If you're a parent would you think this was ridiculous if I pulled you aside after school for this?

[L4815162342]

I work in a school.

A 5/6 year old today trod on a small bug. He did this on purpose.

I'd like to say it was because he didn't know better but this was half an hour after a lesson on looking after the environment and things we could do to care for nature. Lots was mentioned about animals, etc.

I pulled the child up and spoke to him about his behaviour. He essentially received the equivalent of a bad behaviour point as a result.

If you were pulled aside after school as a parent and told about this incident would you think it was ridiculous?

I know people have different views, some would draw the line at hurting an animal the size of a cat, for example, but wouldn't bat an eyelash at killing a spider.

Those of you who are saying it is wrong to kill any insect. Would you kill head lice if your child had them in their hair? What would you do if you found bed bugs on your bed?

If the child gets a 'point' for treading on a bug, would the same child not be taking a letter home from school advising on ways to get rid of head lice if the same school had an infestation? If so, it seems like double standards

I would kill both head lice and bed bugs along with killing ants if I found them in my house, but wouldn't deliberately kill small insects outside, but it isn't something I would get worked up about either.

You were right to say something to the child but I don't think the parent needs to be involved at this stage.

Kids that age do have a weird sense of curiosity. I lived rurally and kids there did experiments as different bugs make different sounds when they are squished. We used to actively kill dung beetles (even though they smelled awful when killed) and moths as we would get swarmed by them. In out school kids dissected living frogs and cockroaches (which btw they caught themselves) for biology lessons.

I would just chalk it up to them being curious rather than being cruel.

AIBU

My 25 yo daughter left home 2 years ago. My 30yo son has had to move home due to a divorce, we asked 25y daughter about letting him have the larger room ( she only comes back a couple times a month) due to his circumstances and she has gone ballistic saying we are taking her room away. Tried to explain.situation but she left saying if we give him the larger room then she won't come home again. Says we are putting him.over her even though we have just bought her a car! Please tell.me I'm.not being unreasonable. Stuck now between her threatening not to come back and telling 30y son he had to stay in the boxroom. We try help both as much as we can but getting to end of my tether!

Many apologies I hijacked your post in error and dont know how to delete. New to mumsnet😳

I think you need to start your own thread. This will get lost in a discussion about insects.

Edit to say I saw your post above. Was typing at the time you posted.

I would not have much respect for a teacher pulling me aside for this, no. What are they implying - sociopathic tendencies??? Nonsense.

Same. It’s a good opportunity to teach empathy for other living creatures.

Do you kill everything you eat?

Are you vegan tho

Unless you are a vegan, you are condoning the worst kind of disrespect, abuse, and suffering of animals.

The trauma that farmed animals go through when they are sent to slaughter (and sometimes even before that, while they are being reared for meat) is unspeakable.

I say this as a (rather ashamed) meat eater.

The bug suffered a lot less than the millions of animals in the farming industry.

I do get your point that there is a difference when you are killing for the fun of it, but there seems to be something disingenuous in telling a child to respect nature, and that it’s wrong to kill a bug, knowing full well what’s going on in slaughterhouses across the country to provide the meat we find in our supermarkets.

I’d want to know but then kindness to living things is a number one principle in our family.

And yes, we are vegan.

@TheBerry no, I’m a vegetarian though.

I wouldn’t kill an animal on purpose. Insects are everywhere, some will accidentally get killed everyday but accidentally getting stepped on or getting caught on the windscreen. It is quite a different thing to see a creature, realise it’s alive and stamp on it! That’s not normal behaviour by anyone

I do agree.

I think some children of that age may not have developed enough to fully understand what they are doing. Hopefully in a few years the child wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing.

The egg and dairy industries are horrific too, probably sometimes as bad as the meat industry. I feel like the only real answer is to go vegan (and even that isn’t perfect) but I don’t have the willpower tbh.

Depends on the bug I guess and how he killed it but, as you've said small and trod on, as a parent I'd think you were massively over reacting and a little bit bat shit.

If he'd sat and plucked the wings off a butterfly, you'd have a point. Stepping on an ant I can let go

I love that 😂, SAVE THE FROGS 🐸🪷🫶🏻✌🏻☮️!

Don't be so utterly sanctimonious

It is normal behaviour. Not particularly nice but completely normal.

Sounds like your house has some serious issues tbh. Is the brickwork sealed? I'd be getting it inspected as that's not normal at all

@IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine this is in response to you! Still trying to get used to how to post on here.. lol.

Tell me you have never swatted a mosquito or put ant powder down or eaten a piece of chicken.
Id think you didn't understand the emotional capacity of a 5 year old when moat adults do the same thing

People swat mosquitos to stop them biting them, they put ant powder down to stop them invading their kitchens and then eat chicken for food. Killing an animal for entertainment is a very different scenario to all of these.

I agree with you OP, especially after the lessons. Although I would have gently explained it was an unkind thing to do, I wouldn't have given the bad behaviour point.

Ironic much