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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Films during school hours

40 replies

Tigofigo · 30/06/2022 17:02

My KS2 age DC seems to watch films, YouTube clips etc more than I thought would be the case at school.

Apparently they watched an entire film today (not during play time) as the teacher had marking to do.

I don't mind a bit of TV at school but feel they could at least make an effort with finding something vaguely educational, and also I thought teachers usually did their marking in evenings or during PPA time.

AIBU to ask the school's policy on TV during school lesson hours or should I be more empathetic and forgiving towards teachers given the incredibly hard job they do?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 30/06/2022 17:03

What was the film? Could it have been connected to the terms topic?

User154871 · 30/06/2022 17:05

I'd be very surprised if it was a regular thing. We are allowed to have a film on maybe 3x a year with occasional themed films to do with our topics (maybe 3 x year in addition to the others). Usually only so extra staff can be released to do jobs at the end of terms like change the displays.

I think if you moaned you'd be that parent. That said, if it was regular then fair enough.

1000yardstare · 30/06/2022 17:05

Yawn. Have you never read a book then seen the film? What happened when you were at school? How do you educate yourself when you need a new skill? Youtube?

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 30/06/2022 17:06

Was the film some sort of reward or incentive? Did they have a follow up task to complete or were they watching a movie of a book they had been reading? Did the teacher actually tell the kids they needed to do marking or did they just do some marking during this time when the kids were occupied? Youtube clips will likely be linked to learning?

But YANBU to ask if you feel this is happening regularly and with no real purpose.

Jackiewoo · 30/06/2022 17:11

DC old primary school did this weekly, no purpose just Friday afternoon. They also asked parents to teach times tables. It was Ofsted outstanding too.

Its bollocks.

Original poster
Tigofigo · 30/06/2022 17:16

Film definitely not linked to curriculum, it's a modern cartoon film not based on a book and with no important message. No questions after. You tube clips are usually music or football. I think teacher said they needed to do marking.

OP posts:
balalake · 30/06/2022 17:17

Worth asking.

Lou98 · 30/06/2022 17:32

When I was in secondary we would often have classes put on a film instead of a lesson that day, usually if we were at the end of a topic before starting the next one. The films had nothing to do with the class.

I had one teacher who would often put on episodes of Still Game (I'm in Scotland) and everyone loved it. We still did well in her class.

Fwiw I did well at school, got good grades despite watching films etc. Personally, I wouldn't complain, kids work hard at school they deserve a reward sometimes (even if that is so the teacher can catch up on stuff)

Original poster
Tigofigo · 30/06/2022 17:39

Fwiw I did well at school, got good grades despite watching films etc

That's great, but my DC is a year behind in core topics and more like two years behind in some areas. Not that I think hothousing him is the answer, but I've asked to take him out for specialist tutoring (he has spLD) and been told no...

OP posts:
cantkeepawayforever · 30/06/2022 17:47

If I put a film on ‘because I was marking’, it would be viewed extremely dimly at the school I work in.

Last day of term, to allow classroom to be stripped etc? That’s one thing.

For marking? No way

Ponderingwindow · 30/06/2022 17:50

Dd ended up with 2 or 3 films a year in the early grades. Generally on the second to last day of the term as a treat and to let the teachers get paperwork done. She came to hate the Lorax and the Polar Express because those were always what was played. They would have snacks and make it fun. The first year for polar express all the kids got their own bells (I was parent volunteer who picked this off the sign up sheet, it’s so much easier than showing up to hand out snacks)

Her year 7 Film day/Christmas party/let us get some marking done had a lot more options available since the kids were older. They even set up different films in different rooms. I believe Elf was the most popular.

so basically, as long as it doesn’t happen too often, let it go.

Smartiepants79 · 30/06/2022 17:52

I use you tube clips fairly regularly in lessons but they have been carefully chosen to link to and enhance the learning for the lesson.
Films/TV are used rarely and mostly as a reward or last week of term thing.
If what you are saying is accurate then, no, it’s not good and worth an email.

GCRich · 30/06/2022 18:03

cantkeepawayforever · 30/06/2022 17:47

If I put a film on ‘because I was marking’, it would be viewed extremely dimly at the school I work in.

Last day of term, to allow classroom to be stripped etc? That’s one thing.

