Year 6 (11 year olds) torturing worms

I'm amazed that anyone would be 'shocked' at some kids killing worms

Worse happens in a slaughter house, and we eat it!

I am shocked by the posters who can't see an issue here. Torture may not have been the word but the behaviour was abhorrent. I doubt the boys had a philosophical or scientific discussion about how worms feel pain before they behaved like little savages. I would speak to the school.

DS can't love animals that much if he needs a stick to touch them.

Of course it's about the type of animal.

I wouldn't eat a puppy but I'd eat some chicken
I wouldn't kick a puppy but can't get worked up about someone killing a worm or a spider

Most people are the same, especially if they eat meat.

We used to cut worms in half as kids to see if they would survive. I'm not a serial killer now and love my dog. I really can't take this seriously

Important

This .
I'm horrified at that some people here are likely parents . A worm today a kitten tomorrow. Where do you draw the line all you who don't think it's importing

It's well known that torturing creatures like insects can be a precursor to bullying or otherwise abusive behaviour

This is fundamentally untrue. There is an established link that those who torture pet animals (such as cats or dogs) are more likely to go on to inflict violence on people.

I saved flies from drowning in the paddling pool when I was a kid. I save them from drowning in the pond even now, and rescue bees that need a drink. Nonetheless, I would never pretend that there is any known link between killing an insect and becoming a future abuser of people.

There’s a difference between stepping on it accidentally and stomping it into mush. 🤢

Im assuming some posters are fine with kids stomping on a puppy? It’s not about the type of animal - it’s the thinking behind it.

It might have been "just a worm" but what horrible behaviour and how horrible it must have been to see happen. Those kids sound grim. I'd mention it to the teacher, but I was the child who used to put sticking plasters on snails with broken shells.

I'm with you OP. It's exceptionally nasty behaviour and unacceptable. I agree with PP that you shouldn't talk to the boys yourself, but do tell the school. And make sure you big up your wonderful son! Show him (some of) the comments on here - he's on the side of right. Maybe you could support him to do something positive for animals/wildlife etc so that he can feel that he is somehow redressing the balance.

I think it's cruel too, OP. We should teach children to be kind to all living things, including the ones we don't like. I think with younger children, there is sometimes an element of natural curiosity with cutting up worms etc, but a Y6 should know better.

There is a hierarchy with animals, and unfortunately lots of people will condemn things like kicking a cat, but will laugh at someone's childhood 'hamster story', or will encourage children to run at and scare pigeons.

School won't do anything, but praise your son for his empathy.

It's just a worm. It was dead with the first stomp.

I wouldn't say anything.

*Meraleine *that’s a myth.

https://nautil.us/even-worms-feel-pain-238436/

brotherswormfarm.com/blogs/composting-with-live-worms/do-worms-feel-pain#:~:text=What%20Science%20Says-,Do%20Worms%20Feel%20Pain:%20What%20Science%20Says,pain%20the%20way%20humans%20do.

A study from Northwestern University found that flatworms possess receptors that respond to noxious stimuli like scalding heat and dangerous chemicals. This discovery points to a deep-rooted evolutionary trait, suggesting a form of pain or sensation detection in earthworms. More specifically, the study shows that worms have receptors, similar to those in humans and other mammals, that are highly sensitive and help the worms avoid or respond to environmental hazards.

@19751974P yeah, I guess so. I was in primary school and had mates a year or two younger at the time. Secondary age you should be above such things and no need for the curiosity aspect as that should have happened before.

I have to admit to chopping the odd worm in half at around that age to see if it became 2.

I would keep an eye on the situation. If it is a regular thing then I would mention it to the teacher so they can maybe do a pshe lesson on the importance of kindness to animals. Hopefully it’s a one off

I’d definitely report it to the school. When I was at school around 9 years old a boy in my class was collecting ladybirds, pulling their wings off then putting them in crisp packets and stomping on them. It was really upsetting. I told the headmaster and the boy got a big telling off…

Im sure the boys will reflect on this and feel bad. Hopefully wont happen again. You need to let this go

At 11 years old, the kids in the OP should know better.

Worms lack the necessary brain structures to feel pain. Doesn’t mean we should stamp on them. But it’s not torture. And it’s not similar to stamping on an invertebrate animal

I used to do this thing called 'worm hospital' where we'd cut them in half to see if they'd grow again. And also pretend to 'save' the dying ones. This was around that age, late primary.

It's not great is it. But it didn't lead me to become a torturer. And I'd never have dreamt of hurting a bigger animal. Not that I'm justifying it, but it is based on curiosity. Rather than malice.

It's good if he tells them how gross it is. That hurting animals is disgusting.

But I wouldn't start assuming they're on the road to becoming the local band of axe murders.

It's not great and I'd report it to the school however whatever role you have in school you can not talk to these children about it, it is not your place and your DS will be bullied mercilessly and the chances are it'll be brought up again when / if they go to High School together. The teacher won't individually interrogate them but may well mention in an assembly the importance of kindness to all animals no matter how big or small

That’s quite horrible. I would speak to the teacher, hopefully they’ll do some PSHE around it.
It's well known that torturing creatures like insects can be a precursor to bullying or otherwise abusive behaviour, and if those children don’t know that what they did was wrong, it needs to be clarified. However, it shouldn’t be you that does that. You won’t get any thanks and it may well cause issues for your son.
I do think your son deserves praise for standing up for what he knows to be right, it can’t have been easy with the others all opposing him.

Every time DS tried to get back in they’d (I don’t think with much force) use their hockey sticks to bat him away.

Jesus Christ and you're asking what you should do?

It sounds as thought more thought was being given to the worm than reporting your son's bullies to the school.