AIBU about school showing this movie

[TGISummer]

DD is in Y8. Yesterday she came home upset saying that her class had watched a horror movie...she can be a bit of a drama llama so asked her what the film was:

The Purge.

BBFC/UK - Rated 15 (strong language, bloody violence).

She's just turned 13. Came home and told my younger DD and DS various graphic details. I asked her why she didn't say anything...she did, the rest of the class said it was fine and she should shut up.

I phoned head of year and (politely) asked why would you do that??!! She seemed surprised and said will get Teacher to call and explain. Felt a bit fobbed off but thought ok, will see what he says. No phone call from Teacher.

DD came home today, they watched another film:

Paranormal activity. Another rating of 15.

Seriously??!!!

I know it's just end of term movie watching but what would you do?

I've had this previously, and complained, but got nowhere as actually the school is within their rights to show whatever classification of film they like, even if it's age inappropriate. Theyre not breaking the law, and don't need consent from parents iirc, which is ridiculous; not least because many teens wouldn't want to watch a horror movie, but would be too embarrassed to say so in front of their peers.

Echt - point 1 on that link relates to films shown for educational value. Not horror films shown at the end of term as a time filler. Rather different, & it appears that none of the criteria were met in any case.

Where are you? I find it hard to believe that this would happen in the UK. If it's true then obviously you need to speak to the school. Not sure I believe this happened.

Probably the reason why there is no outright ban on teachers showing age restricted content. This being due to there being some 'academic' merit or course relevant material in some films.

However, this needs to be properly assessed by a teacher and age restricted content 'should' only be academic in nature. In no way should it be used for entertainment....

I'm so surprised that this has happened as I am also a teacher ( very experienced) and schools are usually extremely strict on the films that can be watched and I've never in my experience known any school to allow movies that have a rating higher than the age of the pupils.

If this has happened then a complaint is definitely warranted

I would be seriously unimpressed if a school did that - particularly showing a second horror film that's too old for the class (and the class above and some of the class above that!) having had the inappropriateness of the first film brought to their attention.

Definitely agree with sending a strongly worded complaint to the head, copying in the head of year and the chair of the governors.

DS1 is also 13 - he got to watch a film in school over a few lessons this week - but turns out it was a german film in his german lesson, they've had 10=15 minutes a lesson and used it as the basis of the lesson for vocab, listening to spoken German, trying to translate it etc. Also turns out it is a black and white film - not sure which one - but can't see it being a recent block buster or one that the dc would normally rush to watch...

ds2 is in y5 and we had to sign a permission slip a few months back because they wanted to show them an extract from the Fantastic Beasts dvd, they were doing a topic about descriptive writing, and comparing written descriptions of the beasts to some of the beasts in the film, then trying to write their own descriptions of some of the beasts they saw in the film but hadn't read about, before finding out how they had been described in writing.

Both those scenarios are very different to what your dd experienced.

I would ask the school for the risk assessment they carried out for showing two 15 rated horror films to a class of 12 and 13 year olds (assuming they are y8, even if there aren't any 12 year olds left in the class, they ought to risk assess it as if there are a few), with particular interest on justifying a senseless horror film being shown (whereas if say there was a version of a shakespeare film that was a 15 rating, that tied into the play they were doing in school, I can see why they would at least be considering it). And also what provision was made for those that didn't want to see it - both those that were brave enough to speak up and say this and those that felt too intimidated by the rest of the class to speak up and say they didn't want to see it. Also what provision they were making for those children that were suffering nightmares as a result of it, and what instructions were given to the children about talking about the film to younger children (whether in school or at home to younger siblings or friends).

I would also ask them what their current protocols are regarding watching films in school, both during the year as part of their studies (eg of a shakespeare play, Boy in Striped PJs, MFL etc as already mentioned) and those shown at the end of term recreationally. Include selection of film, age rating vs age of students, appropriateness, etc etc.

This is definitely something they need to have a policy on and stick to it!

Your daughter's school is being unreasonable for making the kids sit through a pile of dull boring pointless shit like Paranormal Activity.

both those films would scare the hell out of me, if my year 9 DS came home saying he'd watched them I would be fuming.

What I would do is first speak to DD about telling younger siblings graphic details, she is old enough to know better.

Second, tell DD to walk out of the classroom if they show any more films like that and that if the teacher challenges her she is to tell them to call you. I can understand why she didn't but she needs to know you will back her if that is what she has to do.

Third, phone the school again, go above the head of year and tell them you have already called head of year, no call back from teacher and its happened again since your call.

Totally inappropriate. I am a teacher and would never do that - we watch '10 things I hate about you' which was a 12A and I write to parents asking them if it is ok )Year 8)

Even if the Purge was '12' or a PG classification , the content would be unacceptable ! Why can't 'adults' take responsibility and use common sense .

So how far can they take it? Could they show Silence of the Lambs to a bunch of 6 year olds? My 6 y/o DD won't even watch some Disney films as they're too scary, but I was at school with 2 kids that were obsessed with Silence of the Lambs, they were 6.

i remember watching such shite movies at school because they were so strict on age or content.even the right aged ones if it mentioned on the block some kind of "oh I say" kind of content some teachers would refuse us.

I hated the purge. I am an adult. There is no way they should have showed that to a 13 year old. I would persist. School should know to ensure age appropriate films.

