the Ripper in year 8

77 replies

Lottielou272 · 15/09/2016 15:23

My dd is learning about this in history at the moment. They are looking at graphic photos of the mutilated bodies etc and she seems a bit disturbed by the details.

I suppose there must be a reason why this is on the curriculum but I'm wondering how many schools are doing this? The school is very good generally and I don't have any other concerns.

OP posts:

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george1020 · 15/09/2016 15:28

New government initiative, Weed out the psychos early?

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icouldabeenacontender · 15/09/2016 15:34

Is this really on the curriculum?
It doesn't seem appropriate and I'm not surprised she's a bit disturbed.

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FurryGiraffe · 15/09/2016 15:36

I learned about Jack the Ripper in history in Y9. That was in 1995. Nobody suffered long term psychological effects as far as I'm aware...

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NKFell · 15/09/2016 15:40

I think as adults we think it seems young but, we did Jack the Ripper in Y8 and in Y9 Greek Medicine- including sawing off legs with graphic illustrations.

I can confirm I too found it disturbing but I'm alright now, I just live in a cupboard where I feel safe Nahh, it was alright. You can learn about everything horrible in the world in one go when you're 18!

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AgnesNitt1976 · 15/09/2016 15:41

My DD (14) learnt about Jack the Ripper about the same age and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I did not find the subject material unsuitable for her age group. The photographs were not in colour and they looked less gratuitous then 12a rated films.

If you have concerns then I would speak to the school and child about it

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FrancisCrawford · 15/09/2016 15:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

originalmavis · 15/09/2016 15:44

what are they learning - social history? I loved that type of gore as a child. It just makes me sad now that those poor women were just targeted just to satisfy some sick mans urges.

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atticusclaw2 · 15/09/2016 15:45

Some of the photos are graphic although they're very grainy. I wouldn't be best pleased tbh regarding the photos (although I don't think the topic as a whole is an issue). However I'm particularly inclined to be annoyed at this sort of thing. I'm not too impressed that DS1 (just started year 7 and young for his age) came home yesterday having read the boy in the striped pyjamas.

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ApocalypseSlough · 15/09/2016 15:47

I'd not be pleased. I think it's distasteful and fetishising violence against women. There's nothing to be learnt from true crime that can't be learnt from other sources.

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x2boys · 15/09/2016 15:50

i went to a catholic school so learned about jesus being nailed to the cross etc from a very early age.

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originalmavis · 15/09/2016 15:51

Atticus - that book had me gulping. DS was fine though. He read it in y6.

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JudyCoolibar · 15/09/2016 15:51

Black and white photos taken in the 19th century really won't be that graphic.

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kali110 · 15/09/2016 15:51

i feally don't see the problem. I'm in my 30'S and remember learning about all this stuff at this age.
I still remember all the pictures from my books when i first read about the wars.

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acasualobserver · 15/09/2016 15:52

I would like to be there for the lesson when they do role play.

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Topseyt · 15/09/2016 15:55

I wouldn't have a problem with it. It happened. No point in saying otherwise. It shouldn't be forgotten.

Year 8 means 12 - 13 year olds. I never shrouded mine in cotton wool.They have to live in the real world.

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Yorkieheaven · 15/09/2016 15:56

acasual

I don't think it's necessary to learn about fetish violence towards women either.

I would go with 'he was a evil mysogynistic cowardly bastard so why dignify his vileness with discussing it'

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DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 15/09/2016 16:00

We learned about the Yorkshire Ripper when I was 8,he was still very much at large, absolutely terrified me. Fuck knows what our teacher was thinking telling us that at story time

Ds had enough problems with The Diary of Anne Frank at 8 let alone Jack the Ripper!

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DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 15/09/2016 16:01

Oh YEAR 8,i thought you meant aged 8!

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SecretPeanut · 15/09/2016 16:01

I did Jack the Ripper in Junior School and was chopping heads off dead frogs in year 7 biology class. I was interesting not disturbing.

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SecretPeanut · 15/09/2016 16:02

*It was interesting

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balletcats · 15/09/2016 16:02

Blimey, I can see it's a way of drawing kids in, but I know what you mean OP. That said, is it part of a history of London? I can see how it would be really effective but yes, I have a sense of disquiet about it

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HunterHearstHelmsley · 15/09/2016 16:02

I learned Jack the Ripper in either year 7 or 8. Early 2000s so it's nothing new.

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CalmYaTits · 15/09/2016 16:09

We learnt about Jack the Ripper in year 8 and Didn't give it a second thought.

In the same year we had to put a condom on a plastic penis in sex ed, that was much more traumatising

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LurkingHusband · 15/09/2016 16:13

In the same year we had to put a condom on a plastic penis in sex ed, that was much more traumatising

Who for ? You, or the penis ?

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jwww · 15/09/2016 16:16

When I learned about the holocaust (which I know is completely different but hear me out) in Y9 we had the option not to look or to leave the room when images or videos of bodies or anything too "disturbing," was on, we would still learn what happened but wasn't forced to look at it. Although saying this we had to watch and read woman in black in English in Y9 also which haunts me to this day!

Maybe you or your dd could speak to the teacher ask if they can not show mutilated bodies if your child doesn't want to look I'd say that's a fair request!