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!?

@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.

Read the instructions. It's key skills the homework is trying to consolidate, in an engaging way.

Recall key knowledge learned, understand social and historical context, explain, justify, annotate, explore intentions, achieve a purpose...

And as for the people saying okay, fine, talk about what used to happen... That's the subject!!

Oh, come on Tatiana that is a huge leap.

Do you catastrophise everything like that?

As a kid, I would have loved this, but then I have always like macabre things.

Maybe this homework is intended to have a modern twist on it, like a pp said... things like no mobile phone, wifi password being withheld etc.

Oh, come on Tatiana that is a huge leap. Do you catastrophise everything like that?

You must be new here.

Have you ever watched and enjoyed a horror film, Pumper?

@GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou

Have you ever watched and enjoyed a horror film, Pumper?

No, I don’t like gore. But choosing, as an adult, to watch a horror film is completely different to being a 13 year old told to research violence and come up with better ways to inflict it.

I'm a history teacher- and that sounds like a homework set my a very inexperienced teacher. It has absolutely no value and no ethical consideration. I would email the teacher or head of year and ask what the value is in this homework and also how it really has no link to the National curriculum at all. This is a thoughtless homework.

We do something called flipped learning where homework is acquiring knowledge about the next topic, so when we come to teach it we can focus on historical skill rather than content.

Alas, donquixotedelamancha I'm afraid I have been here for over a decade.

It does still surprises me sometimes.

@GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou

Have you ever watched and enjoyed a horror film, Pumper?

Or a comedy with lots of gore and death. 'What We Do in the Shadows' (both the film and series) are a perfect example of that.

I can't believe this is even a thread, it's history. They need to learn about these things 😂

I do love What we do in the Shadows actually! Still wouldn’t encourage children to watch it, or set it as homework.

I don’t know what the silly laughter emoji is for.

There is a huge difference between learning about torture and actively designing methods of torture.

@GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou

What is a huge leap? You said that kids can be morbid. I asked why you think their parents don't know they can be morbid?

These kids are 13-14 years old. In any given class in the country some will be dealing with anxiety, self harm, eating disorders, bullying etc

@Cas112

I can't believe this is even a thread, it's history. They need to learn about these things 😂

There is no historical merit in making up a torture device- and explaining how effective it is! History is debate, specific knowledge, source analysis, argument- it's not making up random rubbish- that is called fantasy or fake news.

@Littlepaws18

I'm a history teacher- and that sounds like a homework set my a very inexperienced teacher. It has absolutely no value and no ethical consideration. I would email the teacher or head of year and ask what the value is in this homework and also how it really has no link to the National curriculum at all. This is a thoughtless homework.

We do something called flipped learning where homework is acquiring knowledge about the next topic, so when we come to teach it we can focus on historical skill rather than content.

I agree. Inexperienced, very young and probably male.

I couldn’t do it. I can’t watch any tv that has torture in it - had to run out of the room during game of thrones! I can’t read about torture either, and definitely can’t go in castle dungeons or anything. I get really anxious and upset.

My ds is year 8 he did the Tudors not long ago - without this bloody nonsense!

Ah, I’d guess older, sets it every year unchallenged, probably male.

Really bemused by the number of people who are apparently struggling to see the difference between kids learning about torture, learning about torture methods and why they were used, discussing the ethics and use of torture (all of which is absolutely fine) and designing their own torture methods ! Can you really not see why the latter is absolutely not appropriate?

Wow

I would absolutely be contacting the headteacher

I’ll be honest OP I actually thought this was a troll post until you posted the photo - it’s unbelievable

I'm glad to read the post by LittlePaws and empathise with MissyB.

I think more psychological methods would have more impact, e.g. Scarecrows fear toxin from batman or as some people suggest the non lethal but e.g. Feather tickling ect.

I would definitely email the school, there’s just something nasty about it. I don’t think it’s appropriate at all, at any age to be honest.

I’ve actually just checked with ds , he said they learned about the different torture methods but didn’t dwell on them. They were definitely never given this task. He’s looked at it and says “that’s very dark, what’s wrong with that teacher?”

Indeed!

That is a totally inappropriate piece of homework for any child of any age. Personally, I would have a quiet chat with the head and ask for an explanation, politely refuse to allow my child to do it and then ask for another piece of homework to replace it.

There are many periods of history and events that are taught at both key stages 3 and 4 that are emotive, challenging modern day values, difficult to take in. However, they should be taught with a degree of sensitivity and not set as homework!

As I mentioned earlier there is little value in this homework- it's not teaching historical skill- there is no exam board that would set a question asking to draw or label a diagram. There is a question on paper two to describe to features, but that wouldn't be so specific that it would be about an object (with the exception of castles!) it would be a concept such as power of medieval kings or describe features of an event such as the Armada. Even the final question of the homework lacks success criteria. For example it asks to what information could be extracted- it would be far better to be specific here- the medieval period is huge, was the device used against the Peasants after the peasants revolt, the Black Death, William the conqueror's consolidation of power. Because it's so vague it's difficult for the students to answer.

Finally there is no learning of specific historical knowledge- most questions are about the significance, change and continuity of a period of history. This can't even be used as supporting evidence to a point- as it's made up!

The only merit to this homework is it's a misguided attempt to get kids griped and excited about history. But the topic is too controversial and sensitive for independent learning.

As I said earlier thoughtless homework.