Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Whole Primary School going to Narnia but .......................

62 replies

Mistymoo · 15/12/2005 17:03

we don't think it is suitable for our ds who is 5. My dh and I saw it at the weekend and as our ds often has nightmares and has not watched any similar films in the cinema so we felt he should not go.

I think we are in the minority and so our ds would be at school on his own as head thinks he should still be in school. I am planning keeping him off for the day.

If I keep him off it will be counted as an unauthorised abscence but I think it is a bit cruel to let him watch all the other children going off without him.

What would you do?

OP posts:
BudaBabeInAManger · 15/12/2005 17:06

Print off the other thread from here about the suitability of Narnia for younger children and show it to the head!

FestiveFrex · 15/12/2005 17:07

Try negotiating with the head. At the end of the day, an unauthorised absence counts more against the school than against your child.

The film is rated PG, which means parental guidance, so the school should have consulted parents before booking the whole school in to see it.

Kelly1978 · 15/12/2005 17:07

I would keep him home. The are going to the cinema to see a film, it is hardly educational, so how can he preach abotu unauthorised absence! I really don't think it is appropriate for the school to take 5yos to see narnia in school time.

FestiveFrex · 15/12/2005 17:09

Alternatively, call in sick that day. They'd be hard pressed to prove otherwise.

EasyOnTheSherryPlease · 15/12/2005 17:09

I don't condone lying EVER, but I think a judicious bout of Vom & di might be called for, IYSWIM

AnnieSG · 15/12/2005 17:10

My DS is nearly seven and I must say, I felt the film skirted VERY close to being a higher certificate. We loved it, but it was very scary in places and has a violent battle scene. I feel quite vindicated about Revenge of Sith and Harry Potter now - most of his friend's parents are letting them see it. I think you should trust your instincts. DS is quite hardy but wanted to hold my hand in scary parts.

BluStocking · 15/12/2005 17:10

DP took DS, 4.5 yesterday, against my assertively given advice (aka grrrr).
DS, not a particularly nervous child, spent some time clinging to DP asking to be taken out, but survived by not watching for the scary bits.
He also had nightmares about it last night. Says he enjoyed it, though. DP said it was quite scary and the fights were violent and a bit gruesome.

I don't think I'd be happy about DS being taken by school, and it seems v unreasonable if the school counted it as unauthorised absence!

FlameRobin · 15/12/2005 17:10

I would keep him off. You can do something special with him by yourself.

The school DD is meant to be going to does a school trip to the local panto each year - same situation, if you don't want them to go, then they must go to school as normal. Panto has always been very much a family christmas thing for us, and I won't be wanting her to go with the school. Something like Narnia which you are doing for even better reasons I would feel even more strongly about.

AnnieSG · 15/12/2005 17:11

Can I just add that I think it is really inappropriate for a school to take all the kids to a film - parents might object for any number of reasons and it just makes you seem a spoilsport. You know, I bet you'll find lots of others in his year feel the same way.

FlameRobin · 15/12/2005 17:12

I don't think yuo should lie - be honest, say that you don't feel their trip is suitable, and you will be giving your child a treat in the same way his fellow pupils are having one.

bakedpotatohoho · 15/12/2005 17:12

Amazed a primary would think it suitable trip.
I've just seen it. No way would I want a 5YO to see it. There was a child of 5ish in the cinema with his dad and, fair's fair, he didn't seem scared, but he was very bored and made loads of noise throughout.
I thought there was loads of nightmare potential.

Kelly1978 · 15/12/2005 17:13

my 5.5yo has seen it, btu she isn't easily scared. I know plenty of kids that would be. I doubt if my ds will be able to watch it at five.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 15/12/2005 17:14

It's parental guidance so it's your choice. Thing is, they're not going to be at the cinema for the whole day I assume (?) in which case your DS should be in school and to keep him off all day would be unauthorised absence. A sudden stomach bug is all that's needed - he'll be better by Monday.

DS2 (4.5) wasn't scared at all though. That's why it's parental guidance because only you know if it's suitable or not.