For marking? No way

And I view all schools very dimly that expect their teachers to work 20 hours a week at home... but that seems like most of them

spanieleyes · 30/06/2022 18:16

I would suggest that the teacher is marking end of year assessment papers, whilst trying to get reports completed and another 101 things that need doing at this time of year. No, it's not ideal to put a film on and really, the school needs to try to find some way of providing the teacher with some " out of class" time to get these jobs done but lack of money and cover has put paid to that!
Alternatively, OFSTED are coming in tomorrow and the teacher is desperately trying to catch up with all the marking they have been unable to fit into the day!

tttigress · 30/06/2022 18:22

I know someone that was a maths teacher in a pretty nice area.

He said that they would get all of the disruptive students together and just let them watch films, TV programs etc. rather than doing maths, to stop them affecting the other pupils. I think he described it as "crowd control".

This was about 10 years ago, so maybe the idea has gone further.

The reason I met this guy was because he couldn't take his maths teaching job, and started working in I.T.

Veol · 30/06/2022 18:40

You need to think of the bigger picture. Is your child making progress in school? Are you generally happy with the education your child is receiving across the curriculum? Does your child like school? The film is an irrelevant, tiny moment in your child’s educational journey. It is not a battle worth fighting. If you are unhappy about something that actually matters, then it is worth discussing it with the school.

CallOnMe · 30/06/2022 19:09

What was the film?

girlmom21 · 30/06/2022 19:11

What film was it? Why don't you ask the teacher if you're unsure?

Banoffe · 30/06/2022 19:13

Are you in Scotland and it's the last week of term? Lots of films being watched here due to schools being off tomorrow.

TonightIamgointobe · 30/06/2022 19:18

Putting on a film 'for marking' is not so bad if the marking is live. So the teacher speaks to students individually as he/she marks their books. Then they get live feedback which has more of an impact. They don't really look at marking otherwise. And it saves the teacher an hour or two marking/planning.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 30/06/2022 19:28

Sometimes I think the teachers look at their group of kids and think, you guys are tired and need some downtime.

At this time of year and around Xmas, the kids are in a hyper state mentally preparing for next year and transitions, sports day, Xmas plays, they're at the end of long half terms.......

I know that DD is tired, she's 8, and she's ready for a break from school now, her teacher is definitely dropping in extra breaks and 'fun' lessons.

Original poster
Tigofigo · 30/06/2022 23:41

Veol · 30/06/2022 18:40

You need to think of the bigger picture. Is your child making progress in school? Are you generally happy with the education your child is receiving across the curriculum? Does your child like school? The film is an irrelevant, tiny moment in your child’s educational journey. It is not a battle worth fighting. If you are unhappy about something that actually matters, then it is worth discussing it with the school.

Good point.

Child not particularly happy at school and sometimes says they don't want to go,says it's boring and struggles. But he likes seeing his friends and he seems to enjoy some aspects.

As said before, my DC is behind a academically and has some learning issues and while the school has offered some support IMO it's not enough. But on the other hand I understand there are limits to what can be done without eg an EHCP and frankly I'm not sure I'm ready to take that route.

Unsure about education and curriculum really - it seems ok, but nothing to compare it to, and not sure how I'd influence that anyway without moving schools.

I do think his current teacher errs on the side of laziness / takes the easy route sometimes, but equally I wouldn't want to become a teacher because it's a tough gig!

I'm not sure what I can do about my child not being v happy... I've spoken to the school multiple times, the SENCO is totally overwhelmed, and he's not a priority to them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tigofigo · 30/06/2022 23:43

To answer a few other questions

No not in Scotland

No OFSTED tomorrow

No live marking from what I was told

I know what the film was, I'm just not revealing it here as it's not relevant and it is potentially outing, but I'm very confident it had nothing to do with anything they're learning

OP posts:
saraclara · 30/06/2022 23:46

No way in hell that a teacher would get away with that in any of the schools I've worked in or know. Maybe the last afternoon of term, but not on a random day for marking. Not even when schools were more relaxed places and teachers less monitored than they are now.

MardyBumm · 01/07/2022 00:19

If this was a regular occurrence, I'd be annoyed but it's report writing time/assessment time so their SLT may have given them permission so they can keep up with regular marking on top of reports, assessment marking and gap analysis.

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