Teacher showed 15 film to Y7

[Littlepopsicle]

DS has just started Y7. All going well, loves his new school and is very settled.
Drama class last week, teacher told them the theme for this half term is something about haunted houses. She then showed them the trailer for The Woman in Black. DH and I eye rolled each other as soon as we heard this as we knew what was going to happen....no surprise, DS has been unable to sleep alone since seeing this. We are very careful about anything he watches as he has an overactive imagination, is easily scared and sleep is easily disrupted. DH is annoyed at having another disturbed night with DS and thinks we should complain to the school. Do you think we should complain and say this is inappropriate to show to 11 and 12 years olds, or at least parents should have been warned that this was going to be shown? Or would you say it's a non-issue, get over it, he's just an over sensitive child?

I didn't sleep after watching a film at the cinema when I was in my 20s :D I'm generally resilient in every other aspect of my life, I don't think it's reflective of his resilience.

OP for my sins I was a teacher for many years, always welcomed parents with genuine concerns and feedback- as long as you don't go in all guns blazing and raging and rude then go for it. I agree with a PP that showing it so soon into year 7 is a bit savage as lots won't feel comfortable yet to say they are scared.

The child didn't watch the film though.

OP if the intent is to go on to watch parts of the film I would have a word with the teacher but if not I would say nothing.

I very much doubt they’ll be reading the play or novel. I imagine they have drama at most 1hr a week, once a fortnight is more likely. They’ll be doing a fun unit on creating suspense and working together in role. It’s more Scooby Doo than The Exorcist! I imagine she has shown the trailer ( couple of scares in it) because most children love to experience that feeling and it really is very mild. Some kids are sensitive I know and I imagine the teacher will have told them they might jump. Just give her a call and ask if you’re worried- please do not go to her boss or the pastoral team without just asking her what happened first.

This level of upset over a trailer of a film rated 12a is not typical. On any level. It needs supporting. I’m not sure why you think my response is that off the wall or why you think a child should live with these levels of anxiety.

Woman in Black was the most complained about film ever at the time in terms of whether the BBFC classification was right at 12A.

I think it should be a 15 or 18. Loads of kids being persuaded to kill themselves and die horribly is about as mature a theme as it gets.

Yet I've seen loads of films which are a 15 or 18 where there is just a bit of bad language or sexual content or brief violence, and it doesn't stay with you half as much, or bother you remotely, as a teen or adult. So the BBFC frequently get it wrong, for me.

JFC taint his childhood?! Because he is scared of something that is scary? Kids should be scared of scary things, it means they're probably more likely to have healthy boundaries because they haven't been desensitised.

I think some gentle feedback to his teacher to let them know he is struggling with the theme would be in order, if he is happy for you to let them know. It's absolutely ok to be frightened by horror or spooky films.

It’s a 12 not a 15 plus it was only the trailer. The teacher did nothing wrong. Instead work on assessing the over sensitive ness of your child. Tbh it sounds like they’re wrapped up in cotton wool and that’s going to impact him in later life if you keep this up.

As a teacher if want to know how scared he was so that any other similar videos could be changed, adapted or he leaves the room. You can do this without complaining.

I wouldn’t say anything, he has to learn to cope with these things. It was a trailer. There are also many topics that could upset/scare children.

I know young children are different from a year 7, but my son used to be scared of any stories or books with woods in when he was little. There was also something in Wimpy Kid that kept him awake at night. It’s just part of life.

I'd say your DS might have quite a difficult time at secondary school if it gets out that his parents complained about his bad dreams from a 12a movie.

It’s not that scary OP. It’s very mild. They will be reading the book for English. What’s he gonna be like when they do great expectations 🙄

I have the DVD. It is a 12A. Maybe film channels have given it a different rating to stop kids watching it without an adult's permission/supervision?

I don't know what I kept the DVD for. I've only ever watched half of it as I did find it quite scary (and I've watched a lot of horror films rated 15 without flinching) and I didn't like the topic. Kids being possessed by a vengeful ghost and forced to kill themselves.

He can't sleep after seeing the trailer for a film?
Please don't complain.

It's much scarier than Great Expectations.

I watched it in high school and I don’t remember being disturbed by it?? We had read the book by time we watched it so we knew what was coming so to speak.

Honestly if he can’t handle the trailer for the woman in black without nightmares is he really gonna deal with a woman setting herself on fire??

Probably batter to work on your son’s sensitivity to scary films. I never watch horror for the same reason and I’m 52!! It’s ok. But maybe emphasis on it being acting and how they would have laughed between takes etc Schools have rules around such things but it can still be shocking to certain pupils and there will be more to come.

I'd be more worried about people who don't find WIB upsetting or scary. Loads of kids dying horribly is "mild"?

Mind you, perhaps if you are a government minister for immigration perhaps the desensitisation to such matters helps.

The trailer is mild. which is what OPs DS saw.

The film isn’t that disturbing though, especially when you’ve read the book (which I assume with it being for English they will do) and know what’s coming.

Its a 12a both mine did some study related to it in drama and english. I would mention it to the teacher.

Still not as frightening or disturbing as a young child drinking bleach to kill herself.

And if you gave it a moment's thought, you'd realise that a trailer or clip, lacking the context of an entire film, could be scary. Maybe stop worrying about how sensitive other people are and start working on your own levels of empathy and tolerance.

if it bothered you that much but it won't be logged as complaint. it will be reframed as DS has difficulties around certain things (which is fine).

@shearwater also wtaf, I absolutely hate this current government and their policies.

imagine saying something like that because as a teen in high school I didn’t have hysterics over a FILM that isn’t real 🙄 some of us can separate real life and fiction.

In primary we can't show anything above a u without permission.

Secondary schools have different rules I think. Both my girls watched Woman in Black at school, The Others and War Horse. Probably others. They were fine.