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 😊

Not all Disney films are bad OP. Children can watch Disney films - but I'd steer them away from the dodgy ones. Or at least tell them that going around singing "We are Siamese if you please" is not acceptable in this day and age.

How very dare the teacher teach no sorry "push" the view that racism and misogyny is wrong.

I think this is a good idea, it's asking the children to think for themselves and spot aspects that are racist or sexist. The world would be a better place if everyone did this exercise.

We are Siamese if you please

Haven’t seen this for years but aren’t they just Siamese cats? Is it racist?

We do watch Disney films in spite of me feeling this was about them. Usually the animal ones or monster ones. Petes Dragon, mary poppins, Alice in wonderland, Pixar etc.

When they do want to watch a misogynist or racist one, we talk about it and why it’s wrong. Dumbo the original is shocking.

YourOpinionsNoted equality is a basic human right not an explicit political framing. By the way how do you cope with teaching Animal Farm?!

It’s a good task, encouraging critical thinking. Maybe you could do it together.

churchandstate they play the piano with chopsticks

I think it's great to encourage critical thinking. A really useful skill to develop. Your son doesn't necessarily have to agree with the teacher's view to actually engage in the exercise.

He might even reasonably conclude - assuming that he has the arguments and evidence to back up what he says - that the film he has chosen is neither racist nor sexist. But of course once he starts looking at things from a different angle, he may suddenly discover a whole new perspective.

I think that's an excellent thing to learn.

@churchandstate Siamese cats with bad eastern Asian accents and... well these eyes:

Find one without any sexist or racist elements and write about that. He’ll be looking for a while. I think it’s a really interesting exercise in critical thinking.

Disney won't even put Song Of The South on Disney + because of how racist it is

I find it quite cringe the way people fetishise Disney and define themselves and their family by it

"In this house we do Disney"

It's a fucking massive conglomerate that exists to make profits and that is all. It isn't a lifestyle or a religion.

You may as well say "We are a Coca Cola Family, or we are an Adidas family"

Equally meaningless

The little mermaid. Horrendous. NEVER give your voice up for a man.

AllStarBySmashMouth

I’ve genuinely never noticed that they have accents! I’ll take your word for it.

It’s an absolute fact that some of the films are racist and sexist. Even Disney knows it which is why they’ve added the following disclaimer for certain films including Dumbo on Disney + “This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.” The Song of the South hasn’t been added at all, for obvious reasons.

@Oxfordcat

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 ...

churchandstate they play the piano with chopsticks

That's actually the Aristocats - which is even worse. He comes out with some terrible poem about egg foo yung then pulls a face.

I always thought that Snow White was fairly liberated. Where else do you have a woman living with 7 chaps! Not sure about the Prince kissing her whilst she was unconscious and unable to consent though.

I'm unsure of how it's been framed by the teacher. That's all. Has it been a blunt "these are all racist and sexist and terrible and everyone who likes them is a horrific bigot now write a socially acceptable version with what I'm telling you is socially acceptable" without any actual breaking down of the content and the context? That's what I'd be worried about.

I love teaching animal farm by the way. I teach it explicitly as a political text. The author had a specific political view, they wrote the text to express it, let's look at how they did it. Same with An Inspector Calls. I want them to think critically, not parrot.

churchandstate they play the piano with chopsticks confused

Do they? Haven’t seen it in that many years that I don’t remember that. Again, will have to take your word.

They are racist and sexist. That is factual. I'd be more concerned that an 11 year old thinks real life is like a Disney film.

AllStarBySmashMouth

Erm... that’s not okay. Totally agree - just didn’t remember!

Cinderella - waits around for a man to rescue her.

How come every villain has an English accent?

Oh and in answer to your question

Do you really want to write to your child's teacher to tell her off for "spoiling Disney" through, you know, stating facts

Are you trying to win Precious Parent 2019 ?

Social justice warrior bullshit.

Tell him to do Moana and talk about all of the amazing ways they captured pacific cultures. I live in the Pacific, I am a Pacific person, we love Moana.