Does Fortnite turn your kid into an arsehole too?

[SkaTastic]

Just banned DS12 off it for life and put the Xbox in the bottom of my wardrobe. He is generally a lovely kid but holy fuck does this game turn him into a monster. And no matter how many times I shout (yes I know) STOP SHOUTING he still continues to bellow at his mates about twatting Spooky Towers or whatever the fuck it is called.

Fucking hell fire.

Mine's just got in a huff about not being allowed another turn on Dance Mat Typing... kids having a huff about not being allowed more time doing something they like... whoda thought it?!

I'm fairly relaxed about technology in general - my kids have their own email accounts even now at infant age (uncle's the other side of the world and they like to email him and their grandparents)... they know I can also see their inboxes from my email login to keep them safe - but I'm setting the ground work now for everything online related early so that common sense online hopefully becomes the default position as they get older.

Yes, one of those parents - and teachers - who think that you shouldn't be encouraging children to play a game that is too old for them. And you are, even though they aren't actually playing it in school.

You wouldn't teach lessons about films with ratings that were too old for them, or theme a lesson around Facebook, because it would be inappropriate.

There are a myriad of ways to engage children that don't involve referring to games that they are too young to play.

They play it anyway, without my input. What utter tosh

Actually I had a very successful inspection lesson where we created Facebook profiles for Henry VIII's wives. Again, no issues from anyone. Pupils were fully engaged and learning, I had the highest results from the inspection.

There are a myriad of ways to engage children. I use a lot of them. Appealing to their interests is my favourite. I definitely won't stop what I do because of a random on an Internet forum. I seem to have done pretty well in my career so far

Actually I had a very successful inspection lesson where we created Facebook profiles for Henry VIII's wives. Again, no issues from anyone. Pupils were fully engaged and learning, I had the highest results from the inspection

Have you seen Horrible Histories? Henry VIII and the Pope use social media to discuss issues and then to break up with the Catholic church.

I have, I used it as part of the topic. Love Horrible Histories

I have no problem at all with age appropriate social media.I

I can't take anyone seriously who peppers their posts with boasts about their multiple awards and 'highest results in inspections'. You do know that Ofsted stopped grading lessons about five years ago, don't you? It's also utterly irrelevant to the discussion and makes you sound like a complete twonk.

It seems the thread title needs changing to include some teachers.

I'm not in an Ofsted area, actually.

Feenie, if you're calling me an arsehole and a twonk, are you sure you're not a pupil? You seem rather invested in my teaching methods when no one else is.

I couldn't give a fuck about your teaching methods or your awards - I just have the opinion that teachers should use age appropriate materials. I also know that your claim of getting the highest results is a)irrelevant and b)guff.

It's possible for others to have a different opinion and not be one of your pupils.

I’m also one of those parents and teachers who believes age limits are there for a reason and adhere to them at home and at school.

How odd. I did have the highest results.

All my materials are age appropriate, thank you.

The age limit thing is purely subjective. All kids are different and we should all be able to use our own common sense and exercise judgement on whether a child is allowed to play a certain game.
On the fortnite thing, the irony for me is that the kids whose parents are constantly putting these daft restrictions on place, hiding their xbox and other ridiculous things are actually the worse of the lot. It’s a game for goodness sake, people really do need to get a grip.

As a parent,fine. Not fine as a teacher to make that decision that you are far too important to take any notice of game classification boundaries.

Most schools will make sure they get parental permission for children to watch a PG film, let alone a 12. They can't arbitrarily decide to ignore the entire system - it's not their decision to make for parents.

Feenie - I'm not sure why you don't understand that the game is a 12. Dance moves are not a 12. Pictures of buildings with measurements next to them are not a 12. Character sheets are not a 12.

It's very odd that you're a teacher. Surely you know that finding new and exciting ways to engage children is beneficial to their attainment? Every single other person I've come across in my entire teaching career wants that for the children. Children like Fortnite at the moment, so I'll use it. Before that, it was fidget spinners, bottle flipping, Slime, Pokemon, Minecraft. Anything they like I'll bring into their lessons.

