My 11 year child has been asked to re write a Disney story of his choice but without the sexist/racist aspects. AIBU to write back..

[SecretsInSpitalfield]

That I will not have the teacher pushing her views on my child?

As far as he (and his younger DB) Disney has always been a POSITIVE thing! Fun films , cinema days and even a dream once in a lifetime trip to World Disney World.

I wouldn't have minded if they said 'do you think any Disney films are racist or sexist? If so, please elaborate why. But this has been set as if it's FACTUAL that they are and my child is just 11.

Please give me your honest opinions

Thank you 😊

Get used to it, you carnt complain about every piece of work you disagree with in high school. My son has had several pieces in year 7 so far which go against my views but to have a balanced education he needs to learn them and complete them you are going to gave a very difficult time at high school next year if you take offense to this.

Just to add to above my son is also 11 but in year 7 so the same age as your child bar a few months. There is a huge shift in the work and he will be asked more difficult questions like the one you describe but without the Disney reference. He will be expected to do the work theres no get out excuses in high school. Get him used to it now otherwise he will get a huge shock next year when mummy carnt make excuses anymore.

I love many old movies, despite the endless smoking. I don't have to either a) deny that smoking is unhealthy or b) deny there's a lot of smoking to enjoy watching them.

He could have a field day with Song of the South. Could be quite fun!

What a funny thing to say? OF COURSE they need to learn about sexism and racism (amongst SO many other unjust topics) BUT to go after Disney (and I'm sure they are talking about 70-80 year old films!

Surely there are hundreds of other (and better) examples? We only have to look online or in the newspapers or on the news of another child being driven to take their lives or domestic violence.. just look at people in 'power' nowadays and all the unsavoury stories on a daily basis..

But let's pick on Disney ...

I don’t think you get the point of this exercise.

Disney films are familiar to most children. They’re age appropriate and iconic.

This exercise encourages them to start questioning what they see and what they know, and identifying things that are problematic, despite the overall films themselves being enjoyable. This is a nuanced issue. It’s not good or bad. This is a good age to have these discussion. It doesn’t mean your child should never watch Disney films again.

And I think there’d be bigger concerns if they were teaching 11 year olds about violent crimes, don’t you?

Hate to break it to you but Roald Dahl isn't who everyone thinks he is either.

Oh gosh he was a strange dark man

Always interesting to discuss sexism and racism in films.

The original Jurassic Park vs the new Jurassic World is a fascinating study.

Actually so our the original cartoon vs live action movies. In the original Aladdin Aladdin married Jasmine and became the Sultan in the live action is very much about Jasmine becoming Sultan and Aladdin supporting her to get it
Emma Watson very much pushed for Belle to be more well rounded and adding in the teaching children to read songs
nala in lion king has a bigger role and how they handle scar is shown

It’s easy to do because there are so many movies and one many remakes you can compare attitudes

What a brilliant homework. Well before it was re written.

I think its a good way to raise discussions with your kids.

Fyi this is why I hated "old movies" as a kid. Too much damsel in distress bull shit and too much dewy eyed devotion following the man around.

A discussion like this with my parents as opposed to "it's just a movie" might have meant I didnt think there was something wrong with me for noticing this shit.

I think kids need to see this stuff and learn from.it

Presumably this would mean removing the immortal line from the younger boy "What's that got to do with my knob?" from the renamed "Circular Bedpost Topper and Broomsticks.

That one surely has to be one of the least sexist films they ever made. Strong independent woman saves the country from an invasion with almost minimal help from a weak man.

Oh sod it, it's got Nazis in it and has an old man referring to them as Jerries and the Hun.

Oh sod it, it's got Nazis in it and has an old man referring to them as Jerries and the Hun.

if that's the only thing you have to explain as not being appropriate these days you're laughing, i think.
And now i definitely want to watch B&B because it's bloody fantastic. That football game!

I agree disney is a good example for introducing children to this type of critical thinking. It may really spark something in a lot of them and a lot of disney films are products of their time. The whole classes is probably familiar with disney * so it's a good example. Also kids find disney fun and interesting, as compared to if they were asked to do the same with another name.
*I wouldn't have had a clue at that age, about Disney but i was very sheltered!

It is a very good thing that an 11 year old should critique films, which were based on fables, in the light of todays society values. It doesnt diminish the films in the way of entertainment, but it is healthy to make an appraisal of the messages these fables gave and the society in which they evolved

I’ve never seen song of the south. What’s so bad about it?

Google it. Disney themselves have spoken about what's bad about it.

When Disney himself released it back in 1946 that it could be a problem. When it premiered, the main character couldn't attend because of segregation, he also played a voice for one of the crows in Dumbo and never received credit. Surely back then, Disney could have influenced where the film was premiered. But moving on.

