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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to let DS do school project on Jack the Ripper?

379 replies

soupforbrains · 15/08/2017 14:25

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?

OP posts:
splatattack · 15/08/2017 15:31

I think it's a great idea and the angle that your son is taking is mature and interesting. We can't keep avoiding topics all the time in case children go home and google them...where would it end???!!!

histinyhandsarefrozen · 15/08/2017 15:31

The Victorian age is full of fascinating explorers, inventors, scientists and soldiers. I find it unlikely that the ops son really can only be galvanised by a serial killer.

Original poster
soupforbrains · 15/08/2017 15:32

Here's another question which came up when we talked about who he could do hopefully some of the teachers on here can respond.

Does the person have to have been british/ a subject of Queen Victoria to count as a 'Victorian' or would someone else from overseas who had lived in the Victorian era qualify?

OP posts:
sonjadog · 15/08/2017 15:35

If he does go for this topic, be aware that very graphic photos of the victims were taken and are widely published online. Some are so graphic that they make me queasy, and I'm a hardened, cynical history teacher. The social history side is fascinating - who the women were, their lives, life in the East End, but I don't think that is a project for a 10 year old.

Pigface1 · 15/08/2017 15:36

OP i don't know, I was just wondering that - just for example, would Thomas Edison be an appropriate choice? Or if he wants to focus on a mystery, could the Mary Celeste work? Both fall within the relevant time period but obviously aren't British.

sonjadog · 15/08/2017 15:37

How about Florence Nightingale? Interesting life, Crimean War, major contributor?

SleightOfHand · 15/08/2017 15:38

How the heck did Horrible Histories cover Jack The Ripper, what age are their books aimed at?

Effic · 15/08/2017 15:40

Really - it's 'fascinating'? - a sexual predator who killed and mutilated females. That's the most interesting person he/you can find from the Victorian era. 10 year olds should not be studying serial killers ffs.

Original poster
soupforbrains · 15/08/2017 15:41

Icantreachthepretzels thanks, this was the standpoint I had started from but I wouldn't like to allow my son to go down a road that might lead to him feeling like he'd done something wrong if others don't feel the same way.

He's a history keen kid so I'm sure we'll find someone else to feature in his project that he'll be keen on. we just need to find them before we run out of time to do the project itself.

Sting charge of the light brigade is a good suggestion I've added it to my list.

sonja The suggestion of Nightingale just makes me feel a bit eye-rolly as it were. She's a bit done to death, and her contribution is debated these days. Aside from her invention of the pie chart.

OP posts:
NotPennysBoat815 · 15/08/2017 15:41

I done London Dungeons with my year six class. They loved when I got murdered by Jack Hmm

NotPennysBoat815 · 15/08/2017 15:43

Urgh did. Blame summer holiday and baby brain.

WhattheChuff · 15/08/2017 15:43

If he does go for this topic, be aware that very graphic photos of the victims were taken and are widely published online. Some are so graphic that they make me queasy, and I'm a hardened, cynical history teacher.

Me too. I first saw them as an adult and I was absolutely haunted by how horrific they were. Those poor women. They were treated like they were nothing.
I wouldn't pick this as a project.

stitchglitched · 15/08/2017 15:43

It's grim. Maybe in 100 years kids can do a 'fun' project about Steven Wright.

kateandme · 15/08/2017 15:44

Sounds fab.can we read it wen he's finished.all u need to say on vivctims is how he did horrible things we don't need to all think over but made him a very bad man.
U cud mention all sorts.the use of police.no DNA or tests,photo evidence etc. we have now.how they lived.how there has been many modern dramas on it.suspects.myths.how the press reported crimes then.what does that area look like today.how they still do tours etc.what else was going on in history at the time wat life was like

Original poster
soupforbrains · 15/08/2017 15:44

Pigface I loved the mystery of the Mary Celeste as a child but I'm not sure there is enough 'meat' to the story for him to get a whole project out of it?

Sleight I believe they're aimed at age 7-11 ish essentially KS2, and he's in a few of them. Definitely Villainous Victorians and also Vile Victorians. and they do it by glossing over the violence, prostitution and mutilation.

OP posts:
user838383 · 15/08/2017 15:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Seeingadistance · 15/08/2017 15:48

When I was at Primary School we learned the difference between famous and infamous.

Jack the Ripper is the latter, for reasons already pointed out by pp.

Yes, think about those who became famous through their efforts to reduce poverty and crime, improve living conditions etc, but please, not an infamous murderer who preyed on vulnerable women.

sonjadog · 15/08/2017 15:48

Titus Salt?

Who is your son interested in apart from Jack the Ripper? Or what themes?

Bluntness100 · 15/08/2017 15:49

I actually have no issue with the initial subject matter, I did absolutely take issue with the way uou phrased it as being a fun idea. I'd also be concerned about your use of the word " we".

we just need to find them before we run out of time to do the project itself

Re read your posts, you're talking like this is your project or a joint project, it's not. it's a learning assignment for a ten year old. Support him by all means, help him when he needs help, but he should be doing his own work, it is " his project"

starsorwater · 15/08/2017 15:49

Samuel Plimsoll would be fascinating- the Plimsoll line on sailing ships saved many lives. Lots of social history there.

Or the beginning of the RSPCA and he could reference Black Beauty.

Balloon flight?

J the R not appropriate for a ten year old child.

user838383 · 15/08/2017 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheSting · 15/08/2017 15:51

Does the person have to have been british/ a subject of Queen Victoria to count as a 'Victorian' or would someone else from overseas who had lived in the Victorian era qualify?

Personally, as long as your DS made a novel, balanced and concise argument for their inclusion as a 'Victorian', thus demonstrating the analytical skills needed in history, I would accept his choice.

Other teachers may rigidly apply a 1837-1901, subject of the British Empire definition though Wink.

Icantreachthepretzels · 15/08/2017 15:51

How the heck did Horrible Histories cover Jack The Ripper, what age are their books aimed at?

It was in a section called 'Victorian Villains' it says that no one knows who he is but that experts like to claim they can prove definitively who he was, but they all contradict each other. it gives a long list of possible identities and then tells us that he murdered 8 women (in fact it says 'just' 8 women - which is a bit of an issue) but went on to become a legend. Then it has a picture of a shadowy man in an alley looking at a woman, in the distance.
Other Victorian villains included are May Ann Cotton (who poisoned over 20 people) and then (fictional) Sweeny Todd - meat pies and all. (I rooted out my copy of the book, I don't this off by heart)
These books are aimed at 8-12 year olds.

Admittedly kids couldn't google back when these books were published - but if you're worried that your children will go to the ends of the earth to circumvent parental locks on the internet in order to look up historical inappropriate stuff - better remove all their Horrible history books as there's tons of inspiration in them.

AccrualIntentions · 15/08/2017 15:51

How does the Horrible Histories approach the topic? You said he'd read about him in these books, (as will many of his classmates) which presumably have dealt with the topic in an age appropriate fashion? Could you take a lead from how the tale is told in those books?

AccrualIntentions · 15/08/2017 15:54

Cross post with the poster above.

The entire point of Horrible Histories is that children are often attracted to the macabre and horrible. Some of the "I would be appalled if my child heard about Jack the Ripper) responses here are a little oversensitive, and more an argument for why children of that age should have their access to google restricted or supervised than why the OP's son shouldn't do a project on the topic.