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?

I would imagine there would be some 10 yr olds in the class who would find that a bit disturbing even if your son is ok with it op. If he's interested then I would let him research it for his own interest using age appropriate resources but I wouldn't prepare a presentation about it for a class full of children you don't know.

I'm not sure id be impressed if my 10 year old came home from school asking all about jack the ripper

This is something you'll have to consider, too. It wouldn't bother me but it would obviously bother others.

No, I can't see how you'd make a reasearch project on Jack the Ripper age appropriate. Its wrong on so many levels as a primary school project.

He could always suggest a vote at the end so classmates can vote on who they think was the most likely suspect and link to modern forensics and why it is much easier now (DNA etc).

Decide whodunnit without touching on the motivation or the modus operandi? How would that work?

Ah, see I'm not the only one who thinks it's not appropriate. When I started typing everyone seemed to think it a good idea. Must type faster.

I'd just like to add that I haven't chosen this topic at all. It's what my son wanted to do, so a little less finger pointing might be nice.

Additionally I have brought him a book from the library called 100 Greatest Victorians, for him to peruse and see if anyone else takes his fancy before we begin the actual work.

The plan is to introduce the victims (minus the detail about them being prostitutes

What? So you're fine with him studying a serial murderer who mutilated and killed lots of vulnerable women but heaven forbid he learn what those dirty women did?

Sorry, that should say "what they did for survival"

History teacher here.

The original crime scene photographs are incredibly graphic and it would be very easy for your DS to stumble on them if googling.

If he's interested in Victorian crime and social history, I recommend that he looks at Charles Booth and his poverty maps of the area instead. Then he can refer to the murders if he likes but not dwell on them.

He might of wanted to but its up to you to guide him.

What if one of the kids goes home and googles him because of your sons presentation and IS subjected to the gory images etc? Are you prepared to deal with tbe fall out and blame of an angry upset parent of a traumatised child?

I was considered weird and an outsider for having an interest in tbis kind of stuff, you could also be setting your son up to be potentially bullied or avoided, especially if kids go home and tell their parents who warn them away from your son to protect them.

Well there's a lot of "we decided to do this" in your posts so it's quite natural to assume you're very invested in his project. Simple really, just tell him jack the ripper isn't appropriate for the project and choose someone else.

I totally understand his interest in Jack the Ripper, I'm sure I was interested at the same age due to tv shows, books etc.

BUT I don't think I would be encouraging him to view it as fun, and I simply don't think you can do this without acknowledging that the women were prostitutes, and why women were driven into the street. If he's not old enough to discuss those issues, he's not old enough to deal with this subject in a respectful manner.

I started off thinking "yes". However, OP, I was initially thinking the nature of the crimes wasn't the only thing that needed obfuscation (major enough), but of course you're right that the prostitution would need airbrushing out too.

It doesn't leave you with much other than a vague cartoon villain and a hard-to-contextualise manhunt.

Surely the main point is to teach research and presentation? Not ideal (in terms of learning) to pick a topic where you are obliged to skirt around ALL of the salient details. Also, they were real women and deserve some dignity and truth.

If a kid in my 10 year olds class brought in a project on Jack the Ripper, I would not be impressed at all. I'd seriously judge that kids parents for encouraging it. Think along the lines of, would you let him dress up as Jack the ripper for school fancy dress day?

(And I agree that when you start using phrases like "fun idea" in connection with crime history that involves the vicious sexual murder and evisceration of women, it's time to get back in your box.)

I cant think how theres any way to basically talk about someone who stalked lone women and butchered them that isnt risking upsetting one of the other kids.

There is no need to focus on the actual details of the murders or grizzly depictions of the violence. I wrote 5,000 words for a Masters-level essay and didn't mention the actual killings or the acts of violence once.

It is perfectly possible to an interesting and engaging project that looks at people/institutions reactions to the crime, such as the media panic, the police action, how and why the suspects were identified etc. The newspaper coverage was actually quite sanitised so should mostly be kiddy-safe.

In terms of presenting the detail at the beginning of the talk, something like:

'In the winter of 1888 five women were murdered on the streets of Whitechapel. Whitechapel is a poor area in the East End of London by an unknown man . Despite He was never caught and we still don't know who he is and he remains one of the most famous Victorians. I'd like to talk about how the Police tried to track him down and why they failed [or whatever non-gory aspect of the Whitechapel murders he wants to look at]

f he's interested in Victorian crime and social history, I recommend that he looks at Charles Booth and his poverty maps of the area instead. Then he can refer to the murders if he likes but not dwell on them.

Yes!

Or John Snow (detective extraordinaire!) Or both.

How can you approach it without discussing that the women were prostitutes? You can't just pick and choose the bits that you think are appropriate for your child whilst ignoring such a big part of the history of the women who were murdered.

Um what about Shackleton? He was cool!

There's nothing "fun" about a serial killer who preyed on destitute prostitutes OP.

Really. There are a lot of colourful Victorians.

This is like the SuperSoaker thread but with 'fun' mutilated women and Mat Baynton in a moustache and top hat.

God, I didn't even think that another child might google it.

More and more this is seeming like a terrible idea...