Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To think this is not appropriate for 6 yr olds.

61 replies

Battleshiphips · 03/06/2015 19:31

To think this short film is not appropriate for 6 year olds. I don't know how to do a link so hopefully this works! This film was shown to my sons class and a number of the kids have been having nightmares etc. We want to say something to the teacher about it. m.youtube.com/watch?v=l9xX6lQ_gdY

OP posts:

evelynj · 03/06/2015 23:25

Honestly, I would go nuts if that was shown to my ds age5 & probably for several years to come. He's really sensitive & we'd all suffer from this-Imo this would equate to negligence as the only way I imagine this was allowed is if the teacher hadn't already bothered to watch it before showing the children.

DancingDinosaur · 03/06/2015 23:29

Crikey, that scared me. I would not be happy if my 6 year old was shown that. Far too young.

Luisanna · 03/06/2015 23:40

Really? You even have to ask? My daughter is 6, there is no way that is appropriate! I'd be definitely having strong words tomorrow. Error of judgment, no, just clearly does not understand the age of children she's teaching.

sadwidow28 · 04/06/2015 00:03

I am a teacher/UK Ofsted inspector:

That film is inappropriate for 6 year creative writing stimulus

It shows a teenage scenario (including leaving the safety of the family home during night hours - without parental permission, going onto a boat alone and smoking)

Language is too complex:

(a) @0.52 "The park was so isolated and so pristine"
(b) @1.17 "Frances was 17 at the time ... with a reckless nature"
(c) @2.07 "when she felt satisfied she was over the deepest spot..."
(d) @2.14 "The Aurora Borealis was shimmering like a neon lasso"
(e) @2.53 "... she soon fell into a contented reverie"
(f) @3.41 "She lunged for the oars"
(g) @3.50 "After rowing feverishly she looked around..."
(h) @4.28 "...the knocking came again, this time as loud as a bass drum"
(i) @4.34 "Now she was so shaken she started to make questionable decisions"

[I think there are enough examples there]

The intention of the film is to cause fear and concern throughout

This includes the use of background music/sounds to signal alarm, danger and fear (see @3.22, @3.38 and @4.30 for examples)

There is no positive outcome which is essential for a 6yr old to feel safe and emotionally well again

OTheHugeManatee · 04/06/2015 08:04

The class was SIX and the teacher showed this??? WTF

Original poster

Battleshiphips · 04/06/2015 09:46

Just an update. They are in last year of infants, year 2, so 6/7 year olds. One of the mums spoke to the teacher this morning and was basically told "I'm sorry it upset your child but I think it was age appropriate and it was authorised for me to show it to them"
I don't know where to go from here! Do I just let it pass or pursue it. My heart says pursue it. Thanks so much for all the the replies.

OP posts:

PinkPearlClutcher · 04/06/2015 09:57

SHIT! I'm 24 and that scared me!

My 9 and 10 year old would also be scared. Don't let it drop, you need to persue!

littleflick · 04/06/2015 10:06

Against the grain here, but I didn't find it frightening and think it's fine for that age group

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 04/06/2015 10:08

YNBU. I just don't understand why they felt it appropriate to show that to a group of 6year old babies.
What lesson was it for.
Not surprised mothers are up in arms

AugustRose · 04/06/2015 10:19

Do not let this go - my DD2 (8) would be very upset watching this and it certainly isn't age appropriate for 6/7 - I would want to know who authorised it's viewing.

DD1 would love it and probably write something similar herself, however she is 13 and in year 8 which seems a more suitable audience.

ScorpioMermaid · 04/06/2015 11:34

Bloody hell! YANBU

my 12 year and 13 year old dds would be jumping all over the place watching that never mind my younger ones!

User24689 · 04/06/2015 12:03

OP, pursue it. I'm a primary school teacher and I cannot believe the teacher is even attempting to justify that as a writing stimulus for Y2. Even aside from how unsettling it is as a film, the language is far too complex for that age group and much of it would be lost on them. The fear and upset of the character and the visual things like the bloody writing at the end would be what would make an impact. I teach upper primary and wouldn't have shown this. Do you know what the task was or what the learning objective was out of interest?

aluvss · 04/06/2015 12:55

My DD is 6 and would not be firghtened of this film, I think it's fien for a 6 year old.

Chrysanthemum5 · 04/06/2015 13:04

That's ridiculous. As other posters have said the scenario is too complex for 6 year olds, and certainly the language will be beyond many of the children - so how can it be useful? I would speak to the teacher as well, and if not happy with the response I'd speak to the head teacher.

Aeroflotgirl · 04/06/2015 13:05

Yanbu highly inappropriate, I would be talking to the teacher. It scared me, an adult, let alone a young child.

DancingDinosaur · 04/06/2015 13:19

Who authorised for her to show it?

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 04/06/2015 13:31

Yes that's what I'd want to know. Who exactly authorised her to show it, because I would be complaining to/about them as well.

DancingDinosaur · 04/06/2015 13:33

I presume the school has a complaints procedure. Can you use that?

Jennifersrabbit · 04/06/2015 13:38

Well by contrast with practice in other schools, I have to sign to say my kids can view a PG film. For example I had to send a slip back to confirm I was happy for my 6 year old to watch Paddington

If that is the normal level of caution I think you have every right to ask why they aren't applying it to this.

TheNumberfaker · 04/06/2015 13:41

My DD1 is the same age and that would frighten the life out of her. No way would her school ever consider showing that to Y6, never mind Y2. 6 year olds still believe in Santa and the tooth fairy.
This actually reminds me of the film 'The Others' in that it was reclassified from a 12 to a 15. You don't need lots of blood and obvious gore for a film to be really scary.

MrsKCastle · 04/06/2015 14:21

If that's the response from the class teacher, I would put in a formal, written complaint.

Some Y2s might be fine with the film, but many would not. I've taught Y6 for many years, and I'm not sure I would even show it at that age. Probably not.

Lottieismydog · 04/06/2015 14:33

I agree will almost everyone else, not appropriate at all. Like others have said you and other parents need to take this complaint to the school formally following the school's complaints policy. If one parent has complained and had the response you detail, then the school needs to be able to see through a formal complaint that in this case the teachers judgement was wrong, and the way they have dealt with a parents informal feedback is also wrong,
managers/leaders need to assure parents that they are aware and dealing with it. If you don't will the teacher show this next year during this curriculum lesson? School leaders should also be offering some reassurance at school for those children who are affected too. Good luck and sorry your DC has been affected in this way.

Original poster

Battleshiphips · 04/06/2015 16:51

I spoke to teacher after school and she did really apologise. She had checked with 2 other members of staff and they had ok'd it. One of the staff members has similar aged children herself. I felt she did kind of try to justify it but to be fair she probably felt a bit embarrassed about it. She is usually a really lovely, great teacher and my ds has really blossomed while in her class. Hopefully it'll be a lesson to them and next time they'll think twice.

OP posts:

PHANTOMnamechanger · 04/06/2015 17:03

Did the colleagues who "okayed" it actually watch the whole thing?? I can't believe that any experienced teacher thinks that is OK for 6 year olds! when as pp says, we have to sign a slip to watch anything other than a U film at the end of term!

steppemum · 04/06/2015 17:24

cariadlet's link to this film shows it as suitable for 13 +

There is your argument. Not age appropriate at all.

Flip

1 2 3