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]

Still need to know about the sex in Arthur Christmas

[wigglesrock]

I've watched Arthur Christmas about 1 million 3 times over the past 2 weeks & can't remember any sex references & I like a bit of double entendre. It's a U - just checked my DVD.

[theluckiest]

I am a teacher and this has reared its head before. Not so much now as I teach Y6 so not so much of an issue. Yet I cannot believe that some of the most inoffensive, innocent films are actually PG....Toy Story for example!! And The Snowman.

Arthur Christmas?! It's definitely a U.

[Kasterborous]

They showed us Jaws when I was at primary school many moons ago I can't remember how old I was probably ten. It have me nightmares for weeks. My Mum wasn't impressed. So I can see where you are coming from.

[BruthasTortoise]

My 6 year old watched Horrid Henry at school today, which I wasn't thrilled about but in the grand scheme of things it's hardly that big a deal if the school is good in other aspects.

[NotAsTired]

at all the people now actively looking for sex references in Arthur Christmas!

There are lots of DVDs being shown in schools around the country this week and any end of term week. When I was a class teacher, I only ever showed U rated films to my classes. As a supply teacher, I have been left PG rated DVDs to show KS1 children which, as a parent of a sensitive boy, I have felt uncomfortable about. When this happens, I usually go to a member of the leadership team to double check. Some don't care, but most find suitable alternatives for the children to watch. I think teachers do check the film, but they don't always see that it might not be suitable.

As an aside, my DP's a secondary school teacher and he has to be very careful about what he shows his students. A lot of war films (he is a History teacher) are rated 15 and he can't show them to year 10s unless they all 15.

[Tapiocapearl]

My eldest had problems with many PGs in reception and year one. He never watched much telly at all when young but a U would have probably been ok.

My other 3 watched a little bit more telly then eldest but not lots. They were a little more desensitised though and seemed to cope with PG from about 3 years

[3bunnies]

We had to give consent for PG and it is only in the junior school. They named the film but made two films available (across two year groups) the slackers like me gave permission and their dc could choose which one to see but if anyone didn't want their child watching it then their child didn't have a choice and was told to watch the U.

What does make me is when they come home and say that they only watched half a film because they then had lunch or something else and then they don't watch it later or another day. They will sometimes say if we watch something on TV 'oh we watched the first half of this last Christmas at school' or another one where they watched the whole of a film but with no sound. Surely the teachers know that lunchtime will come around again that day and plan to start earlier/ shorter film accordingly, or at least show the second half later/ another day. They then sometimes come home wanting to rent/ buy it to see the end.

[mellicauli]

Have a look at IMBD: it's not PG, it's U. It is not 2 hours, it's 1.5 hours. There are no sex refs - it sayshere just a bit of name calling. That site is like having Lady whatsername from Downton as your PG advisor. And it say no swearing in Nanny McPhee either www.imdb.com/title/tt0396752/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg. So not sure where your information is coming from. Maybe you have an over vivid imagination...

[busylizzie76]

It's definitely a U as I showed it at school to yearR to year6 and it lasted 1.5 hours. The kids loved it as did I - nothing worrying about it at all!

[lessonsintightropes]

I seem to remember getting terribly, terribly bored when forced to watch films at school and asking for permission to read instead which was granted. How about 2 hours reading time instead, free choice of book?

[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

[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!

[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

[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.

[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?

[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!

[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!)

[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.

[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.

[monicalewinski]

What Friday said. With jingle bells on.

[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.

[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