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

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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.

So presumably if you ever get headlice you just leave them to freely roam all over your head or your children's. They're living creatures, or do you draw your own moral line about which bugs are okay to kill?

Oh dear, I swim against the tide here. My father was a gardener (professionally) and my role as a child was often to despatch unwanted insects eg, earwigs, snails, codling moth caterpillers but I also knew which insects were allowed in the garden. Frankly, as a school governor of over 30 years I would suggest the reaction of the teacher was a tad OTT.

This.

This is how I would want it handled as a parent. To know if there was a pattern of him seeking out bugs to kill, showing off doing it or trying to get others to do it. Parents need to know that behaviour. One off I would trust the teacher to deal with it.

It's something that's been dealt with within school, so can probably stay there unless there are other incidents to deal with. However, as a parent I'd want to know given the ethos of the lesson and the fact a living creature had been killed for no good reason.

Everyone is assuming this was a teacher. OP didn't say that, they said "I work in a school". Teachers only make up about half of the workforce.

I think it is a huge leap from squashing a bug to cruelty.

They are 6 they see probably 90% of adults in their lives killing bugs. Hence they are not going to link this with being mean to an animal.

I would roll my eyes at a teacher who didn't get that at that age they understand some parts of wrong v right. Their empathy is still in development mode and will probably still be linked to linear rather than complex application.

Plenty of grown adults stand on bugs. I don't see the issue and wouldn't be impressed and consider it a non issue.

Can you send him round please? I’ve got some snails I need taken care of. Cheers.

@Elber I enjoyed the way you raised the philosophical issues in this question!

I worked with 5 to 6 year olds and have a 6 year old myself. He knows not to step on a bug and so did they children I worked with. Even my nursery know. One of them stood on a worm, they had a good telling off and I made him say sorry to the poor worm too! They do understand at that age!

Not really, considering the kind of cruelty and abuse these animals experience on their way to becoming your "food". Just look up Factory Farming and maybe next time teach a lesson about that!

How do we expect our children to respect life and take care of smaller/weaker creatures when we are role modeling the very opposite?

I have NEVER liked bugs. My instincts have always been and still are to squash any that come my way. Basically, kill them.

No one has ever pulled me aside for it. And if they did, I would be very amused.

So do you never swat a fly? Kill a wasp that's on your drink? Spray for ants or mosquitoes or moths?

TBH I’d just say, ‘That wasn’t very nice, was it? The poor thing wasn’t doing any harm.’

Maybe he’s seen his parents doing the same - it’s entirely possible.
I wouldn’t take it any further.

Sounds like an over-reaction from all quarters. Some children are terrified of bugs and they may well have acted in fear without any rational thought rather than killing for fun. You could have used this as a further learning opportunity. Personally, I don't think there was any need to involve the parent unless part of a repeated pattern of behaviour.

We are a house where spiders are taken outside, wasps and bluebottles are guided to an open window and daddy long legs can stay in their corners. I had to get rid of an ant infestation a few years ago, I didn’t like it but it had to be done.

Teach them when they’re young to respect even tiny living creatures (I will make an exception for nits!).

Is there? In the modern world you can survive perfectly well without eating meat. You choose to for fun i.e you enjoy the taste and texture.

I would want to be told because it would mean I needed to do some more work on things like empathy, impulse control, maybe read some stories about bugs etc.

You need to know if there's a gap in the things you're teaching your child or areas you need to do a little extra on.

It's just part of raising children. They need your guidance and you need the fullest picture possible at all times in order to do your job properly and know what might need a little extra attention at what time.

Whilst it isn’t very nice of the child to do this, humans kill animals for all sorts of reasons. I don’t think you could argue many of the reasons are essential for our survival. I agree with your view completely but I wouldn’t bring it up with the parents as I also think it not rational as I am a meat eater and don’t mind killing mosquitos.

You know house spiders die if you put them outside though?

This.

Oh no 😱I did not. Thanks for the heads up. I feel bad now 😢

Yes, your home is their home. https://www.treehugger.com/facts-about-misunderstood-house-spider-4868827

I use mine as an excuse to dodge housework.
Can't possibly take the duster to the cobwebs in the corner if my housemate is using it, can I? It would be most inconsiderate of me🤣

I kill bugs. Ants, spiders, cockroaches, flies, mozzies. Is it just other bugs you think is cruel to kill? I don’t kill harmless bugs like ladybugs or crickets ect. Or beetles. But in terms of being ‘cruel’ I don’t really see much difference between swatting a fly and killing any other insect they are both living.

I live in Australia and there are certain pests we are encouraged to kill. Cane toads for example. There is also certain fish and crayfish that if you catch them you must kill them it’s actually illegal to throw them back.