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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed that school thought it was a good idea to show year 6 the hunger games?

109 replies

whojamaflip · 20/12/2013 17:20

Ds has come home today and told me that they have watched The Hunger Games in class after a class vote. the students were invited to bring in films and they could choose what to watch.

I'm pretty pissed off tbh, never mind they are year 6 so not old enough to watch a 12a without parents, but the subject matter is something I don't think is suitable for year 6.

if school had asked permission - which I think they should have done - I wouldn't have given it.

aibu? should I write to school and complain or am I being pfb?

OP posts:
littleredsquirrel · 20/12/2013 17:22

I would be very angry and would be ringing the school.

MothershipG · 20/12/2013 17:22

PFB

furlinedsheepskinjacket · 20/12/2013 17:23

I watched it this week and found it a good film but not suitable for that age group.surprised it was a 12a.i have refused permission for my dc to watch before - the schools should really be more sensible imo.

bigbuttons · 20/12/2013 17:23

I would go nuts. It's not a suitable film at all!

Megglevache · 20/12/2013 17:23

I think its fine for 11years olds personally.

Great film

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2013 17:24

There are two versions of the film, one version is pretty tame. As year 6 pupils are aged 11 to 12 I wouldn't complain but yes, they should have asked parents first.

I would mention it and just say that in future you would prefer if it they asked first so that parents can judge if a 12a film is suitable or not.

It's not worth a letter.

In my dd's secondary school they showed the class a clip of Russell Howard's Good News. Be prepared for many such inappropriate clips, it seems all too common as they get older. Esp when round their friends houses.

insancerre · 20/12/2013 17:24

thought they were children's books?
not that i've read any

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2013 17:26

There is a 15 version and a 12a version so for those who say it's hugely appropriate, just check which version you've seen.

My ds watched the 12a version at the age of 9. My choice as his parent.

GhostsInSnow · 20/12/2013 17:27

DD read the series when she was about 11. I'd be happy for a yr 6 child to watch the movie as well. It is a great movie, and a good talking point for the kids too I imagine.

Probably better than sitting them down to watch some generic Disney movie IMO.

NatashaBee · 20/12/2013 17:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Joiningthegang · 20/12/2013 17:31

They should have asked permission

My dd saw it when in year 6 (at home) but that was our choice and not the schools

misskatamari · 20/12/2013 17:32

There are rules about what you can watch in schools. I'm in secondary and it doesn't matter if kids are old enough to watch - we aren't allowed to watch anything higher then a 12 and that is with year 11. Everyone else it's PGs - and if I recall correctly year 7 and 8 we have to keep it to Us. Can't remember off the top of my head but primary shouldn't be watching 12a rated films.

BrandiBroke · 20/12/2013 17:33

I don't think it matters what the film was- if it's a 12a it shouldn't be shown to children under 12 at school. I remember a few years ago a local school took the Year 5s to see one of the later Harry Potter films which was a 12a. A couple of parents weren't keen but they didn't want their kids to miss out when all their friends were going. I don't think the school should ever have chosen a 12a film for a cinema trip for 9 and 10 year olds.

LadyVetinari · 20/12/2013 17:34

YABU. It's a 12A - the (10-11 y/o) students were accompanied by a teacher in loco parentis, how undoubtedly vetted the film and considered it appropriate for their level of maturity. You trust teachers to make decisions about the appropriateness of learning materials all of the time (e.g. for lessons on WW1&2, the plague, illness, religion, etc).

I saw The Hunger Games recently and was impressed by how tastefully the violence was depicted, how well it engages with issues like social inequality and various kinds of oppression (e.g. deprivation, indoctrination, intimidation), and by the progressive representation of masculinity and femininity. It is a vehicle for some very positive messages. Even if you would prefer that your DC hadn't seen the film, you could use it as a springboard for some very valuable discussions Smile.

Smartiepants79 · 20/12/2013 17:36

School are not allowed to show 12a films without permission. I wouldn't go in all guns blazing but I would make them aware they are on dodgy ground. Suspect the head teacher had no idea they've been shown it .

LucyLasticKnickers · 20/12/2013 17:38

last day of term innit op.
i would leave it,
have some christmas cheer.
they are year 6 afterall.

bigbuttons · 20/12/2013 17:39

I saw the latest hunger games and was sickened by some of the scenes. It was not tasteful. No depiction of gratuitous violence can be 'tasetful'

CloverkissSparklecheeks · 20/12/2013 17:42

I think it is fine for 11/12 YOs but I would still not be that happy with it being shown at school as it should be the parent's choice. I do know some 11 YOs who would not like it.

CloverkissSparklecheeks · 20/12/2013 17:43

Sorry I didn't explain that well, what I meant was that I think it is generally suitable for 11/12 YOs but not all 11 YOs would like that sort of content, same as with adults and horror films.

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2013 17:44

THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF THE FILM!

Those who say it is brutal may well have seen the 15 rated version.

Yes the teachers should have sent a letter round asking if parents agreed with the film choice and yes you should raise it as an issue, but no you should not send a letter. Grow some balls and speak to the teacher personally.

stripes1 · 20/12/2013 17:45

When I taught year 6 we were only allowed to show Us and had to get parental permission for PGs. I would definitely complain, it is a parental decision to show an older film.

bigbuttons · 20/12/2013 17:45

I saw the one at the cinema that was supposedly a 12a. I was really shocked that would pass as a 12. There are some really violent scenes, vicious flogging, someone being beaten to death, cut throats etc etc

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 20/12/2013 17:47

I think some Y6 children would be fine with it, some would not. I don't think it is a school's place to decide that they can watch a 12a.

Trills · 20/12/2013 17:48

It is worth a letter not because the Hunger Games is bad but because they should not be showing films with age certificates to children under that age without parental consent.

steppemum · 20/12/2013 17:53

They are not allowed to show a 12A to 11 year olds without parents permisision. That is what the A stands for - 12 with an adult. That isn't a school rule thing, that is the law.

Someone up thread said that year 6 is 11 and 12 year olds. It isn't it is 10 and 11 year olds.

Personally I haven't let ds aged 11 see it, but he has read the book. he doesn't watch most 12 films yet because I am mean and had the school asked my permission, the answer would have been no.

But that is actually beside the point, they are NOT ALLOWED to show it without permission from every single parent in the class.

At ds school year 6 weren't allowed to watch some of the PG films that people had brought in, because there are some kids whose parents have never given permission for them to watch PG films (as we signed the form in reception, and they have never asked us to update it, I am willing to bet that this is not actually the parents intention, but the school can't show it.)

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