AIBU to be annoyed with school?

[Carlymah]

My Autistic son attends a mainstream high school, he's 13 with the mind of a naive pre-teen. For this reason, we monitor closely the content of the apps he accesses, the films he watches and he's also not allowed to walk to/from school because of his vulnerability.

He has just informed me that in his drama class, they've watched a film and he can't get the visions out of his head. The film was a 1991 title "Let him have it" - a crime/drama with an age of 15 on it. It shows in detail (apparently - I've not watched it myself) a man being hung.

This isn't something I'd allow him to watch at home, because of the age on it but also because of the detailed images of someone dying/being killed! The children in his class are all 13/14, would this be something you'd be happy for your child to watch at that age, without your knowledge or consent??

AIBU to be annoyed at school?

Are the school aware of what he is allowed and not allowed to watch at all? Have you ever had the discussion with them?

I've never seen the film myself but it does sound graphic. I'm not entirely sure I'd be happy my DD seeing that but at 13/14 I think she'd be mature enough to see it. However I think the fact that your DS is autisic makes a big difference.

It is based on the true story of Derek Bentley. The version schools use is not graphic at all.

See link : www.filmeducation.org/pdf/film/LetHimHaveIt.pdf

Yes the school will either use an edited version or just pick out key scenes that aren't graphic to show. Although not really sure why of all the possible content and topics they are showing that to Year 9s.

Is this the film where there was conjecture about whether the person said "let him have it" as in kill him or "let him have it" as in give whatever it is to him?

I would actually consider this educational to some extent if debating society and the law. You can't expect an entire class lessons to work around your single child, sorry.

It’s about the very controversial case of Derek Bentley, who was convicted of murder by joint enterprise and executed. Presumably they are studying the ethics of the death penalty.

The school don’t have to get your consent to show a 15 if it’s for educational purposes. Are they aware of your specific expectations around content? You are going to notice a shift in the curriculum towards increasingly adult themes from now on and it sounds like you need to discuss this with school.

I’d be fine with my year 9 watching this yes.

It's a really important thing to learn about. I remember covering it in history class in the mid 80s (the case not the film), but what happened was memorable. A young man with learning disabilities was hung. It really happened. I think in a mainstream school he is going to come across stuff like this and probably should.

I watched this film in school at about the same age. Obviously it wasn't appropriate for your son but it is clearly a popular choice in schools for teaching about ethics and the death penalty. Maybe your school should have been more aware about individual needs.

I would be very upset it is a 15 for a reason and the school should not have shown it to anyone under 15 end of

Oh well if it’s ‘end of’ then that ends the discussion 🤦🏼‍♀️

I dont think the school is wrong for showing the film.

But you could request he sits out of anything likely to cause distress in future, or at least run it by you first, and they should listen to your request.

Doesn't matter whether school knows he isn't allowed certain things . The class is 13 year olds and they showed a 15 film. I would be making my feelings very plain to them.

Did they show the whole film or edited parts of it? this is a very important case and is used by many schools as a case study when looking at the death penalty debate.

They shouldn't be showing 15 rated films to children who aren't 15 yet. That seems a legitimate cause for concern.

I don't think they are showing it to learn about ethics in a drama class??

OP If we ever watched a higher rated film at school we used to have to get a signed consent form done first

I think you need to ring the SENCo to have a chat. My son is autistic and we were told to think of him as 2/3 of his actual age in development terms - this is a common autism thing. (not academic terms). Im not surprised a pre-teen found someone with a learning disability being hung traumatic. But i dont think its wrong of the school to teach this but it may be time to adapt the curriculumn a bit for him.

On a more important note I hope your DS is ok and is able to put it out of his mind soon

It completely depends on the film. Some classifications are very dated. The DVD copy of ‘Ferris Bueller’ I have is a 15 because it has the word ‘dickhead’ in it. I’ve taught it as a media text to 12/13 year olds. On the other hand, ‘Dallas Buyer’s Club’ is also a 15. My class really wanted to study it. I bought it, watched it first and there was no way I could have shown it to them. They were 13/14.

At your DS’s age he will be learning about the Holocaust, WW1/2, the Civil Rights Movement, North Korea etc. All of these topics have upsetting content. Often in class YouTube clips are shown (they don’t have age classifications). How do you think he’ll cope with that? Maybe now is the time to have a chat with the school and your son about it.

I remember the case clearly as it was fairly local to me.

I haven’t seen it. But it is important to note that it is legal for schools and teachers to use their professional judgement for educational purposes. Some double cover themselves with permission slips but they don’t actually have to.

I'm sorry your son was upset, it is an upsetting case. As PP have said, in schools they often use edited versions of films with higher age restrictions with the most graphic parts removed to make them age appropriate. So while the original film would be a 15, the edited version isn't. I assume that's what's happened here but perhaps you could clarify with the school? I do think it's worth having a discussion with them about content as a lot of the topics he will cover going forward will have potentially upsetting themes.

The school will have access to details of which scenes are rated 15 and no school I've worked in would show those scenes to younger children though they may watch other parts of the same film

However it doesn't seem like they've accommodated his disability and I would broach it with them from that perspective and ask for specific adaptions in future- like discussing potentially upsetting material with you in advance so changes can be made if necessary.

I taught this once to a Y8 class, but didn't show the last five minutes, which is the hanging scene. It's too realistic.