to expect primary schools not to show PG films without parents' say so

[earlycomputers]

I am pretty lenient with what my kids see but it bristles with me that their school just makes them watch 2 hour length PG rated films without first checking whether we mind about the content. My DD (year 3) watched Arthur Christmas today and whilst I don't mind her watching this, I would imagine some stricter parents would object to the alcohol and sex references. When my DD was in Reception, they watched a U rated film which whilst it was a 'U' still left some of the class in tears. Another one they watched on a previous year was Nanny McPhee (don't know if it was 1 or 2) and I recall there was mild swearing in it.

Firstly - why can't schools just show something for an hour rather than 2 hours - surely that's a home treat prerogative for the parents to manage? Secondly, if they must show a long film why can't it be a U rating?
If I take my DD's friends out with her to the cinema, I take pains to tell the friends' parents I will be taking them to a U rated film because I am wary of other parents' levels of strictness about film watching - (my dd is 7).

[Rufustherednosedreindeer]

Well OP is not bloody coming back is she! Might go and look for her on another thread or is that stalking?

Well off to put Arthur Christmas on

OP you are being very very very very very very unreasonable!!!!! To not come back obviously

[Diamondsareagirls]

If you don't trust the school to be making these judgement calls then you shouldn't be sending your child there. As other posters have said, they legally have the parental responsibility for your child when they are in school. Oh, and this is a ridiculous thing to be getting bothered about btw.

[ItsIgginningToLookALotLikeXmas]

Arthur is a pg (Dudley Moore one, not sure about the remake) - perhaps OP was mixed up with that?
Or maybe they showed another James Mcavoy one by mistake - The Last King of Scotland would upset a few weans.

[Wellthen]

YAB hugely U.

There are very few U films that year 5 and 6 children want to watch.

I have never met a teacher who shows more than 1 film in the last week of term, unless 1 is related to the curriculum and in those cases they often don't watch the whole thing, just relevant parts.

Parents values are important but they have to be reasonable. If you don't want your children to hear ANY swearing or references to sex, drugs, alcohol, then don't send them to school. Home ed. These things are part of life and quite rightly. You can't keep them away from swearing etc for years and years and then suddenly let them out. They need gradual introduction to it so they have time to learn in a safe environment and under the guidance with adults. If a 10 year old can't deal with words like crap or bloody (which I would consider mild swearing) then they will find secondary school very difficult.

Also, the people saying 'why show films, do other stuff' - we do. We make cards, we make calendars, we play Christmas maths games, do Christmas writing. The kids get tired, the classroom disappears under glitter and bits of card and its really hard to find something fun that they all enjoy. Films are popular with most children and they are calm activities for those who are so wound up over Christmas that they either misbehave or burst into tears.

[HOMEQCRICH]

Gosh I can remember my school youth club screening Halloween. .. I was 12.. and had to sleep on my mum and dads floor for the first time in years.. what were they thinking. .

[SootikinAndSweep]

I don't understand why you have a problem with the length of a film, OP.

[southeastastra]

i don't particularly like the idea of sticking them in front of films for hours as they seem to now do in primary schools. there must be hundred of other activities they can do and have fun with.

though at my school we were only allowed to celebrate with one afternoon christmas party then bought in our own games on the last day

[TheBigJessie]

ComposHat Oh dear...I am a primary school teacher and I was going to show my class Strap on Sally 3.

Might some parents object?

They need to watch the films in chronological sequence! Get Strap on Sally, otherwise it might be confusing for the poor children. Think of the children!

[Rufustherednosedreindeer]

You need to come back OP

I really need to know where the sex references are in Arthur Christmas

If you don't come back I will have to tell my three to rewatch it (only saw it on Saturday) and find the sex bits for mummy.

I don't want to have that conversation

[mistermakersgloopyglue]

I always just chose Us to cover my own back and reduce the potential for parental miffage. Usually chosen on the basis of ME liking it and wanting an excuse to watch it again if I'm honest - and cos when the kids were allowed to pick they inflicted the horror of Sharkboy and Lavagirl on me and I've never quite forgiven them for the lost aeons of my life from that pile of utter turgid shit.

This (including the bit about shark boy and lava girl actually, what a pile of crap!)

