Year 6 (11 year olds) torturing worms

[mollyminniemo]

I know this may look like a rather bizarre thread but I need some other thoughts/ advice. My DS (11) who is a vegetarian and animal lover told me 4 of his friends yesterday stomped on a worm and killed it on purpose. DS was trying to save it on a sports field and they crowded round him to stop him getting a little stick to take it away and into soil away from all the kids. They kept preventing him from doing it and then crowded round and began stomping on the poor worm. Every time DS tried to get back in they’d (I don’t think with much force) use their hockey sticks to bat him away. They all took part in gleefully stamping on the poor worm “untill it was just mush”.
I’m horrified. What would you do?
I can speak to the boys myself as I come into the school at lunchtimes in the week. Or
message the parents? Ask the headmaster to discuss it in an assembly or with them individually?

You cannot be serious, surely?

You want the head teacher to call in a group of pupils individually to discuss trading on a worm? Good luck

I was nervous reading the title but it sounds like they were just stomping on a worm? Not brilliant but definitely not "torture"

They didn’t “tread” on it. They tortured it stamping on it taking turns on purpose.

I don’t like stuff like this either OP. I don’t think the Head will do much, all you can do is teach your boy that his mindset is kind and you’re proud of him for not joining in.

You should definitely report this to the school OP. Honestly surprised that some people are saying don't bother!

Animal / creature abuse is awful, whether that's a worm or cat or anything.

Sadly it’s no wonder we have kids enjoying deliberately inflicting pain on fellow living creatures when they have parents, judging from some of the comments on here, who have not taught them love, compassion, empathy, kindness, respect for all living creatures. This is how serial killers are made.

For those who think this is ok, where do you draw the line with animal cruelty?

Acceptable to stamp on a worm, but what about a butterfly? Ok to torture a bird? What about a kitten or puppy?

I think that's pretty horrible op. If I was one of their mums I'd want to know so I could teach my child about respect and empathy for all living beings.

I don't know what your job is at the school but I wouldn't use it to deal with something that concerns your child. I would tell the head or their teacher though. They don't have to punish rhe boys but maybe they can do a school or class assembly or a lesson on nit hurting other living beings for fun.

The flip side of this is thst you should be super proud of your son. It must have been upsetting for him but he sounds lovely.

My son is still very little but I hope when he's older he will be like your son!!

They didn’t “tread” on it. They tortured it stamping on it taking turns on purpose.

it would have been dead with first stamp. This is unequivocally not torture.

This is how serial killers are made.

no it’s really not

Every time DS tried to get back in they’d (I don’t think with much force) use their hockey sticks to bat him away.

Jesus Christ and you're asking what you should do?

It sounds as thought more thought was being given to the worm than reporting your son's bullies to the school.

That’s quite horrible. I would speak to the teacher, hopefully they’ll do some PSHE around it.
It's well known that torturing creatures like insects can be a precursor to bullying or otherwise abusive behaviour, and if those children don’t know that what they did was wrong, it needs to be clarified. However, it shouldn’t be you that does that. You won’t get any thanks and it may well cause issues for your son.
I do think your son deserves praise for standing up for what he knows to be right, it can’t have been easy with the others all opposing him.

It's not great and I'd report it to the school however whatever role you have in school you can not talk to these children about it, it is not your place and your DS will be bullied mercilessly and the chances are it'll be brought up again when / if they go to High School together. The teacher won't individually interrogate them but may well mention in an assembly the importance of kindness to all animals no matter how big or small

I used to do this thing called 'worm hospital' where we'd cut them in half to see if they'd grow again. And also pretend to 'save' the dying ones. This was around that age, late primary.

It's not great is it. But it didn't lead me to become a torturer. And I'd never have dreamt of hurting a bigger animal. Not that I'm justifying it, but it is based on curiosity. Rather than malice.

It's good if he tells them how gross it is. That hurting animals is disgusting.

But I wouldn't start assuming they're on the road to becoming the local band of axe murders.

Worms lack the necessary brain structures to feel pain. Doesn’t mean we should stamp on them. But it’s not torture. And it’s not similar to stamping on an invertebrate animal

At 11 years old, the kids in the OP should know better.

Im sure the boys will reflect on this and feel bad. Hopefully wont happen again. You need to let this go

I’d definitely report it to the school. When I was at school around 9 years old a boy in my class was collecting ladybirds, pulling their wings off then putting them in crisp packets and stomping on them. It was really upsetting. I told the headmaster and the boy got a big telling off…

I have to admit to chopping the odd worm in half at around that age to see if it became 2.

I would keep an eye on the situation. If it is a regular thing then I would mention it to the teacher so they can maybe do a pshe lesson on the importance of kindness to animals. Hopefully it’s a one off

@19751974P yeah, I guess so. I was in primary school and had mates a year or two younger at the time. Secondary age you should be above such things and no need for the curiosity aspect as that should have happened before.

*Meraleine *that’s a myth.

https://nautil.us/even-worms-feel-pain-238436/

brotherswormfarm.com/blogs/composting-with-live-worms/do-worms-feel-pain#:~:text=What%20Science%20Says-,Do%20Worms%20Feel%20Pain:%20What%20Science%20Says,pain%20the%20way%20humans%20do.

A study from Northwestern University found that flatworms possess receptors that respond to noxious stimuli like scalding heat and dangerous chemicals. This discovery points to a deep-rooted evolutionary trait, suggesting a form of pain or sensation detection in earthworms. More specifically, the study shows that worms have receptors, similar to those in humans and other mammals, that are highly sensitive and help the worms avoid or respond to environmental hazards.

It's just a worm. It was dead with the first stomp.

I wouldn't say anything.

I think it's cruel too, OP. We should teach children to be kind to all living things, including the ones we don't like. I think with younger children, there is sometimes an element of natural curiosity with cutting up worms etc, but a Y6 should know better.

There is a hierarchy with animals, and unfortunately lots of people will condemn things like kicking a cat, but will laugh at someone's childhood 'hamster story', or will encourage children to run at and scare pigeons.

School won't do anything, but praise your son for his empathy.

I'm with you OP. It's exceptionally nasty behaviour and unacceptable. I agree with PP that you shouldn't talk to the boys yourself, but do tell the school. And make sure you big up your wonderful son! Show him (some of) the comments on here - he's on the side of right. Maybe you could support him to do something positive for animals/wildlife etc so that he can feel that he is somehow redressing the balance.

It might have been "just a worm" but what horrible behaviour and how horrible it must have been to see happen. Those kids sound grim. I'd mention it to the teacher, but I was the child who used to put sticking plasters on snails with broken shells.