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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Headmaster asked in interview do you think ww3 will happen

56 replies

Heps8 · 03/12/2023 18:43

My daughter has an interview for the secondary school part of her private school. The headmaster has been asking children (10/11 year olds) as part of a number of questions if they think there may be a world war 3! We havent had the interview yet but i am disgusted a headmaster would ask such an awfully scary question to children as part of an interview process. Aibu my daughter really wants to attend the secondary school but this is really worrying me. Especially after covid that the school wouldn’t be more cautious with children with anxiety etc.

OP posts:

FelicityFlops · 03/12/2023 18:47

My grandfather said, over 65 years ago, that the next world war would be between Christians and Muslims. You could exhort your daughter to repeat this, as long as she will not be quizzed in more detail.
Alternatively, she might like to consider that the internet has caused WW3 by enabling so many cross-continent scams.
Good luck to her!

pjani · 03/12/2023 18:49

I don’t think it’s bad, it seems to be trying to tease out if your DC engages with news and has any thoughts about it.

Wars happen. A child of 10/11 should know a bit about it I think.

3WildOnes · 03/12/2023 18:56

Interviews are also a chance for you and your daughter to get a feel of the school to see if it would be a good fit. It is quite possible that this indicates to you that the school isn't a good fit for your daughter.
Lots of the texts that are read by year 7s and 8s have themes that are quite dark. So if you have an anxious child I would definitely ask which texts they study in English.
Remember you are the customer. You have the privilege of choosing a school that is a good fit for your daughter, many do t have this privilege.

LilyLemonade · 03/12/2023 19:01

I agree with you that it’s a stupid and inappropriate question. Not sure that it’s enough of a basis to decide against the school however.

Allfur · 03/12/2023 19:01

Send her to a school that doesn't require an interview at such a young age?

Theunamedcat · 03/12/2023 19:04

Easy response

Well we didn't seem to learn much from the last two so on balance I would say yes and hope to be proved wrong

StellarSue · 03/12/2023 19:04

LilyLemonade · 03/12/2023 19:01

I agree with you that it’s a stupid and inappropriate question. Not sure that it’s enough of a basis to decide against the school however.

Don’t be silly, of course it’s not. It’s a useful question designed to elicit the ability to think critically, be informed of world events (at an age appropriate level), describe and argue for a stated position, and so on.

I remember watching and discussing the news with my parents when the Berlin Wall came down, and I was much younger than OP’s daughter.

Hbh17 · 03/12/2023 19:04

Surely at age 10/11 they have a reasonable understanding of history and can give some sort of answer? It's only "scary" if their parents make a bug fuss about it. The school is looking for children who are interested in the world, and resilient, I would imagine.

MelsMoneyTree · 03/12/2023 19:05

YANBU - it's an inappropriate question which assumes DCs will engage with it theoretically rather than emotionally. It shows no duty of care for anxious DCs or DCs who have any experience with war or conflict. It's almost 'tell me you don't expect any refugees in your pupil cohort without telling me'. It's either a question that assumes a high degree of privilege from its pupils or a question that does not care about possible anxiety or PTSD.

BoohooWoohoo · 03/12/2023 19:05

If your dd finds that too dark, she may struggle with y7/8 English where they study even darker material than that. A couple of months ago there was a poster who was shocked that her child in year 7 was studying a text which included babies being buried alive. It’s an award winning children’s text for that age but the poster felt it was too dark. My kids studied dystopian fiction at that age too. Hunger Games , Woman in Black… includes murder of children too.

Has she not discussed Palestine or Ukraine at school? It’s ok to say that she hopes that it doesn’t happen and countries can sort it out amongst themselves or whatever.

HikingforScenery · 03/12/2023 19:06

I don’t that question is as scary for children that age, as you think tbh

Dixiechickonhols · 03/12/2023 19:06

It’s designed to glean what they know about current affairs. There are publications aimed at children and news programs for children. It’s an open question not specifically asking about a particular issue in news so giving all children chance to answer.

RobertaFirmino · 03/12/2023 19:08

It won't be long before she's learning about the Holocaust for goodness sake! YABU.

tescocreditcard · 03/12/2023 19:08

he's not saying there is going to be a WW3. He is asking her what SHE thinks.

Dweetfidilove · 03/12/2023 19:08

It’s not the scariest of questions, and if she watches any news or listens to radio shows, she can give at least a basic answer.

Does her prep school not teach any history or discuss current affairs?

ANightingale · 03/12/2023 19:10

Doesn't your daughter watch/read any news?

Original poster

Heps8 · 03/12/2023 19:11

That is history- different to study history than to think about current events and potential war

OP posts:

tescocreditcard · 03/12/2023 19:14

Well the interview isn't just to see if the child is suitable for the school - it's also to see whether the school is suitable for the child.

What did your daughter answer to the question?

Nochocolateuntilchristmas · 03/12/2023 19:15

As a teacher I do think it's a bit of a weird question. I get that they want to ask a thought provoking question and get their knowledge of current affairs, but a) it is a bit much for 11 year olds and b) they could have asked something without bringing up war. e.g. " tell me about a story you've heard or read in the news recently". Or, "if you were prime minister what would you change about the country?". There are so many other questions they could ask. I would be concerned they don't appreciate war might be upsetting for some children (if they have a relative in the army or are from a war torn country).

Original poster

Heps8 · 03/12/2023 19:15

She said hopefully un peace talks would work but i am totally unimpressed by the question

OP posts:

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 03/12/2023 19:15

Well it probably is (and in your DD's lifetime) so its probably better to make them aware of the possibility sooner rather than later. The reality will be a fair bit more traumatic than a school interview question.

tescocreditcard · 03/12/2023 19:18

it's probably not a good fit for your child then, are you looking at other options too?

Vinrouge4 · 03/12/2023 19:20

Total overreaction. You can't protect your child from everything. Doesn't do any harm to move out of her comfort zone.

MargaretThursday · 03/12/2023 19:21

It's not even a "do you think current events will cause a WW3" it's a "do you think one will ever happen?"

So lots of potential debate she could have talked about., regarding, now (current affairs) or in the future (around politics etc).
Having been giving lifts to sets in year 5/6 in the last couple of weeks, I think they would all have been up for a lively debate about that. They were chatting about all sorts, and really thinking hard about both current affairs and things that could happen or not. It wasn't really a dark conversation, but they were more exploring ideas in a safe way.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 03/12/2023 19:23

Heps8 · 03/12/2023 19:11

That is history- different to study history than to think about current events and potential war

Edited

The reason why History is taught, along with the skills to identify bias, propaganda, context and reliability of sources, is because it is the means by which you make sense of the Present Day.

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