BluStocking · 15/12/2005 17:14

Depending on my usual realtionship with the school, i think i would either be very upfront and honest and say that I didn't want him to go to that film, but would take him to another more suitable one at the same time as the rest of the class were at the cinema (and send him to school for the other part of the day) or I would keep him off sick.

It is a bit much to take the whole school to a pg film.

Original poster
Mistymoo · 15/12/2005 17:16

FF- The school did send out letters - my son never brought one home so I do not know how the letter was worded. I do know the primary 1 - 3 were supposed to be going to the panto but it was booked up and so because primary 4 - 7 were going to Narnia they thought they would take them all. I had signed a permission slip for the panto and they were going to use that.

I did speak to the head about the suitability of the film. She said "but its a U". I told her it was a PG and I had seen it.

I even thought the trailers for King Kong that were shown before it were not suitable for a 5 year old.

OP posts:
EasyOnTheSherryPlease · 15/12/2005 17:16

You know, FlameRobin is right. On second thoughts, don't throw a sikky, tell the headteacher that you feel this film is inappropriate for your child, and you will take your child to a more suitable Christmas treat.

If s/he complains that your child should be in school, ask for a detailed run-down of what they plan to do on that day, how many other children will be in school, and decide for yourself if you want your child to seem 'little orphan' in that environment. Then keep him off school if it seems appropriate.

FlameRobin · 15/12/2005 17:19

I would keep them off the whole day purely because when the rest of the school return, there is still very much the "we've been on a trip" feel... by the next day it is over.

Aren't you allowed a certain amount of unauthroised anyway?

Original poster
Mistymoo · 15/12/2005 17:20

DoesntChristmasDragOn - It is an all day trip. We live about 25 miles from the cinema and they have scheduled 9.30 - 2.30 for the trip.

My ds goes to school from 9 - 2.30.

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 15/12/2005 17:23

OMG I would do my conkers. No way, Ds is 4.5 and he wasn't overly impressed with Nanny McPhee in places.....Oh what to do poor you.

Enideepmidwinter · 15/12/2005 17:30

I'd be very pissed off

what a waste of a school day

I want dd1 to read the book first

and I think she'd poo her pants (and she is nearly 6)

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 15/12/2005 17:32

Do you care if it goes down as unauthorised absence? As someone else said, it counts more against the school than it does against you.

I do think that the children are still likely to be talking about it the next day though so your DS is still going to feel "left out". I can't imagine that you are the only parent who has a problem with their young child seeing this film though - provided they know what it's like (which is not necessarily the case).

WigWamBam · 15/12/2005 17:33

My dd is 4.5 and she wouldn't be going either. It's utter madness to think that taking the entire school is acceptable, particularly the Reception class - not all children of that age are happy to sit and watch films in the cinema at all, let alone one with a PG rating.

I have to say, though, that my dd would prefer to go to school rather than take a day off, even if she was the only child there! I think you should negotiate with the head; it's unfair that he should have to have an unauthorised absence when it's their mistake in thinking that the film is a U that has allowed this to happen.

Original poster
Mistymoo · 15/12/2005 17:36

I have heard some talk about it but then the teacher went on to say that her son went and he was fine (her son must be in his late teens/20's as he works!!!!!)

She also said about another member of staff who went with her dd and she thought it was fine (I know the dd and she is in the Academy).

Now I think these parents are sending their children. I definately feel there is pressure to go even if you feel that it is not suitable.

OP posts:
LIZS · 15/12/2005 17:39

I think that is really presumptuous to arrange it without much thought as to its suitability for all the children and present it as a fait accompli. Can't they find another film more suitable for the younger age group ?

I was concerned about dd(4) seeing James and the Giant Peach on video at After School Care, although it was possibly only for Year 1 and up age group.

hana · 15/12/2005 17:41

such a shame about the movie chosen, I don't think it's suitable for younger primary at all
but I don't agree that it's a waste of a school day - these kids have worked hard all term and they're having a fun day , good on them!

Swipe left for the next trending thread