I'm so shocked! But am IBU?

[WhoIsAsking]

I am perfectly prepared to be told that IABU but

So, this morning my DS2 (aged 9, in Yr 5) informs me that his class are doing a project on the Haiti tragedy. DS2 has a vivid imagination (in the past he has told me that his friends are digging a tunnel out of the school/a squirrel stole his reading book etc) and so I asked him if he was telling me a story or whether this was true. He said he was telling a fib.

Anyway, I have just received a phone call from his supply teacher telling me that his class are doing a "project" on the earthquake and that he needs to bring in some newspaper cuttings of the effects of the disaster. The children will then be doing a role playing exercise where one child will be the "victim" and the other will be an "interviewer"

I am gobsmacked TBH. Now, before anyone gets the wrong idea, I am NOT of the opinion that Haiti should be swept under the carpet, and have talked to my children about the terrible things that are happening over there. I have donated money and have cried along with the rest of the world at the pictures on the news and at the dreadful images in the papers. I just feel that this is in really bad taste.

As I said at the beginning I am prepared to be told IABU, and I'm wondering if I'm being over sensitive and PSB?

YANBU to question the roleplay bit and I would (as a teacher who uses roleplay a lot) question its point in discussing a very serious tragedy as it somehow seems to turn the whole thing into drama/playacting.

Dd is younger, (6) and we have vetted some of the news (v graphic images on tv here) but explained to her what has happened etc (she wants to send "all Mum's money" to Haiti) but I can see that older children, sadly do need to know and talk about what happens in the world.

When I was about that age, the Hillsborough disaster happened and I remember english lessons based on it, with us looking at newspapers and so on. It was upsetting but actually I think it was also good to discuss and reflect with peers - it was good for us as children to be in a safe familar environment when encountering the disaster.

I know it seems distasteful to 'use' a disaster as a learning/development exercise. But it seems worse not to cover it at all.

Oh, just want to add that we have talked about what's happening in Haiti. We haven't watched much of the news footage as I find it too upsetting TBH.

Didn't want anyone to think that I was shielding my children completely from World events, I don't, but DS2 is quite prone to bad dreams, and some of the images have been harrowing

Whoisasking - that is my point about the roleplay

Roleplay about such an enormous disaster would likely result in nightmares for my ds, not a great idea

I also think to do a 'project' and roleplay about such an enormous disaster is in VERY poor taste. It belittles just what an horrific situation most people in the area must be in right now.

I think that people need to bear in mind that the teacher will have some amount of common sense.

Jaysus, I don't think you're being unreasonable at all - I'd probably do my nut if I were you...I appreciate what other posters are saying about teaching empathy etc, and we all did projects of that nature in primary school - but its too close for comfort, and its happening RIGHT NOW. There's an article in the Guardian today which mentions the fact that staff at medicins sans frontiers have had to buy a frickin SAW at the local market place to carry out amputations because medical supplies are so scarce...and they've run out of morphine...surely that would upset a fair few nine year olds out there??

And if the UN were in Haiti before the quakes to keep the peace, can you imagine the murder, rape and pillage that's going on now amoungst the 200,000 rotting corpses? It must be ANARCHY - like some kind of post- Papa Doc 28-days-later-type-horror at night - and I'd despair if my kid was participating in some cosy "role play" about it.

I bet the kids will be taught nothing but the bloody headlines as well as self-absolution through donation...

oh God, I think its time my soap box and I went to live on the side of a mountain - sorry OP!

amongst

YABU.

To be honest, as a teacher, I would rather do a circle time to discuss the disaster. Children might want to talk, but others might not want to (I remember wanting to shield myself from certain events in the news at that age - I didn't want to contemplate them happening to me and they distressed me).

Role play is unreasonable.

YANBU. People are stiil trapped/ dying/ injured. Families are still coming to terms with their losses.

I think this is needs to be discussed more at home than in school. (Not saying it shouldn't be discussed in school - it should, but parents can decide what they do and don't shield their own children from).