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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be disturbed that my DD was shown this anti-abortion video

317 replies

Tanga · 29/06/2010 22:27

DD (15) came home saying that she'd been shown a video of 'the baby's view of abortion' in her RE class today. She was pretty horrified (both for herself and on behalf of one of her friends who has had an abortion)which I'd guess would be a fairly typical response, but she went on to make some wildly innacurate comments about the proceedure (some very graphic so I'll spare you) so I asked her what it was she'd actually been shown.

It's called 'The Silent Scream' (written in Hammer horror style lettering) and I've googled it and am fairly appalled. It's (IMO) an anti-abortion piece of propaganda made in the '80's and is riddled with innaccuracies.

Is this a normal video to show a class of teenagers? It was presented as fact, BTW, and as 'the most humane method of abortion' by the RE teacher.

OP posts:
DitaVonCheese · 04/07/2010 23:05

Tanga I've just done a quick google and found a copy of the script here on the site for the film itself - it starts off by stating that it's anti-abortion propaganda and that parental guidance is advised!

Forgot to say YADDDNBU! Hope the head is more receptive than this idiot teacher.

DitaVonCheese · 04/07/2010 23:15

Jesus fucking Christ at that script! Shockingly emotive language as well Please can those who are saying YABU read through it and say honestly whether this is an honest and accurate portrayal of abortion? If the teacher thinks it's "scientific" then she's a nutjob.

treedelivery · 04/07/2010 23:38

It is not unreasonable to be outraged if this film is shown in a catholic school

If a school feels it has to teach the bible says abortion is wrong, it doesn't mean that terrifying factually incorrect films should be used. If a catholic school feels it needs to take the stance of the church, it can employ less hysterical and factually correct ways of doing that.

And even then, a good rounded education would present both sides of the coin. A dscussion on the need for safe legal provision of abortion is different to a discussion on the religious teachings on abortion, which is different again to the morals around abortion. To combine all these facets is a skill this teacher seems to be lacking.

Which is hardly surprising given her level of prejudice.

clemetteattlee · 04/07/2010 23:55

As an ex-head of humanities and SRE I am horrified that this is happening. It is not only inappropriate it is deeply unprofessional and could be reported to the General Teaching Council if the head's response is not satisfactory (he will try to downplay it but I'm sure you will be able to read between the lines as to how he has acted...)

Littlefish · 05/07/2010 08:37

VictoriaScrumptious - even if it's a catholic school it is still highly inappropriate to show something which is blatently inaccurate. Have you read the script or seen the film?

I was shown this film about 17 years ago in a catholic convent school. My parents complained back then about the inaccuracies it contained.

Clemette - good idea re GTC if no joy with the headteacher.

MmeLindt · 05/07/2010 08:46

Just read the script - or some of it. I could not read any more.

To show this film is so unprofessional. It has nothing to do with education. The teacher is forcing her moral views onto her pupils.

I do hope that you get an unreserved apology from the teacher and the school.

scaryteacher · 05/07/2010 11:03

'I can't understand why abortion is on the RE syllabus'

It's on the GCSE syllabus for Edexcel at least, under matters of life and death on the Religion and Life course. It's there because it addresses sanctity of life; when does life begin; lessor of two evils; situation ethics, to name a few.

Sometimes RE is the only place that these things will be raised and discussed with the students. You present the law, teach the various positions of the religions being studied, and have a class discussion on it, making sure that everyone knows the topic is coming up and that those who don't want to present aren't.

MrsvWoolf · 05/07/2010 11:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DuelingFanjo · 05/07/2010 11:22

oh well, if this is any indication of what is being taught in RE lessons then I think I'd pull my kids out of all RE lessons full stop.

Littlefish · 05/07/2010 12:36

I've just realised that I was shown this 27 years ago, and not 17! Blimey, I am really, really old!

clemetteattlee · 05/07/2010 12:56

DuelingFanjo, abortion is also on the PSHCE curriculum (although in my many years I have never taught/seen taught the physiology of the procedure). It is a moral issue and one that faces many young people at some time or another so it is IMO essential, but that students are able to explore their attitudes towards it, but without inaccuracy or bias.

DuelingFanjo · 05/07/2010 14:56

I would absolutely be OK with my children learning about abortion but not in this way (through RE lessons) as it adds some kind of moral aspect to it.

LollipopViolet · 05/07/2010 15:17

Tanga, if you google Silent Scream script, it's actually on the film's official website.

1pregheadpumpkin · 05/07/2010 17:44

video too graphic but most tenagers i know think abortion consists of removing a clump of cells.

i think everyone ought to know exactly what they are doing before they have a termination for social reasons.

its not just their body is it? its depriving a child of life. ok so rape and medical terminations are fair enough, no one should be forced to go through that, but young girls who accidentally get pregnant should not terminate without being made to understand what they are doing in full.

i fell pregnant at 17. its bloody hard work having to finish school whilst everyone stares at you and trying to save every penny you earn, but my baby is the happiest accident i've ever had and preserving this pregnancy has become the single most important thing in my life. sure, abortion would have nipped it in the bud, but im taking responsinility. if you cant then you should know what you're doing.

DuelingFanjo · 05/07/2010 18:33

"ok so rape and medical terminations are fair enough"

why do you think that the life of foetus created through rape is not worthy or protection?

"but young girls who accidentally get pregnant should not terminate without being made to understand what they are doing in full."

wht about older women who accidentally get pregnant?

Do you know what an accident is? A split condom is an accident, the filure of the pill - is that n accident?

desertgirl · 05/07/2010 18:45

1pregheadpumpkin: even if you believe people should be made to understand what they are doing in full, that doesn't justify showing them false information, does it? This film isn't accurate; that is a big part of the problem.

1pregheadpumpkin · 05/07/2010 18:51

sure older women too. anyone who is doing it for social reasons.

and id say yes a failure of the pill is an accident.

and if id said all abortion is wrong id be even more flamed.

and i did say was too graphic, i saw that video, it was awful. but being made to understand. i stick by that

DuelingFanjo · 05/07/2010 18:59

But why do you think children conceived through rpe re not worthy of the same protection as children conceived through an ccident. Why is their life not so important?

1pregheadpumpkin · 05/07/2010 19:11

I DO! i just predicted a grilling by people who'd been in that situation if i told them they'd made the wrong choice. because they'd say how can you judge? which i cant.

i can judge the accidental pregnancy abortion thing because i didnt have one. it would have been totally wrong of me.

if im totally honest, id put the foetus first in all situations but its controversial to say so so i didnt.

DitaVonCheese · 05/07/2010 19:31

Plenty of teenage girls who get pregnant don't know what they're doing. Why should they take the rap for society's failure to educate them?

hairytriangle · 05/07/2010 19:40

What's right for you may not be right for everyone. It's
about the right to choose. And before it's spouted a fetus has no capacity or need to choose a woman does.

1pregheadpumpkin · 05/07/2010 19:44

its easy to be in favour of abortion when you've already been born.

DitaVonCheese · 05/07/2010 20:02

It's hard to have views either way when you haven't

hairytriangle · 05/07/2010 20:04

I'm not in favour of abortion but an in favour choice

hairytriangle · 05/07/2010 20:04

Lol@ ditavc