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AIBU?

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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:
Original poster
Heps8 · 03/12/2023 19:24

I understand that

OP posts:
Startingagainandagain · 03/12/2023 19:29

What a stupid question to ask.

For me it would be a sign that this is not the school for your child.

I would feel the same if an employer asked me this in an interview. I would think the person is trying to be clever/thought-provoking but just ends up looking like an idiot.

There are so many potential questions to ask to check whether someone can think critically and has an interested in current affair but this one is inappropriate for a 10 year old and it is lazy of the head master to ask this.

My answer would be that there are so many conflicts going on right now from Palestine to the Ukraine and that I find it interesting and puzzling that he chose to focus instead on an hypothetic WW3. I would ask him whether he think war is only a matter of interest if the West is directly involved...

I am sure that would go down a treat.

Mummymummy89 · 03/12/2023 19:32

Yanbu, it's an awful question. Not because it is scary (although perhaps that is also sub optimal), but because the whole thing is so controversial and they would be inviting children to reveal, inadvertently, the prejudices and views of their families. Things they say might shock and offend. Why set kids up to fail?

The vast majority of grown adults are incapable of discussing the Israel-Palestine situation in a balanced, calm and inoffensive way. We are all angry and heated about it. There's also, perhaps, misinformation out there on both sides, that contributes to the heatedness.

Why tf is this teacher holding children to a higher standard than most adults are capable of?

He could ask about a war in the past, that we have more reliable historical sources for, rather than a fast-moving current situation for which we are getting sometimes contradictory news reports as events transpire.

charlotte361 · 03/12/2023 19:32

It feels a bit distasteful that , when there are children of 11 forced to fight in wars, let alone live through the daily fterror of the very real danger or war, that you feel your child is too precious and sensitive to even know or think about it

Mummymummy89 · 03/12/2023 19:36

charlotte361 · 03/12/2023 19:32

It feels a bit distasteful that , when there are children of 11 forced to fight in wars, let alone live through the daily fterror of the very real danger or war, that you feel your child is too precious and sensitive to even know or think about it

You might say the opposite is distasteful, that this silly teacher is using real life, current tragedy, in which real people are being kidnapped, raped, tortured, murdered... as a delightful little 11+ debating topic, glibly potted into a 10 minute chat.

It's disrespectful

UnpalatableButTrue · 03/12/2023 19:38

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.

Nonsense.

These questions are designed to find out whether children are aware of the world around them and are interested in what's going on (even on a most basic level). They want to know whether they are able to think about a topic and express an opinion - even if their opinion is "I don't know, and the idea of wars really scares me".

Schools which can choose their pupils will choose those who can think on their feet and who don't just sit there like puddings and say "um, er, like, I dunno".

If a child did have first-hand experience of a difficult issue which came up in a school interview, they would be ideally placed to have an opinion and express it.

Growlybear83 · 03/12/2023 19:38

I think it's an entirely appropriate question to ask at 10 or 11, and children should have some degree of political awareness by that age and an understanding of the world. My daughter organised an impromptu stop the war demonstration when she was in Year 5 on the morning thst she heard Cherie Blair was making an unannounced visit to the school.

TeenLifeMum · 03/12/2023 19:45

School assessing critical thinking - seems an interesting topic to me. My 12yo twins would have had views on it a year ago and would have been fine discussing it. We talk about news and current affairs with them a lot.

ZenNudist · 03/12/2023 19:47

YABU my 9yo in Y5 and doing his 11+tutoring could engage in this question.

It's ridiculous to say its scary and also, given what is actually going on the news a hypothetical question about her opinion on the likelihood of WW3 is less scary than newsround or when she personally lived through the covid pandemic.

Somerandomshittyname · 03/12/2023 19:53

WW3, if it happens, will likely be fought over resources. Tense standoffs around the world over access to water going on. I teach this to 6th Form though, not year 7!

ActDottie · 03/12/2023 19:58

It’s just a typical critical thinking question. If you’re daughter is that anxious by this then don’t put her through interviews at such a young age.

AutumnFroglets · 03/12/2023 20:01

Well technically WW3 could be between humans and aliens and if DD had gone down that route he might have applauded her creativity. Keeping it to Ukraine or Palestine brings a different level, maybe critical thinking. Talking about the other horrific wars that are still ongoing but glossed over would ensure her knowledge of geography and local politics/history and would give off vibes regarding a well rounded and thoughtful child.

Very clever question actually.

Dacadactyl · 03/12/2023 20:07

Tbh i suspect the private school are asking these sorts of questions to sound the parents out.

If you go in all guns blazing about anxiety and covid etc, your DD would be out of the running for a place. If I was him, I'd want resilient people in the school and ones whose parents won't be in every 2 mins with issues

Also, by age 11 they know about the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine...he's also trying to find out their knowledge and opinions on world affairs.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 03/12/2023 20:08

AutumnFroglets · 03/12/2023 20:01

Well technically WW3 could be between humans and aliens and if DD had gone down that route he might have applauded her creativity. Keeping it to Ukraine or Palestine brings a different level, maybe critical thinking. Talking about the other horrific wars that are still ongoing but glossed over would ensure her knowledge of geography and local politics/history and would give off vibes regarding a well rounded and thoughtful child.

