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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be shocked at my DD being taught multiplication by using pretend shooting with finger guns

111 replies

MrsPurple · 01/03/2009 22:47

My DD1,who is 5 and in year 1, was teaching me how they do ten times table at school and she said they play shoot out with their fingers as guns.

I asked her to show me and she pointed (fingers as gun) at me asked a question related to ten times table and who ever didn't answer got shot .

In this day and age with all the gun crime, AIBU to be upset about this?

We have always tried to instill go values in our children,but this has shocked me. I want to go and talk to the teacher about it, but don't want to look too over protective. I think IMO it is wrong to use this style of teaching, but wondered what others thoughts are on this, or is it a standard teaching practice?

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsPurple · 02/03/2009 00:05

Not saying it will lead to gun crime,but at age 5 I don't think it is a suitable method of teaching.

The link I posted earlier talked about 'shoot out' but didin't use finger guns and said it was aimed at 7 to 11 year olds.

OP posts:

JodieO · 02/03/2009 00:06

It's the impression it gives imo, that it's ok and a fun thing to do. I grew up in East London and gun crime was/is prevelent there, it isn't fun at all.

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:08

But children through the history of time have played cops and robbers and pirates and cowboys and indians. It's just 'bang, you're dead'. They've always done it.

I wouldn't buy my kids toy guns that LOOK like real guns, but how many people objecting to this have water pistols in the house? We certainly do!

JodieO · 02/03/2009 00:09

Yes they do but it isn't orchestrated by their teacher, the person they look up to and follow throughout their school day/life. Totally different scenarios.

Original poster

MrsPurple · 02/03/2009 00:12

Sorry Lilybolero I know what has happened in history and I didn't ask for the world to turn out as it has, but as a parent I try and protect my DC from things like guns, only for the school to go and use them as a teaching aid .

That can't be right.

IMO I don't think the teacher has thought it though and has not adjusted her teaching from Year 6 to year 1. (she has only ever taught year 6 before).

OP posts:

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:12

It's only a bit of fun though. I really don't think there's a problem, and suggestions of 'going to the LEA' are WAY over the top.

JodieO · 02/03/2009 00:14

I wouldn't want a child in year 6 taught in that way either....

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:14

MrsPurple - my opinion is that gun crime is ENTIRELY unrelated to 'play guns'.

I don't like them either, and as it happens my kids' school does have a 'no shooting games' policy. But I don't have a problem with the kids playing with their water pistols in the garden.

JodieO · 02/03/2009 00:14

Yes guns are so much fun... Not a great way to teach at all imo. I mentioned going to the lea if the school wasn't helpful if you read my post.

Original poster

MrsPurple · 02/03/2009 00:16

I wouldn't go to LEA - as I just think oversight by teacher. She is a lovely lady who would not mean any harm. She's great with the kids and as I mentioned previuosly has really helped my DD with a few problems she has encoutered with smalltime bullying.

I think I will just have a quick, quiet word with her tomorrow. It shouldn't need to go any further than that.

The game 'Shoot out' doesn't have to involve guns, it could be related to football.

OP posts:

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:19

Thing is you can go too far in 'sanitising childhood'. If you ban sweets, kids can end up craving them (as in the case of dh), if you ban all mention of guns then they can gain a sort of glamorous mystique, that makes them more desirable later on. Whereas a healthy normality (by which I mean 'real guns are horrible things, 'finger guns' are an inevitable part of childhood) enables sensible discussion when they're old enough.

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:19

MrsPurple - if you're concerned, then a quiet word with the teacher is always ok.

JodieO · 02/03/2009 00:21

lily guns and sweets are not comparable, you only have to google to see the problems that toy guns and games involving shooting can cause.

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:22

Video games yes. Finger guns and water pistols no.

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:23

I challenge you to find me ONE google link that suggests that you are more likely to commit gun crime if you have played 'pretend guns' (but NOT video games which are completely different imo) as a child.

Original poster

MrsPurple · 02/03/2009 00:25

I do agree about not banning somethings (i.e sweets - all in moderation). However the adult who my DD looks up to and spents a good part of her week with should not be using finger guns or any type of visual gun as a teaching aid when there are other aids available which are as much fun.

As I have pointed out my DD is 5 and I'm sure in the fure she will have questions but when she is a little older for me to explain the difference and tell her what real guns can do.

I do not want her having to deal with this at her age, and I certainly don't want someone else deciding this for me.

It's bad enough the teacher has let her watch some TV programmes which I disagree with on principal, although really harmful just giving her bad ideas etc. I can just about swallow that, but guns is another thing.

OP posts:

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:25

I also think there's a difference between water pistol type guns and 'replica' guns. The first is harmless, the second I could see might cause problems. Because the motivation behind them is different - with a water pistol it's a fun game, with a replica gun, it's a desire to have something that resembles a dangerous gun.

Original poster

MrsPurple · 02/03/2009 00:26

sorry got carried away a little there,but it is hard having family values and ideas when the people you trust use different ideals.

No offense meant Lily

OP posts:

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:27

I think if you are concerned, it's perfectly fine to speak to the teacher. But I really wouldn't be worried that your dd is going to become more likely to get involved in gun crime as a result!

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:28

And no offence taken!

JodieO · 02/03/2009 00:29

I don't need to find you a link, I've already read plenty, if you're serious about what you believe then you go google. I think you'll find that replica, toy, and pretend guns all change attitude and make them seem less serious, just like desentitisation. It's very real. Sad but true.

LilyBolero · 02/03/2009 00:31

well I did google and found nothing but stuff about video games. And also replica guns being a problem because it wastes police time.

Nothing about 'toy' guns (by which I mean the water pistol type) causing problems later on.

JodieO · 02/03/2009 00:31

Also, I don't think most children would see the difference between a "toy" gun and a replica, hence the problem and potential problems.

Original poster

MrsPurple · 02/03/2009 00:31

Lily, I have used Air rifles etc as part of my youth in aprofessional training capacity, however my DB also used then and then thought it would be fun to borrow my other DB rifle for pratice in the woods, his friend then used said rifle and ended up shooting my DB.
Although Db was okay after along hospital stay it did make me aware about guns etc, and where I lived (and where I now live) hasn'tgot a particular problem, but using them as a teaching aid just shows children that they are ok.

OP posts:

Desiderata · 02/03/2009 00:32

Now, the trouble with this sort of thinking is that's it's cock-eyed.

The government banned the wholesale possession of handguns in the wake of Dunblane, and guess what?

It's proliferated, of course.

I have no problem with this sort of teaching. Kids love all that sort of stuff.

The only way you're ever going to shoot someone dead in adolescence is by being a weird, fucked up screwball.

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