Thuggish song taught at primary school...

[Nappaholic]

AIBU to think that a song with the lyrics "We're going to kill you...I'll break your arms and legs, I'll make it so you beg, for me to stop the pain, think again" and a chorus of "We're going to kill you" ....is an inappropriate choice of educational material for primary school aged children to learn for an Olympics homage?

What song is that?

isn't that the French national anthem?

Perhaps a little more information? What song? By whom? With what in mind?

Think you'll have to give some more information - who was teaching it, what was the context?

My initial response was "holy f*ck" but I want to know more. Maybe it is related to lessons they re doing about old Olympic practices?

I remember at my primary school, round about last century but one, the head teacher was showing some prospective parents around during a music class. Even at the time - I think I was 10 - I did rather wonder what they thought about a roomful of dear little girls singing

"When e'er we are commanded to storm the palisades
Our leaders march with fuses and we with hand grenades
We throw them from the glacis" (whatever that is) "about our enemies' ears
With a tow row row row row row for the British Grenadiers"

US - its from The Legend of Calliopateira - a "published educational musical" that our local primary school decided to teach to our 6 - 11 year olds to celebrate the Olympics. When parents found out about the lyrics, things were stirred up and the media alerted. The song was then withdrawn by the school, but the kids had been learning it for some four weeks before that

6th verse National Anthem?

Sometimes there seems no common sense. I remember in primary school we were learning songs to sing at the National Festival of Voices at the Royal Albert Hall and after practising it for weeks a song about parents arguing was pulled for being too upsetting. (This one)

Oh FFS is the whole country turning into whining bucketheads with zero imagination? Pretty much the whole history of art, folklore and culture features violence, sex and death no matter how politely it's worded.

Blimey, odd that's a really long song!

These things are taught in context (hopefully). If there were lessons addressing the violent content I don't see a problem. Look of Horrible Histories.

A chorus of What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor did not turn the previous generations into raving alchies.

Pull your knickers out of your arse, YABU. This is the sort of thing that children think is really inappropriate and so sing it with all the more gusto. I'm sure they won't go out and enact it!

I'm going right off the word inappropriate, its such a patronising word.

Totally inappropriate. Because as everyone knows, the early Olympics were rainbows and butterfly unions of peace and love between nations and should be taught as such. SNORT

I think it's a horrible song! OUr DC were taught some sick and wet sexist crap about "our Mums do all the work!"

It had me but all the other parents were like this so I said nothing...it was so sexist!

Odd that's from "Blitz" by Lionel Bart (him of "Oliver" fame). It's a children's number where they are imitating their parents' sorts of argument, hence the chorus "Mums and Dads, let's play mums and dads"). It's fine in context (and quite a good sing, in 3 parts if I remember), but I can see why without that you might think it odd.

I appreciate that children need to learn about the world, but is there any need to expose them to it at this tender age?

I am sure they hear worse with today's pop songs!!

Oh, do chill.
My DC have been happily reciting Jack and the Beanstalk since 2nd birthday and are still not partial to 'smelling the blood of englishmen, nor proceeding to kill them, never mind grinding their bones to make bread etc'.
As said above, historical texts are full of violence yet been taught in schools for many a year. Understanding the difference between reality and that of mythical nature should be explained at home/school.
Children are more capable of grasping the concept than given credit for.

Thehouseonthecorner "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil sexism is that good men women do nothing."

I bet loads of other parents were thinking 'what sexist crap is this?' but didn't say anything either... and so another generation is inculcated...

I bet the kids loved singing 'We're going to kill you' tho! Bet some of the parents wanted to sing it right back at 'em too

This production has been performed at over 200 primary schools without the children turning into rampaging arm breaking thugs.

This is information relayed by the author of the play who contacted the tiny village school that was outrageously exposed to the national media due to one parent who alerts the press every time the headmistress does not bow to his wishes.

She had already listened to the concerns of some parents and had arranged to alter lyrics. As this was not done to a particular parents timetable he had the tv cameras at the school gate at the end of the day. She must wish she hadn't bothered after being slated by local press anyway.

Can you tell it pissed me off somewhat.

And they did love singing the song, very enthusiastically done. I couldn't wait to see the actions they would have worked on to go with it.

:)

I think it was 200 schools, not 200 primary schools Merion? And I'm not sure it will be easy to reconcile the teaching of these lyrics with school/playtime rules such as "kind to each other" and "no biting or fighting" for younger children, or where there are poorly controlled bullying issues at a school already?

SGB absolutely!

The whole reasons Horrible Histories is so popular is because it keeps the gory bits in!