to let DS do school project on Jack the Ripper?

[soupforbrains]

DS is 10. he is bright, loves reading and is a huge history buff.

Summer homework project is "Choose a famous Victorian to learn about and present what you learn in a creative way".

DS wants to do Jack the Ripper, DS is already aware of Jack the Ripper from the Horrible Histories books and some other kids books/shows which have discussed great unsolved mysteries.

I think this is a fun idea, and together we have discussed presenting the finding on a big board like and investigation/crime board. Obviously there will be some glossing over of the details and clearly we're not about to stick crime scene photos up. We've also discussed looking into the living conditions in the east end of london at the time to give more social history learning to it than just the crimes.

I'm not an idiot and I know that this idea is perhaps a bit risky but so long as we do it in an age appropriate and not over gory manner would IBU to let son do this. Additionally would any teachers out there consider it to be interesting and a bit different from the no doubt countless Isambard Kingdom Brunels which turn up, or a step too far?

Ooh that's what I forgot: I meant to say for Bazalgette you could make the presentation look like blueprints for sewer system.

If he decides to do Robert Peel, the presentation could be done as a policeman's notebook. Or he could make a period papier-mâché policeman's helmet & line it with his project content...

I know the thread has moved on but

Do we teach children about the terrible epidemic of VAWG? or do we hide it from them until their 18? Might be a bit late by then. If a child is old enough to ask, then they are old enough to be given select facts.

I thought that was an interesting point.

Google the man who invented the police force. You could get some facts in about where the term 'bobbie' for a police officer came from, and how the metropolitan police originated.
Then move onto how the 'Ripper' case had two police forces working on it. Add the socio-historical context from a criminological perspective rather than focussing on the evil serial killer himself and glorifying his crimes. It's very sad when you look at the circumstances, and too soon (in my opinion) actually.

I think the big issue is not your son's interest but the fact that you really do not know how the other children (and their parents) will respond. It's great your son has a fascination for history and that you have found ways to encourage it.

I can remember coming across a Jack the Ripper video game a few years back that was designed for a similar age group and marketed as an atmospheric mystery. Now that did seem like a terible idea.