We always just choose U rated films, because for every 10 parents who say 'oh it doesn't matter, it's fine, teachers are in loco parentis anyway' there will be one like the op who cannot eve get the rating right in the first place

Just. Not. Worth. The. Hassle.

[monicalewinski]

What Friday said. With jingle bells on.

[friday16]

I think PG is a very vague rating

U, however, isn't. Which is the rating the film in question has in reality, rather than in the OP's "sad face" imagination.

You can look at a picture of the front cover here:www.amazon.co.uk/Arthur-Christmas-DVD-James-McAvoy/dp/B00G2DGJ6S/?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 Note the big "U" in the bottom left hand corner.


I think PG is a very vague rating; Jurassic Park and Jaws are both in this category

Jaws was originally rated "A" (no children without an adult) in an era when the only other alternative was "AA" (no-one under 14) which would have been ludicrous both by the standards of the time and the standards of today. All A films were re-rated as PG (anyone admitted, parental guidance) when the ratings changed unless they have been re-submitted for re-certification because of a major re-edit. If submitted today, Jaws would probably be rated 12A (which is, ironically, essentially A: anyone admitted accompanied by an adult).

Jurassic Park was originally rated PG in an era when the next certificate up was 12 (no-one under 12); 12A was nearly ten years in the future. Again, PG was the only sensible choice given the certificates available.

[stgeorgiaandthedragon]

Actually, I agree with the OP. I think PG is a very vague rating; Jurassic Park and Jaws are both in this category and I do not feel either are remotely suitable for a primary school. I found The Neverending Story very upsetting when I was made to watch it as a Christmas 'treat' when I was in year 3/4 (or whatever it was called then!) as it has a horse being sucked into a bog and as a lifetime horse-lover I found that really distressing. (Still can't watch it now, although I know the horse is magically resurrected at the end!)

I suppose the problem is with films is that there's always going to be a part that will be distressing for some and it can't be much fun for a parent dealing with a frightened or upset child at the end of the day so I sympathise.

[CrohnicallySick]

With regards to the watching of 2 hour films- our pupils watched a long film this week. They watched it over 2 separate days, and it was used to full the odd bits of time left over from nativity practices etc and keep the children quiet when they were in danger of spontaneously combisting from excitement! The children also had some vaguely educational worksheets to fill out after (word searches, mazes and other puzzles- which seem fine for 5 and 6 year olds!)

[spanieleyes]

Whilst looking at censorship in films with my class they discovered that film classifications don't actually apply in schools( there is a section in the BBfc sure that gives details) so I'm theory teachers could show whatever they want! Mine were quite miffed when I said we would stick to U films with the occasional PG film if it was part of the curriculum and with parental approval!

[ComposHat]

Oh dear...I am a primary school teacher and I was going to show my class Strap on Sally 3.

Might some parents object?

[monicalewinski]

I am amazed at this thread.

I cannot understand why you are taking umbrage on behalf of other parents, and I just don't get what is wrong with a U film for the infants, and PG for the juniors.

I am more than happy for the teachers to decide what is suitable in class - I decide at home, teachers decide at school.

[maddy68]

Pg = parental guidance
While your children are in school the school is loco parentus by law

That means they act as the parents in law while at school
This is such a non issue

[missingmumxox]

Queens Silver Jubilee year 1977, we had loads of special events at school and the "big" prize was choosing a film for the whole school to watch, year 6 as it is now won and they choose the Village of the dammed.

I was 7 it was the first time the whole school sat on chairs in the hall, and it was projected from the back, I was 7 my brother was 4, I don't remember a single child leaving or being upset.

what I do remember is the film, and the Midwich cockoos was the first "grown up" book I ever read but it is still a favourate film of mine. it takes me back to that day.

I also remember that the Headmaster was clearly unhappy with the choice as he gave a long speach on the films we could have been watching instead oh and him actually saying he was unhappy with the choice :)

I brought drop dead fred for my 8 year olds a little while ago...forgetting the content, but what I realised was my boys diddn't get the adult content at all, and I also noticed that the mega bitch of the first half of the film, became the mega beast

Arther Christmas is a great film, quit your moaning!

[demisemiquaver]

YABU GET OVER IT watching daft films with others in a community setting is part of xmas some kids wont have this opportunity at home