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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

398 replies

milkysmum · 29/03/2022 16:46

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!?

OP posts:
AlwaysLatte · 29/03/2022 18:16

Cool homework, my two would love that!

Seraphinesupport · 29/03/2022 18:17

No. Absolutely not. Kids do not need to be thinking of torture

VeganGod · 29/03/2022 18:19

My child had to do this task, not as homework but in lesson. No googling allowed. It seems a waste of time but lots of the curriculum just seems like stuff to fill time to me.

Pumperthepumper · 29/03/2022 18:19

No, that’s horrible. I’d definitely speak to the school.

I’m sure there was a thread a few years ago along similar lines - they had to design a way to chop off Anne Boleyn’s head or something? Wonder if it’s the same school?

EthelTheAardvark · 29/03/2022 18:19

I'd argue that there is a let-out in the requirement that they should explain why what they design is more effective than known torture devices. It's well known that torture isn't a practical way of gathering information, because the person being tortured will say anything to stop it - and the threat of more torture/death if they give false information doesn't really work, because increasing torture will probably lead to death anyway, death is a merciful release, and in Tudor times prisoners would know that the chances are that they're going to be put to death irrespective of what they say.

So that paves the way to design, say, a particularly yummy looking cake, or some sumptuous piece of jewellery or similar, with an argument that rewards work better than torture. Win-win..

Member869894 · 29/03/2022 18:20

I think its fine. It will certainly get their imagination going!

SenecaFallsRedux · 29/03/2022 18:20

Absolutely not. History was my favorite subject in school so much so that I majored in it at university, specializing in the Tudor-Stuart periods. I would not have been able to do this assignment at any point in my studies, and certainly not as a young teen.

MuggleMadness · 29/03/2022 18:21

@334bu

*Year 8, not 8 years old. What's the problem? Do you micromanage all of her homework??*

Really is that your take on this,?

Yes, which was fairly obvious given that's what I wrote.

The kid is in year 8, not primary. Tudor times, designing a Tudor times torture method isn't out of order.

If she was 8 I'd agree, but she's not.

TatianaBis · 29/03/2022 18:22

@AlwaysLatte

Cool homework, my two would love that!
Yeah torture is way cool.
EmpressSuiko · 29/03/2022 18:22

I actually think it’s quite interesting! It’s a great way to see how the justice system has evolved through the centuries!

DONTYELL · 29/03/2022 18:22

I would suggest she discusses the methods they did use and their drawbacks but write a note saying you were not happy for her to design a new device so have set slightly alternative homework which still covers the torture methods used.

Pumperthepumper · 29/03/2022 18:23

It’s arguably a really lazy lesson too. There are loads of design-based Tudor themes, loads of politics and change, food, wealth, costume…

DONTYELL · 29/03/2022 18:24

The task requires them to compare with other Tudor torture devices, so to do the work well will require research and demonstrating that they've learned what has been taught in the classroom. basically do this bit but without the coming up with new equipment

Suzi888 · 29/03/2022 18:24

@milkysmum

No, I absolutely do not micromanage her homework. I was just struggling to see the relevance of getting teenagers to think up new ways to torture people- seems odd.
It is odd and it’s weird!
borntobequiet · 29/03/2022 18:27

Unacceptable and vile. How could a teacher look at his or her class of children and ask them to do something like this?

Princessdebthe1st · 29/03/2022 18:28

One of the most important aspects of teaching history and one of the skills most vital for students to develop is empathy. The ability to place themselves in the shoes of the people they are studying. This is especially important when exploring the more difficult aspects of history. This task seems designed to dehumanise the victims of torture and those perpetrating it. Dehumanising people is a pre requisite for some of the most terrible crimes in history, it is not really something we want to encourage in students of history.

OfTheNight · 29/03/2022 18:29

This smacks as one of those tasks dreamt up by a teacher who has been told to come up with an ‘out there’ way to engage their learners on a topic.

No excuse, but you’ll see the idea of being ‘extra’ running through most schools in an attempt to engage a consistently growing number of disenfranchised young people.

I don’t think a chat with the head is necessary. I would email the teacher or HOD/HOF. I’m sure this was constructed along the lines of Horrible Histories, using a rather unpleasant element of the time period as a hook.

Not suitable, I agree, but some learners in truth would enjoy it and find it fascinating.

Ilovethecinema · 29/03/2022 18:30

I’ve just mentioned to my year 8 daughter, says the class would actually do it if it was that. I’m actually quite horrified, I dread too think what they’ll come up with Confused

Tdcp · 29/03/2022 18:31

I remember doing this as well, maybe 23 years ago? God I'm old 😂. It is a totally weird thing to do though not that I've thought about it until now. Weird that it's been asked of children for around 30 years as well

KatsuKatsu · 29/03/2022 18:31

@Princessdebthe1st

One of the most important aspects of teaching history and one of the skills most vital for students to develop is empathy. The ability to place themselves in the shoes of the people they are studying. This is especially important when exploring the more difficult aspects of history. This task seems designed to dehumanise the victims of torture and those perpetrating it. Dehumanising people is a pre requisite for some of the most terrible crimes in history, it is not really something we want to encourage in students of history.
I would write your daughter a note saying something like this and set alternative homework of outlining the methods used but not designing a new one.
TatianaBis · 29/03/2022 18:32

@Pumperthepumper

It’s arguably a really lazy lesson too. There are loads of design-based Tudor themes, loads of politics and change, food, wealth, costume…
Agreed. So much really interesting stuff to pack in.
pucelleauxblanchesmains · 29/03/2022 18:32

@donquixotedelamancha But there's learning about unpleasant bits of history and then there's... this. I have studied some pretty unpleasant things but have yet to decide, say, new ways for Vikings to rape women.

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 29/03/2022 18:33

Get her to do something that doesn't inflict physical pain.

Such as sensors that play nails down a blackboard type noises......well it's a pain as such but it's not ripping nails out one by one.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 29/03/2022 18:33

I find it it's really disturbing. Talk about it as a part of history, fine, to design more efficient one, it's sick.

Bignanny30 · 29/03/2022 18:34

I know they have to learn about it and I know that it’s all on horrible histories etc. But in a context that is suitable for children. I would not be happy about this. Have you spoken to other parents? Maybe if several agree that it’s unsuitable homework and all contact the school, then she won’t be ostracised for not doing the project.