I sometimes tailor every single maths question to individual children. One child likes huskies - I'll give them a question about them. Same with Manchester United, Star Wars, whatever. I do what it takes to gain interest.

Are you suggesting I don't get parental permission before showing a PG film? That would be strange, seeing as you don't know me. I always get permission. As the children I'm teaching aren't actually playing a 12 rated game in my classroom, I don't need it plus my children's parents are bloody happy that the children are coming home every day excited about what they've learned because they're normal

That’s what I am talking about Feenie, parents. Teachers would be mad to ignore guidelines for a whole host of reasons.
The broader issue here is one of parenting. If a parent has reached the stage where the only way they can deal with an issue is by blanket bans, confiscating things and what-not - rather than having a sensible conversation with their child - then something has clearly gone very wrong and they need to take a long hard look in the mirror.

I'm not sure why you don't understand that by using elements of the game your children are not old enough to play, you are therefore encouraging them to play it. It's a connection that you don't seem able to make.

Your argument that, because I hold this opinion, I must not therefore engage the children, or that I'm not normal, is pretty immature and certainly does not hold water. It's no better than your previous arguments where you say that you have won many awards and are so amazing that you don't need to take any notice of the classification system, or the one where you say they'll play it anyway.

Actually, I very much enjoy thinking of ways to engage my Y6s in plenty of ways but manage to do so without basing my lessons on aspects of games that a whole age classification system has deemed that they should not be playing. It's really not that difficult.

Teachers would be mad to ignore guidelines for a whole host of reasons.

Indeed.

If the parents are happy, management are happy and the children are learning, no one is complaining and everything is wonderful, I'm sure I'll be OK

I'm really curious as to whether you've actually played Fortnite though. What do you deem so unsuitable? You surely understand that the 12 certification is for the online chat capabilities? It's not as violent as slaughtering animals on Minecraft is and our school bought Minecraft Edu years ago.

I have spent more time than I care to remember watching my 12 yr old ds play.

Again, the reason for the 12 rating is not the issue here. It's not as if you can write to all the parents and say that you're going to be using elements of the game in your lessons but it'll be fine as long as every household ignores the age rating and turns off the chat facility.

I thought you'd eventually question me regarding the reasons for classification. You don't get it - it's not my decision, it's one made for us. If you have a problem with that, then you need to either speak to the board that classifies the games of the powers that be who deem such a system to be necessary. As a parent, you can make that call for your own child. But as a teacher, you don't get to ignore the whole thing for any of the tedious reasons you've mentioned.

It's not as if you can write to all the parents and say that you're going to be using elements of the game in your lessons but it'll be fine as long as every household ignores the age rating and turns off the chat facility

Actually, done that. Parents are aware of my resources, we've discussed Fortnite as a class and at a parent/teacher meeting regarding gaming and online safety. All are happy.

Again, I'll continue to do things in my own way. The way that gets me results and ensures happy children that love learning. If attainment and enjoyment are tedious things to you, you're in the wrong job.

Actually, it seems that the chat facility cannot be fully disabled anyway - this is an article about warnings given regarding Fortnite by the NSPCC.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-43988210

It advised parents to turn off the voice chat system in the game to ensure children avoided inappropriate contact.

But the charity warned that the text messaging system in the game could not be disabled.

Internet safety is a major part of the curriculum now.

Actually, it can be fully disabled.

Do you know much about consoles?

No one that isn't on my DS's friend list can either voice message him or send him text based messages, nor can he hear them in any kind of party chat.

If you read the recent social media comments on that NSPCC article, you will see many people who can operate a console saying the same thing.

If attainment and enjoyment are tedious things to you, you're in the wrong job.

What a ludicrous conclusion to draw - particularly when I emphasised how much I enjoy that particular part of my job but manage to do it perfectly well inside the parameters that exist internationally.

You crack on doing things 'your own way' - you've emphasised repeatedly that that's much more important to you than pesky things like age classification system that you're far too amazing to have to take any notice of anyway.

I'm SO glad I'm not one of your pupils. You sound very boring.

Again, that's a decision you are perfectly entitled to make for your son, and your console. You don't get to make it for the parents of the children you teach.