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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:
Mirandasbestmate · 20/12/2013 17:56

It is up to you as the parent to decide what is suitable for your child. I would make a formal complaint regardless of the fact that it's the end of term. School should know better & I would be furious .

TheArticFunky · 20/12/2013 17:56

Ds year 5 has seen it however I read him the book beforehand so it wasn't out of context. He is very interested in dystopian fiction.

It's the kind of film that you want to use as a discussion point with your children. Without context it's too violent for primary aged children imo.

TwllBach · 20/12/2013 17:56

In our (primary) school we are not allowed to show PG films so we would probably face a disciplinary something or other if we showed the Hunger Games!

ErrolTheDragon · 20/12/2013 17:59

What Trills said.

Having kids bring films in and voting isn't really a very good idea - better the school gives a choice and then they can send permission slips ahead of time.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 20/12/2013 18:02

School should not have shown a 12a to children who are not 12, without parental consent.

I have a year 7 tutor group at secondary, and I will not show 12s as they are not all 12. This causes them to complain that "but we've all watched it at home". Not my problem, have to follow the rules.

BerryChristmas · 20/12/2013 18:02

I thought schools were 'in loco parentis' ?

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2013 18:04

They are Berry

Lost in the uproar though. Get your pitchfork.

Runlikeareindeer · 20/12/2013 18:05

That isn't true about secondary. In fact the age certificates don't apply in schools, although it is good practice to stick to them.

I have shown clips of 15 films to year 8/9 for example, but obviously it is a well chosen clip. Similarly my year 11s have seen an appropriate clip from an 18.

I haven't seen hunger games so can't comment really.

herladyship · 20/12/2013 18:07

PFB

EndoplasmicReticulum · 20/12/2013 18:08

according to bbfc:

www.bbfc.co.uk/about-bbfc/faqs#F11

You need parental consent if you are going to show younger children a film that they are not old enough for.

MrsVaughnRice · 20/12/2013 18:10

I think that's not on. It's at the stronger end of 12A IMO. I have only just let DD watch it now she's 11 and in year 7, so I'd have been unamused if school had randomly shown it to her when she was ten and a bit.

NewtRipley · 20/12/2013 18:11

Agree with many of you.

Most schools ask consent for children to view even PG films.

12a films vary widely as to their suitability, IMO.

NewtRipley · 20/12/2013 18:12

12a is a bit of a sneaky way of getting bums on seats in the cinema, IMO

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2013 18:13

See what I mean Berry?

steppemum · 20/12/2013 18:13

It is a 12 and not one single child watching it is 12.

Yes, I think in that context the school should ask permission of the parents. They may be in loco parentis, but it takes about 5 seconds of thought to realise that not every parent is going to like this. If they were all 12 and the school showed it, that is very different. (And it is totally possible to select clips from older films which are age appropriate)

Most schools have a generic form to sign asking permission for PG films etc. If they recognise that not every parent wants their child to watch a pg, then it is pretty obvious there are going to complaints if you show a 12.

It is actually irrelevant what the film was. The issue is that it is rated a 12.

Ds was 11 last week. For his sleepover he wanted to watch Jack the Giant Slayer, which is a 12. I asked every parent if they were ok with this film, despite knowing that most of them watch 15 all the time. It is the parent's decision.

NewtRipley · 20/12/2013 18:14

No pitchforks here. Opinions. Ones you don't agree with maybe?

MrsVaughnRice · 20/12/2013 18:14

And "in loco parentis" surely implies you should act as a reasonable parent. If the teacher had thought about the age, vulnerability and particular sensibilities of each member of the class individually, and thought they'd all be fine with this particular film then maybe that's fine.

NewtRipley · 20/12/2013 18:16

I wouldn't write to the school. Speak to the teacher and clarify the policy.

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2013 18:18

I agree the school should have asked parents.

I disagree that the best way to go about it is with a letter - since when have we stopped communicating with schools in person?

I disagree that it is somehow 'illegal' to for a school to show a 12a film to pupils which is what some posters are implying.

I also think some have seen the 15 film.

But I bring you back to my first point, they shouldn't have shown the film without asking.

soverylucky · 20/12/2013 18:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ErrolTheDragon · 20/12/2013 18:22

Certainly not pitchforks. Hmm The relevant bit of the bbfc doc is :

'Can a school show DVDs of a particular category to children below that age?

The age rating decision indicates that the film contains material that we believe is unsuitable for children younger than the age specified.

However, there are some cases where it might be reasonable to show a film in a specific educational context where it is properly discussed, presented and orchestrated. For example, some AS and A2 Media or Film Studies exam syllabuses include 18 rated films.

Schools should seek parental consent prior to the screening. We would also recommend obtaining the approval of the Head Teacher and Governors. It is also important to make sure that any children watching are not likely to suffer any ill effects as a result of seeing the film.'

So... in this case no parental consent, no specific educational context, no discussion. And totally unnecessary - there are so many films which are appropriate for the various ages.

NonnoMum · 20/12/2013 18:22

Write to the school.

Teachers are NOT ALLOWED by law to show films that are certified at an age older than the children in their care.

(Regardless of individual parents think it is OK for their children).

LadyBeagleEyes · 20/12/2013 18:24

Year six in England could be a totally different age in other parts of the UK, I wish posters would give the actual age as I cba working out the English educational system.
I take it it's age 11? I think it depends on the child, my ds would have enjoyed it that age.

pinkhousesarebest · 20/12/2013 18:30

I have a fairly robust 11 year old who watched this in a friend's house. He was very upset by it. I too would be very discomfited by the fact that my child would watch this in school.

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2013 18:30

So no one here is saying that the school acted against the law?

No one Errol with their pitchforks?

The post below yours was unfortunate timing.

It is a recommendation that schools seek permission.
I have agreed that they should. I'm just correcting those who are announcing that it's against the law. It's not.

That's not a reflection of my opinion.