Back then, everyone knew that the main character could face a hell of lot of backlash for the role. Disneys press people let Disney know exactly how releasing it could down.

They lost money back then. And even though it has been suggested it get re-released by the Black community so that people can talk about it - where it came from - why etc. But Disney won't because they are aware of the financial hit and backlash. They make a token comment about how racist it is, but fuck that it's all about the $$$$

I don’t think anyone is getting through to OP. She somehow seems unable to comprehend that you can view and even enjoy something yet be aware/discuss and learn from the racist/sexist content. I don’t see what’s so hard to understand?!? The assignment is great. I might do something similar in my school.

(Btw for those ‘knowing’ that the supporting link was by a Christian...I’m a Christian. Please don’t fall into stereotyping/bashing us)

the actor who played Uncle Remus is so sad - he was 40 when he made it yet looks 20/30 years older and died soon after

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7687661/Christian-Navarro-slams-Disney-casting-Jonah-Hauer-King-Prince-Eric-Little-Mermaid.html

is quite topical!

YABU OP. Thank goodness there are teachers picking up the slack and attempting to develop children's critical thinking re: racism and sexism. Disney is an absolute minefield for both, that is factual. The fact it's wrapped in a song and a cartoon doesn't excuse it- it has presumably been chosen because it is easily comprehensible source material, and is an excellent choice in that respect.

Racism and sexism in disney/the media are not simply this teachers 'views' they are a huge issue and frankly I'd be bloody pleased a teacher had enough about them to educate my child, enable them to notice how insidious these things are and develop critical thought around it. It is important that they learn their own methods of appraising what is wrong and right. I loved disney as a child as did most of us, am fond of it still but couldn't sit through most of it now as it's uncomfortably sexist and offensive in it's core messages and visuals. That is fine, I haven't been robbed of magic I've developed sense and moral acuity which is valuable in the real world in a way 'believing the magic' isn't. There's plenty of magic and joy in other things

If pointing out racism is "pushing views on children", what about the children in the class who are black or brown? Isn't showing racist content without comment pushing views onto them? The views that they are less important, that there is something inherently funny or less heroic or subservient about them because of their skin colour? As well as pushing those views onto their white mates, the people they are going to have to live with.

couldn't get too worked up about it. Of course, if you want to address racism and sexism, there's a lot of much more relevant and more important material. Disney is just mainstream, tame, and accessible to most of 11yo's.

Op is being ridiculous. Completely black and white polarised view points, as evidenced by her long copy and paste job stating that Disney has benefits and therefore MUST BE ALL GOOD. She absolutely can't see that a child can a) enjoy a movie whilst simultaneousy b) being aware of structural racism and sexism embedded in popular culture.

Basically she wants her DS to grow up being a black and white thinker just like her.

If sexism and racism shouldn't be talked about at a young age, to keep their childhoods.

Then what about sex? Personal space? Boundaries etc.

Do you wake up on the morning of their 16th and give them the sex talk? After all, we should hang onto those child years for as long as possible.

I'm not just asking op, I'm asking all of you that have an issue with children learning about racism and sexism.

The would have learned about sex in primary, if parents hadn't already had the chat, you know as parents should. But oohhh no, they need protecting from everyday stuff that invades every single moment in their lives. Why?

He's 11. Let him do his homework and don't get involved.
Also....Try not to be so easily offended! Getting in a froth because of a made up trope about Muslims objecting to nativity plays is stupid - if you did a little more critical thinking yourself you would soon find out that this is a load of rubbish, but for some reason you'd rather take offence at a lie you read on the Internet.

If parents, who's job it is, don't want to teach their children because of holding onto childhood, embarrassment, don't know what to say etc (viable excuses maybe 20 years ago, now? 🤣 )

And teachers aren't supposed to teach views facts because they're too young.

Then how do they learn?
Just let them carry on, plodding through life thinking this is the norm?
Or get them thinking?
How can they as a person make changes?

Lots of other areas where people would be looking at the positive aspects of this type of education. Critical thinking. I've never seen any negativity in it. Helps to see things in different perspectives, can help with empathy etc.

Since when has that been wrong?
Or come with a lower age limit?

Its homework FFS. Do you agree with all your employers decisions? Orobably not but you still work there. Seriously just get over it. Use your energy for something thats actually important.

Oh I missed the Muslim objecting to the play.
Not where I live they don't.
Happy as fuck if one of their dc's gets the main role, just like any parent.
Just because someone doesn't celebrate something doesn't mean they won't join in.

And why does this bullshit always mention the school play ffs?

Children have lots of celebrations in school. It's a good thing to learn about different religions. Again, shame parents don't really want to get involved teaching these things, regardless of religion, culture or race.