Very clever question actually.

Could be between humans and AI, too. Extra creative thinking points for a kid who hasn't seen The Terminator.

curaçao · 03/12/2023 20:12

Tense standoffs around the world over access to water going on.

You are teaching schoolkids this scaremongering, highly unlikely scenario? Shame on you indoctinating them with this baseless conjecture!!

MelsMoneyTree · 03/12/2023 20:36

UnpalatableButTrue · 03/12/2023 19:38

Nonsense.

These questions are designed to find out whether children are aware of the world around them and are interested in what's going on (even on a most basic level). They want to know whether they are able to think about a topic and express an opinion - even if their opinion is "I don't know, and the idea of wars really scares me".

Schools which can choose their pupils will choose those who can think on their feet and who don't just sit there like puddings and say "um, er, like, I dunno".

If a child did have first-hand experience of a difficult issue which came up in a school interview, they would be ideally placed to have an opinion and express it.

Show quote history

Spoken like someone with no experience of PTSD and/or traumatised DCs. There are lots of big issue / topical event questions that don't run the risk of retraumatising already traumatised DCs. A school asking DCs about WW3 reeks of privilege.

newtlover · 03/12/2023 20:45

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.

this, very much so

I would question the intelligence and engagement of any adult who posed that question to a child- its tantamount to saying 'how likely do you think it is that you, your family and everyone you love will either be killed instantaneously or die a slow and lingering death?'

a better question to find out if a child is interested in current affairs would be-
'tell me about something you've heard in the news that's interesting'
lots of opportunity for follow up there

it's so bad, I'd be tempted to complain but as I'm not au fait with these places and processes not sure how or what the consequences would be

RedToothBrush · 03/12/2023 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

UnpalatableButTrue · 03/12/2023 21:09

Spoken like someone with no experience of PTSD and/or traumatised DCs

That is an utterly disgusting comment.

You have no idea about anything to do with me or my children, and don't you dare make assumptions like that.

newtlover · 03/12/2023 23:07

"If a child did have first-hand experience of a difficult issue which came up in a school interview, they would be ideally placed to have an opinion and express it."
I think its fair to guess that someone saying this had little experience of children with trauma. If you disagree, maybe reflect on why people might think traumatised children shouldn't be asked about warfare in such a flippant manner.

UnpalatableButTrue · 03/12/2023 23:13

newtlover · 03/12/2023 23:07

"If a child did have first-hand experience of a difficult issue which came up in a school interview, they would be ideally placed to have an opinion and express it."
I think its fair to guess that someone saying this had little experience of children with trauma. If you disagree, maybe reflect on why people might think traumatised children shouldn't be asked about warfare in such a flippant manner.

I think it is remarkably thick to guess that someone saying this had little experience of children with trauma. You could equally say that only someone with extensive experience of children with trauma would say such a thing.

As for your patronising "maybe reflect": maybe fuck off.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 03/12/2023 23:20

Startingagainandagain · 03/12/2023 19:29

What a stupid question to ask.

For me it would be a sign that this is not the school for your child.

I would feel the same if an employer asked me this in an interview. I would think the person is trying to be clever/thought-provoking but just ends up looking like an idiot.

There are so many potential questions to ask to check whether someone can think critically and has an interested in current affair but this one is inappropriate for a 10 year old and it is lazy of the head master to ask this.

My answer would be that there are so many conflicts going on right now from Palestine to the Ukraine and that I find it interesting and puzzling that he chose to focus instead on an hypothetic WW3. I would ask him whether he think war is only a matter of interest if the West is directly involved...

I am sure that would go down a treat.

Well, you're obviously not capable of reasonable thought if you think the west aren't directly involved in the war in Ukraine.

DelurkingAJ · 03/12/2023 23:25

DS1 (state school) has just covered WW2 and the Holocaust. We are (away from DS2, who is 7) having proper conversations about radicalisation, terrorism, land appropriation etc and about the crisis in the a Middle East and Ukraine. I would imagine if you had a child with direct experience of such things you would have flagged up on all the entry information that the schools give to everyone interviewing. As such I think it’s perfectly age appropriate.

LuluBlakey1 · 03/12/2023 23:26

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.

Don't send her to the school. If you are so upset by his question, there will be other times what he says offends your sensibilities.

Itrymybestyesido · 03/12/2023 23:29

It's a great question and I'd love to hear my child answer this. I think world topics and events are of great interest to some children at this age. My child (thanks to YouTube!!) has extensive knowledge of world conflict and as a result has strong views about the possibilities of WW3. I've never pushed any of this. I do remember reading the newspaper at a similar age. It's really not that inappropriate to discuss this.