To think this is stupid in an English lesson in year 7?

[justmeandmeandonlyme]

My daughter who is 11 years old in year 7 has told me she has been watching hunger games in her English lesson. She said she was nearly crying because of the people dying in it ( I have watched the full series Of hunger games Myself) and she thought it was real.. she is only 11 bad doesn’t watch things like that at home. But am I being unreasonable to think this is not even remotely educational in an english lesson??? I just don’t see how watching a film like that is going to teach kids anything apart from how to sit and cry at a film?

I don't think it's appropriate for every single child in that class, perhaps some of the more mature/older ones, and some of the ones used to watching more grown-up movies already, but at this age, they are still watching (my dd's age) Disney stuff as well as more gritty stuff and I don't think shifting wholescale to depictions of children killing children is appropriate.

The Hunger Games has a premise deeply disturbing to that age group, I've watched it with my 11 year old (and my older one when she was around that age) but only with me next to her, and discussing the themes. In a class, surrounded by other children, no I don't think it's ok.

Macbeth is not terrifying in the same way whatsoever, and there's a deal of difference between age 11 suitability and GCSE which is 13 upwards.

My daughter loves the Hunger Games, she read the books and watched the films when she was 10, yes they do kill each other but it's hardly a realistic story, surely a 11/12 year old knows the difference between reality and fiction? If it's rated as a 12a I dot think there's much you can do.

I can remember watching films about the holocaust in year 7.

I'd be more concerned that you're 11y/o can't differentiate between reality and a fiction film

I actually don't think this is a twattish comment. An 11 year old doesn't have to have "watched violent films all her life" to know the difference between real life and fiction. Your daughter's reaction was unusual.

Anyway I agree about calling and asking about the lesson plan. If watching the film is justified, then all is good, if not then your call will at least alert the teacher/head of year/somebody about the situation.

Ds said he liked the books because it was the first time he liked a character enough to cry when she died. Nothing wrong with that imo.

She’s not heard of the hunger games or anything like that.

Oh dear OP I think you are living in cloud cuckoo land!

I'd give a guess that they watched it as part of a lesson on dystopian fiction and will also talk about 1984 (which imho is far more disturbing) and Fatherland or such like (just random examples).

I read 1984 at that age ... it’s a YA film so age 11-21 aimed. If she’s a sensitive kid tell the teacher but it’s just a movie.

I think if you are going to critique an English lesson perhaps your SPaG should be spot on?

Pedants' Corner ------>

You're welcome!

It might be considered that it's a bit concerning that she can't distinguish between what is clearly a fictional country, and delivered as a film - not even a documentary style one.

For what it's worth, I think they've pitched it pretty young - I'd have thought 13-14 might be more appropriate for the violence, and all the other themes of the book. However - and apologies if I've misinterpreted this - it seems you have shielded her from a lot if not most/all representations of violence at home. That is part of what has made her reaction what it was, and if you keep on like that at home, then how long do expect the school to keep matching your level of protectiveness?

You should get the reading list for the year and prepare your DD for it.

Your DD is most certainly being dramatic saying she thought it was real - there is no chance the teacher just banged on the clip with no word of explanation or introduction. In the unlikely circumstance this happened, other children would have put their hands up and said 'what's This'

Either your DD is enjoying the fact that you are making a fuss, or she was completely day dreaming.

And why is it concerning that she ‘thought’ it was real... she ‘thought’ it was real but soon realised it wasn’t.

What did you mean she thought it was real, then?

She thought they actually killed those people? She thought it was a documentary?

Odd.

DS loved The Hunger Games and all the Dystopian literature he'd studied in years 7 and into year 8, though he didn't watch the films until he was 12-13. Dystopian stuff totally distressed me as a kid and I clearly remember being 11 years old and sobbing for days after watching that nuclear holocaust episode of the Twilight Zone. I was petrified of nuclear war.

Different strokes for different folks.
11 is very young. I just spent two weeks with my just-turned-11 niece and couldn't imagine her enjoying the Hunger Games right now... but give her a year and she might.

Some kids are still just kids at 11. I still played with Barbies at 11! I was just more innocent. But by 12, I was all over Freddy Kruger films like stink on sh*t. I changed within a year from being terrified to lapping up celluloid fear and gore.

Maybe this year's exposure to excellent dystopian literature will encourage your DD to enjoy the subject matter more as she realises it's just fiction... a damn good story.

Has she never watched Bambi? The Lion King?
Even Frozen?

