DD being asked to design a torture method for homework??

[milkysmum]

DD has been set her history homework for this week. She has to design a ' new Tudor Torture device'. Draw it, label it etc and explain why it would be more effective than previous know torture devices! AIBU that this is a bit unnecessary? They are year 8. Do they really need to be encouraged to think of new ways to torture people!?

@Afterallsbeensaidanddone

For once I hope the DM picks up this thread. There needs to be a wider discussion about how we bring up children to be moral, kind human beings in a world where human trafficking, violence and rape abound. Encouraging and validating how to theoretically torture in a new, creative way seems like poor safeguarding of our children and the adults they'll become.

This x 10,000

Hell no.

Excellent. Maybe they can select the best method and flog it to Saudi Arabia. This sounds like an inappropriate idea. Who will decide what a good or otherwise method of torture is? And why? I would definitely want a word or two with teacher before any of my chidren were permitted to engage in something so dubious.

@SolasAnla

A more efficient or effective way to beat, burn, break bones, pull joints apart, cut off body parts, rape, starve, strangle, disembowel.

Seriously; cant see any problem. Much more useful than learning dates nobody ever need to use in real life.

History is not really about dates, it's generally about human beings fighting and being vile to each other, and learning how to prevent those things and dismiss them out of hand as vile without asking why fgs.

What's the teacher going to do with these sick torture devices the poor kids come up with? Mark them out of 10 for effectiveness? Getting children to focus their creativity on how to hurt people is sick and twisted. Especially as a pp said: torture still happens today. Really shocking. I'd want that teacher sacked tbh.

@tkwal

How about encouraging her to design a non lethal , non harmful (in the longer term) method of torture ? Like...putting someone's feet in stocks and tickling them with a feather or designing a machine that would scrape nails down a blackboard ?. (I would spill the beans at the first touch of the feather) Fwiw I remember reading about torture devices from various ages in primary school. I know the thought of torture isn't pleasant but it was a reality in most of Europe for centuries and still is in certain parts of the world. Please don't encourage youngsters to be snowflakes

Waterboarding, sleep deprivation

Why cant nobody thing of a new variation....

I hope she doesn't also do wood-work at school as if so she may have to construct her design...

But do we torture now? No we do not. Therefore not appropriate

Lol, are you disavowing all knowledge of MI6 and CIA run black sites where prisoner torture has been proven to occur? We definitely use torture although it’s more modern like water boarding, sleep deprivation, constant blaring music, beatings, electric shocks, etc.

I'd be inclined to passive aggression in this task. I'd be encouraging my DD to design a peace machine or a mediation bot or something, with an accompanying statement about abhorrent past and present forms of torture used across the world. That the world's most brilliant brains must be united in the humanitarian quest for peace. Its a bit wanky I know but it makes a point to the teacher whilst still allowing your DD to do the homework. What a bloody stupid task. What was the teacher thinking?!

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

I hope she doesn't also do wood-work at school as if so she may have to construct her design...

Non sequitur of the day.

No, it's not appropriate. I'd argue that learning about torture is necessary- it's still something that people face today, and it's a part of our history. Understanding what 'justice' looks like in a world without respect for human rights helps children (at the right age) understand why human rights are important.

This exercise is inappropriate because it encourages children to trivialise torture- quite aside from the fact that people are tortured today, real people went through these ordeals. Just because the Tudors are long dead doesn't warrant dehumanising them. In fact, I'd say the point of this task was to make the topic of torture entertaining, which I think is really repulsive. I also can't see any valuable learning outcome from the task apart from perhaps exercising creativity, and this is not the topic for it.

My DS, if set this task, would go down the grimmest rabbit hole of research and dark imagination you can imagine, and there'd be no 'lighthearted horrible histories' about it! The teacher will arrive at deep regret with or without a complaint to the school I think 😂

There seems to be a modern obsession with torture doesn't there? Virtually every drama I watch (OK, maybe not all) seems to include torture scenes. I can't stand them and switch off.

I can see that the teacher is trying to make history engaging but as a historian I can think of dozens of better ways than this.

@milkysmum

DD has been set her history homework for this week. She has to design a ' new Tudor Torture device'. Draw it, label it etc and explain why it would be more effective than previous know torture devices! AIBU that this is a bit unnecessary? They are year 8. Do they really need to be encouraged to think of new ways to torture people!?

I agree designing a new torture device is not appropriate unless it’s being designed to be more humane. Personally, if I were assigned that I’d be saying a jar of leeches because they’re a bit horrifying but harmless really. And if the prisoner has been beaten they are a good remedy for curing bruises quickly....used by doctors as a medical remedy. In fact the new Tudor torture device could be send in a Tudor doctor! As all the treatments the doctors had- blood letting, blistering, cupping, laxatives would all be considered torture today.

I would offer many babies crying in rounds; updated version, one baby on loop through amps turned up to 11. Can't say it wouldn't be torture.

BonesJones has the right idea. Or they could draw a picture of whole class tied to their chairs with the door locked and being forced to listen to their weirdo history teacher.

@Quincunx
Reread, this :

I may have been a little subtle with my attempt at sarcasm.

I have never need to know when Anne Boleyn etc. was born, married or was executed.

Critiquing the tutor forms of torture, fine.
Researching which countries/communities/governments still use torture, fine.
Debating whether torture is an acceptable measure to be used in varying circumstances, fine.

Cresting your own new form of torture of humans? Fucking insane.

@Jux

I would offer many babies crying in rounds; updated version, one baby on loop through amps turned up to 11. Can't say it wouldn't be torture.

SAS been there done that.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Critiquing the tutor forms of torture, fine. Researching which countries/communities/governments still use torture, fine. Debating whether torture is an acceptable measure to be used in varying circumstances, fine.

Cresting your own new form of torture of humans? Fucking insane.

Yep.

there are plenty of other things to do with the Tudors. Why can't they design a Tudor garden, or a Tudor outfit, or piece of jewellery, for example?

This. Children should not learn about the negative aspects of history.

What's the teacher going to do with these sick torture devices the poor kids come up with? Mark them out of 10 for effectiveness?

Maybe they can select the best method and flog it to Saudi Arabia.

Yeah, this is definitely what the teacher will be doing. There is no chance they will be against torture or that there will be any kind of discussion of the historical context and why we don't do it anymore in a history class.

Very inappropriate.

We already have out of control violence in our society without encouraging it.

They can read and discuss the past and why it is no longer appropriate.
Yes, I know it exists around the world but we hope that our kids become better citizens of the world.

Ds would have probably offered his sister singing. 🤣🤣 brilliant!
Sounds to me more like a Design Tech project than a History project!
This wouldn't bother my year 9 child in the slightest, but I can understand why it would many children.

I'm more bothered about this sort of useless task being given as homework than I am offended at the subject matter.

How is this meant to help their education? I can understand if they had to research something, answer some questions or finish off something they were doing in class. But this is exactly the sort of bullshit that shouldn't be infringing upon family life.

@Itwasntmeright

It would have been fine if they’ve been asked to come up with a non-harmful, non-injurious method, but as it is some kids will really go to town on this and come up with some absolutely vile things, and they’ll love doing it. Not to mention the googling some kids will do.

If I’m honest, I think any teacher who sets this as homework needs their hard drive checking.

This is insane

Then they'll wonder why the next teen murderer does terrible things to their victim. WTAF is going on with schools?

@Snoozer11

I'm more bothered about this sort of useless task being given as homework than I am offended at the subject matter.

How is this meant to help their education? I can understand if they had to research something, answer some questions or finish off something they were doing in class. But this is exactly the sort of bullshit that shouldn't be infringing upon family life.

Also true.