Year 6 (11 year olds) torturing worms

This happened to me at school, when I was also in Year 6 (a very long time ago now!!). I was (and still am) a vegetarian and a huge animal lover - and a certain group of boys would go around stomping on snails deliberately, just to provoke me. It was vile and truly upset me, to the point that I remember it so clearly even now! OP, your son sounds lovely and he is absolutely in the right. The other boys should be reported, but at the same time I’d advise your son to play down his views for the moment, as it’s likely the boys are only doing it to get a reaction. I learnt that the hard way - but when 10-year-old me stopped making a fuss about the snails, the boys got bored and moved onto something else. They were only doing it for a laugh and a reaction, not because they were truly murderous little boys (not that that excuses their disgusting behaviour). Well done to your son for being such a kind young man, and well done to you for taking his (valid) concerns so seriously.

Children can be so nasty can’t they. Pretty normal though.

I wouldn't worry too much . The first "stomp" would have killed it, they wouldn't have suffered.

BTW do you ever "stomp"on spiders, swat flies, kill slugs, mice and rats?

Horrible mentality from those children! Stamping on a living creature - doesn’t matter what size the creature is - its plain cruel - How can anyone feel this is acceptable?

Disgusting behaviour, and really disturbing that so many people are saying it’s not a big deal. Aside from the obvious lack of empathy and emotional intelligence which could clearly lead to bullying and nasty behaviour… killing a living creature for fun is sick. And that sort of mob mentality can certainly escalate and cause larger issues.

I’d tell DS how proud I was of him, and I’d definitely mention something to the school. It’s really disturbing.

I would be really upset too, OP.

I agree with this. Very worrying behaviour.

Shocked at some of the comments here. Torturing an animal, any animal, is disgusting behaviour. It shows a lack of basic empathy and needs dealing with. I’d definitely report to the teachers. They need to have a wider lesson about being kind to animals.

I would mention it to the teacher. It’s most likely the kids pushing boundaries and exploring their world. They should grow out of it in time. If it escalates it’s needs to be looked into.

That's a very different problem and something I would approach the school about. Not killing of a worm.

Worms are not sentient beings, their nervous system does not process stimuli in the same way as larger animals do. They don't feel pain (as far as we know). They have protective mechanisms which make them recoil on touch but that's about it. You cannot torture something which feels no pain. It's a good opportunity to teach your son about biology, perhaps. Speaking about it with parents and teachers is a bit OTT.

@mollyminniemo he is right about worms, same with frogs and similar the oils, lotions and potions transfer to them via our hands, you should always wet your hand, preferably in pond water before picking them up - frogs and toads that is

If you enjoy hurting any living creature, I’m sorry but you are a cunt. Usually escalates too, for those saying “it’s just a worm’. Might just be your child next… or you, or something you care about.

Praise your son.

@Lovelysummerdays yep, it was the 80s and we were testing that theory. Somewhat unethically.

For me it's the enjoyment they got from killing it

I'm an adult and found it upsetting even I saw a group of teens stamp on a cinnabar moth. I have no idea why they felt the need to do it, they were definitely old enough to know better. It's so unnecessary.

But then I struggle with why that's bad but it's ok for me to spray the house regularly to try and keep the sodding clothes moths under control.

Honestly child stomps on worm whilst not ideal it’s not exactly serial killer behaviour. I hoover up spiders, they will die outside anyway. When I had a wasps nest / cluster flies they were poisoned/ fumigated. When there was mice they were poisoned too. I don’t think I’m going to start killing people off.

Children can be vile and they were enjoying winding your son up. I’d let it go tbh.

To me, this is not actually about the worm suffering. This is about a group of children who were picking on OP's son, directly trying to stop him showing compassion to a living creature, whatever that creature was. They went out of their way to do something that was distressing to one of their classmates. That is where the cruelty comes into it.

It was bullying of a child who was being kind, empathetic and compassionate. That is unacceptable and the school should be made aware.

People draw a line all of the time. Especially those who eat meat.

I eat chicken but I wouldn't eat puppy.

I agree totally!
I'm shocked that people think this is acceptable, for both the worm and your son.
I would mention it to the school.

My daughters a veggie too (11) and some kid stomped hard on a cockroach in a queue at Disney and my daughter didn’t stop thinking/mentioning it for ages after. It’s just mindless and some kids are just mean. Like she hates spiders but wouldn’t dream of killing one or not removing it humanely

I don't.

Those saying that this isn’t a problem, are the sort of parents that have kids like that and think it’s acceptable. Where do you draw the line? If it was a mouse, a cat, a dog, or another child then it would be wrong so why does it make it ok ‘because it’s a worm’? I would 100% go to the head about it. Not just for the sake of it being a creature but that is bullying for your son. Sorry OP I hope you get it sorted x

I was told as a child if you cut a worm up it would form new worms and that you could do it up to seven times but after that they’d die. I have no idea if that is remotely true or just an urban legend of the 80s