Shakespeare gone mad?

[Shakespearegonemad]

A primary school that I know of is showing/has shown the Richard III film made in the 90s to a Y6 class. It is a 15 certificate. In my opinion, this film is in no way appropriate to show to that age, as indicated by its certification. The reason given is that the children will be able to compare comedy 'Mid Summer Nights Dream' with tragedy 'Richard III'. Am I alone in thinking this is bonkers?

This is not my DC school, but the school of a friends DC. She doesn't seem concerned - it just cropped up in conversation. I think it's shocking - am I overreacting or should I take it further?

[learnandsay]

Surely if it's cert 15 they shouldn't be showing it to Y6. Can't you just point that out, never mind the rest of it.

[mrz]

Sorry but what has it got to do with you if the parents are happy for their children to watch the film? Most schools would ask parental permission to screen something intended for an older audience or just show appropriate scenes rather than the whole film.

[scaevola]

Yes, I think a 15 film in full in a primary is too much.

I was wondering what there is in the fim that merits this classification. The Olivier Richard III is a PG.

[scaevola]

x-ed with Euphemia. I've read her link, and would be extremely cross if scenes such as these, particularly under the 'violence and gore caveats, we're shown to year 6.

[learnandsay]

I guess it'll depend on how they murder the princes for a start. Plantagenet politics was a pretty gory business and Shakespeare, being a Tudor sock-puppet had no love for Richard. I think there's room for horror a-plenty in there.

[Shakespearegonemad]

No, perhaps it doesn't have anything to do with me, but it just shocked me and I wondered if I should do anything about it.

At our school this would definitely not happen. School in question is going through a lot of management change and is in special measures and I can't imagine that this sort of episode helps much. I know the film a little and I can't imagine how any of it is appropriate in the context suggested. If it isn't good enough for my children, then I don't really feel it's good enough for anyones children.

[Shakespearegonemad]

Mrz - would you show a 15 certificate film in full to a class of 11 year olds, with or without parental permission?

[mrz]

What do you imagine you can do?

[Shakespearegonemad]

I can have a quiet word with the members of the governing body who I am associated with. The whole point of posting was to get a feel of whether or not I'm overreacting - it would appear I'm not.

[mrz]

just how seriously do you think a complaint (justified or not) from a complete stranger is going to be taken?

[Shakespearegonemad]

So it's fine to show the film then?

[mrz]

It's not a question of whether it is fine to show the film or not .. unless your child attends the school and watched the film without your approval your views are not going to be taken seriously. If your friend wants to complain that is an entirely different matter.

[scaevola]

I don't think it is fine to show this particular version (the cuts required to remove the violence which is unsuitable would ruin any sense of what the play is about). But as it's not your school, I don't think there is much you can do.

[learnandsay]

Does it matter who the complaint comes from? If any of the governors know the play then they'll know it starts off with a gruesome discussion of a body followed by a murder in the tower and that's only the beginning. It's not the type of stuff for 10yos. And that's just the play. Who knows what they're doing in the film?

It doesn't matter who the complaint comes from the deciding body just needs to know about the content.

[mrz]

Yes it matters

[Shakespearegonemad]

So why sit on the fence? Is it ok to allow a teacher to show scenes of sexual violence and other violence to a class of 11 year olds, or is there maybe a safeguarding issue somewhere in there? I'm not worried about being taken seriously - I work with members of the governing body in a responsible, professional capacity, they will take me seriously. Perhaps the point is that I didn't need to ask - I was just shocked.

[learnandsay]

If there is a PG rated version of Richard III why not just show that one instead?

[mrz]

No it is not OK to show scenes of sexual violence to 11 year olds but the fact is you don't know what has been shown to these children ... you weren't there and neither was your child so all you have is a second hand report that may or may not be wholly reliable.
Your acquaintance may take what you say seriously as a fellow professional but they would be overstepping their role as a governor to become involved.

[learnandsay]

Not to investigate what has been shown they wouldn't. That would be sensible.

[learnandsay]

A governor is also likely to be a parent. Anyone connected with the school would be concerned about what's being shown to its children.

[mrz]

Do you not imagine that if this film had been shown the school would have the parents of the children involved hammering on the headteacher's door?

[mrz]

There will be parent governors there will also be teacher governors and LEA appointed governors and they have specific responsibility and powers learnandsay