I would be absolutely hopping mad. And I would be making sure that the school knew that.

Paranormal activity is shit and not v scary in my opinion.

The purge - not only quite scary as a horror, but has some deeply disturbing themes in terms of the underlying premise! If my dd had been shown this at 13 without my prior consent I'd have gone apeshit!

My personal assessment of the films aside, the fact is the certification shows that these films are NOT suitable for under 15's, therefore the school were out of order showing them.

I very much doubt you're the only parent that's complained which is probably why you've not had a response yet. The head is probably dealing with a right shitstorm caused by a teacher thoughtlessly and irresponsibly trying to be 'cool'.

I also suspect a fair few parents of children in this class will be dealing with nightmares and stressed children this evening.

My dd is 17, we have a love of horror movies in this house and a few 15 rated ones were shown when she was 14 BUT I knew the films AND my dd well and we had the option of turning off if too much for her. Dd has said herself she thinks the purge should be an 18 and to friends who are not regular horror viewers advised they not watch it.

YA definitely NOT being unreasonable.

Wow! That it was 2 separate teachers making essentially the same decision shows they're not being guided well by senior staff. Definitely contact governors too.

I'm a huge film fan generally, there are literally thousands of thought provoking, age appropriate films that could have been shown instead.

Echt - point 1 on that link relates to films shown for educational value. Not horror films shown at the end of term as a time filler. Rather different, & it appears that none of the criteria were met in any case

I see what you mean, as the BBFC is only concerned with classification and advice. Only the school can rule on entertainment/fillers, for instance at my school they are explicitly forbidden.

Now I think of it the Australian rules about films in schools, which come from the Attorney General, overrule the Au classification, which I don't think the DFE do. I've had a look and can only find DFE guidance on copyright. Maybe the DFE trusts teachers to be sensible, when plainly some aren't.

I show films as a teacher but am careful to keep within guidelines. So for example, a year 10 class wanted a 15 movie but I declined on the basis that some of them are not yet 15 and a parental complaint would cause me problems professionally. They get it when it’s explained to them, even though by far th majority are watching 15 films from year 7 (if not before). I would never show something like The Purge, regardless of age. Everyone has been showing the Greatest Showman all week in my school!

I would check what actually happened. I saw both my first 15 cert (Top Gun- year 7) and first 18 cert (Mississippi Burning-beginning of year 11) in school. Incidentally both in RE.

Top Gun I don't think the teacher knew. It was end of term and one of the boarders asked if we could watch this great film their sister (6th form) had got out for her year boarders to watch after school. I think they said it was a history programme. . They fast forwarded the first bit very quickly so he didn't see the certificate, he came over, saw a bit of fairly innocent pilot stuff and continued talking to the student who'd asked for help over something they were struggling with.

Mississippi Burning they did pick out scenes for discussion rather us watching it all. I think, looking back, when they were fast forwarding, they were going over the worst.
However I am very sensitive to films and I did really struggle. Even typing the name took me back nearly 30 years to certain scenes I found hard. (I rarely choose to watch anything above a PG now)
I can see why they showed it, as it brought discussion up and gave a very strong concept of the situation. I'm not even sure I regret having seen it. But it did effect me quite badly at the time.

For those saying teachers should not show films on the last day if it’s not educational value.
Have you tried controlling excited sugared up kids in mufti? Every lesson 30 more arrive all equally excited as not in uniform.

It is also a nice thing to do and helps build relationships with the teacher.
Sometimes it’s harder to get them to shut up watching something than actually giving them work.

However I agree it should be age appropriate. This week I have watched a Chernobyl documentary as it fits in with the Radioactivity unit. However in my form time party they wanted to watch grown ups but one was a 15 the other 12. They did argue of course. Mr So and so let us watch the conjuring. Hmm really?

We watched the 12 obviously. I would not put a horror on for y8.

I am waaaaay past the age recommendation for those films but I couldn’t watch them as I would have nightmares for weeks!

I hate horror films and I would be fuming if they allowed my children to watch them in school.

i’m sure your daughter was not the only one who didn’t like it but obviously it’s difficult for them at this age to put their hand up and say they are scared in front of all their peers.

Totally inappropriate and I would be taking it further.

For those saying teachers should not show films on the last day if it’s not educational value. Have you tried controlling excited sugared up kids in mufti?

If they can manage sit still for a horror movie they can manage to sit still for a film with some educational value.

Who is giving them all this sugar?

Who is giving them all this sugar?

Not necessarily anyone. 11-18 year-olds are perfectly capable of buying sweets and fizzy drinks and bringing them into school. Or sharing those brought in by other kids. Short of doing a bag search on entry and policing every child constantly including break time, there's not a lot you can do about that.

Also at the idea of a difficult class sitting still just as well for a history documentary as a blockbuster movie.

I showed a film last lesson yesterday - I kept it age-appropriate. Where there is a sound educational reason to show something with an advisory rating higher than the age of the children, I am not worried about making my own decision about the risks, but for 'last day sticking a film on', no.

I'm surprised your daughter hasn't seen these already tbh, but I didn't think schools were allowed to disregard the age rating.
I'd rather have watched thsee in year 8 than the rubbish we had to watch which was The Neverending Story and something about a mouse travelling to America to find his fortune.