Dystopian fiction is a very popular genre and there are schemes of work for that as well as other novels. It’s not gory, it is violent in places but I think it tells a good story.

I’ve shown in to year 8 and they loved it.

My 13 year old (year 8) read the book and watched the film at the beginning of year 7 and loved both. She was far more upset by reading the Diary of Anne Frank. As she should be. She's now watched the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and became very emotional. Again, as she should be. It's based on something absolutely terrible and unimaginable to her but an important part of history. She wasn't upset watching or reading the Hunger Games as it's neither a documentary or based on truth. It's just a good well told story, albeit with strong themes. If she thought it was real then you really do need to be having a little chat with her.

Did they really watch the entire film in the English lesson? I'm surprised they had time to both watch and discuss it. Was it actually just a few relevant clips?

I'm also surprised your daughter thought it was real life. Even if she'd never heard of Hunger Games I'm a bit that she'd think a school would show real life murders as part of an English lesson.

I too would be concerned at the level of immaturity this suggests. What does she read/watch?

TomatoSoup - really? OP's posts has nothing to do with grammar, but with the suitability of a text. Don't be a tit.

Here kids do dystopian fiction in Year 8. Hunger Games upset me far more than it did my 10yo dd when she read it. Talk to her about the world building in the story, about the characters (what strengths and weaknesses do they have?), does she think this could ever happen for real?

Also ensure she knows the diference between reality and fiction. She must have heard of the Hunger Games books and films?

Having said that, I can imagine kids being upset watcjhing HG in a class situation - lots of people watching means heightened emotions and if one kid gets upset, they all will. It's also harder emotionally watching something than it is reading it. You can't unsee something. (What certificate is the film?)

But I'm sure the teacher introduced the book and talked about it and the genre before putting on the film??

It's OK to be immature. Not everyone is the same, and some children are not ready to deal with the feelings that this kind of drama brings up (tv series being very much more immediate than a book, which you can take breaks from if it gets too much).

I'm a grown up, I've never watched a horror film in my life because I find them too overwhelming. And I'm very happy with that.

My daughter loves the Hunger Games, she read the books and watched the films when she was 10, yes they do kill each other but it's hardly a realistic story

But that's the problem - I disagree. I think it COULD be realistic. I can imagine it happening. That's why it's so terrifying.

Some dc are more sensitive than others as well. Nothing to do with matiruty.

DS1 was upset by the boy in the striped pyjamas in Year 7 and so I shall be preparing DS2 for it. When they finished the book and watched the movie we had to sign a consent form. Although I didn't because DS1 self monitored and didn't bring the form home. He said he didn't feel the need to watch something like that when he'd already read and been disturbed by the book.

I didn't let him watch the Hunger Games until after reading the books (although actually the books are more disturbing than the movie). DS2 would definitely not be ready for it atm (aged 10 and in year 6) and would struggle with it in year 7 I suspect, particularly early on in Year 7.

Oh and there is no legal difference between 12 and 12A. One is the cinema classification and one is the dvd classification. Both mean "not generally suitable for anyone under the age of 12"

And not every teen/preteen will like dystopian fiction. It's a huge genre in books (especially YA) at the moment, but it certainly isn't for everyone.

Why do you think it's "stupid" OP?

That's an odd choice of word.

DD read/watched THG last year, so was 12. I know diddly squat about it other than it's what kids that age read/watch/like. She also has The Maze Runner and Divergent and whatever all those other things are.

But if dystopian literature is on the syllabus, then what is "stupid" about choosing THG? A book/film that most of the kids will have at least heard of, will get them into the genre far easier than chucking Aldous Huxley at them will.

It's OK to be immature. Not everyone is the same, and some children are not ready to deal with the feelings that this kind of drama brings up

There's a difference between being upset by a film, and believing that a film is real life.

I'd read 1984/Brave New World/ Lord of the Flies/ Stephen King/ Dracula etc etc by the time I was 10!
Pretty sure I'm fine.

If they are looking at dystopian fiction Hunger Games is way down the scale of scariness, so she will come into contact with worse.

She's 11, I am concerned she can't tell the difference between a fil and reality.

I'm also a bit that she's never come across violence, or anyone dying in fiction/TV/Film.
Never watched a Disney film?
Never seen Jurassic Park or similar?
Never watched the news??

It's not healthy to get to secondry school and not ever have been exposed to anything remotely troubling.

Dd3 watched this last week also yr 7

It was clips not the whole film and it was to illustrate how to write an exciting story she said

She doesn't particularly like scary things but wasn't in the least bothered