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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:

LIZS · 15/12/2005 17:41

btw ds is almost 8 and neither he nor I would be happy for him to go and see it without one of us.

Original poster

Mistymoo · 15/12/2005 17:53

Thank you for all your messages. I do feel better on many levels.

I felt bad for sticking to my guns and not letting him see it, but if I did let him I would worry about him all day. He is a quiet and sensitive boy and would not say anything about being scared or wanting to leave the cinema.

I thought "unauthorised abscence" was a reflection on the child but obviously the head is only concerned about her figures. I did speak to the deputy who said she thought it was OK to keep him off but not to say she said so.

OP posts:

tamum · 15/12/2005 17:56

There's a similar thing here- at my children's school the P3-P7 are going to Narnia, but P1 and P2 are going to Lassie, and any older children are welcome to go to Lassie instead. Quite a few have chosen to. The other local school are all going to Narnia, and I know some parents are going for the unauthorised absence rather than send them. It's not very far-sighted of the school, is it?

TheFish · 15/12/2005 17:58

i think the school shoudl have a teacher at shcool for kids hwo cant go

Original poster

Mistymoo · 15/12/2005 18:01

There will be provision at school but they will have to watch the other kids leave and when I spoke to the Deputy she said there were very few that weren't going.

OP posts:

LIZS · 15/12/2005 18:03

Can't you take him in after the others leave.

UCM · 15/12/2005 18:43

I would not let him go if you don't think it's suitable. I would also NOT accept the unauthorised absence. I would kick up a big huge stink about that, as going to the cinema to see a pg film at that age is not teaching bugger all. I am pretty sure that there will be other parents who feel the same way.

Caligyulea · 15/12/2005 18:48

When did this fashion for schools taking kids to the cinema come in?

My primary school never saw it as its job to create resentment, confusion, hysterical excitment and/ or irritation by taking us all out to the pictures. WTF is all that about? Why is it necessary?

If they're going to do school trips like this, they should make some effort to make them inclusive, so that every single person in the class can go. I rather object to the principle of all this - it just doesn't sound like they've thought very much about it in terms of choosing an outing or film which is suitable for every member of the class (although I must admit if I were a primary school teacher, I too would say "bugger whether little Johnny will be scared, I'm gagging to see Narnia - so: Narnia it is then?").

FestiveFrex · 15/12/2005 18:48

I would also query their decision to transfer the permission slip from a panto outing to the cinema outing. If you sign a permission slip, it should relate to the outing specified. It isn't something which is transferable, in my view. They may be putting the school in a vulnerable position. If anything were to happen to a child, the parents could say that they hadn't given their permission for the child to go to the cinema and the school wouldn't be able to prove that they had. Omission isn't classed as permission so the school couldn't say they had advised of the change of plan and no one had withdrawn their permission.

satine · 15/12/2005 19:26

Haven't read the whole thread but just wanted to express my that a primary school has made a decision to take all the kids to see a film which is quite scarey and could easily spark nightmares or anxiety in more imaginative or sensitive children! I suspect that whoever thought of this remembered the books from their childhood and didn't do proper research into whether the film is really suitable for all children. Stick to your guns, girl.

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 15/12/2005 19:47

Complain to the governors. I would. The film is PG rated which means there are bound to be some parents who would prefer their child not to see it and some children who would not wish to watch. The school cannot insist your child goes, it is ludicrous that he should sit in school on his own and the head knows that (secretly) I suspect. I would keep him off school, I wouldn't le about an illness, why should you? you are only exercising your parental rights. If they want to mark him down as an unauthorised absence, let them get on with it. It won't prevent him going to Oxford or becoming Prime Minister.

Enideepmidwinter · 15/12/2005 19:48

I would ask what they have provided as an alternative.

trips to the panto/cinema bonkers IMO

nooka · 15/12/2005 20:31

My children aren't going on any trips with school, but I would not be at all happy for them to be taken to Narnia, and I would wonder how happy the teachers are to take the younger children. My ds (6 and in yr2)probably could cope, and I would quite like to take him, but my dd (5 and in reception) definitely would not. She would need someones lap to sit on and a lot of reassurance, and would probably have nightmares afterwards. I would imagine that most of her class would be quite similar. I wonder how many adults are going on that trip? I would also suspect that the permission slips would not be valid. Kick up a fuss!

hullabaloo · 15/12/2005 21:30

My SIL is in this exact same position. My niece's school has decided to take the whole school to see Narnia rather than a panto. I was shocked that they would make this choice as in my opinion it isn't suitable. Also as it is a PG they should not be pressurising parents into allowing their children to go and see a movie which they wouldn't choose to send them to. My iece is only 5 as is my son who I know would be petrified. I would keep child off and speak again to the head. If there was still a problem I would go above her and see what they thought of the decision.

Wordsmith · 15/12/2005 21:31

Don't think it's suitable for some 5 yr olds. I wouldn't take my DS and would be most annoyed if the school took him.

emkana · 15/12/2005 21:34

I would be furious at this. Dd is 4 and a half and the only film she has seen at the cinema is Heffalump - and the scariest film she has ever watched is Babe!

Original poster

Mistymoo · 16/12/2005 17:08

Just thought I'd add that I found out that only 3 in the school are not going and I know for a fact that one of them is not going to school on Monday.

I presume the other parent will keep their child off too and so if I do send ds he will be on his own.

OP posts:

hercules · 16/12/2005 17:34

I took ds (nearly 10) to see it the other day and imo he was only just old enough for it. I would tell the school you werent sending him as you consider it is not appropriate for your child's age.

uwilalalalalala · 16/12/2005 18:44

Take this to the school. Copied from www.bbfc.co.uk/classification/c_pg.php

"Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ?PG? film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children."

Has the school gotten every single parents permission? Surely they aren't taking young children to a movie not suitable to the age group... and without parental consent. Oh you can't be the only parent objecting. Have you talked to other parents?

puff · 16/12/2005 18:52

I think it is bonkers tbh. Ks2 classes being taken in rotation ie not all on the same day would seem ok, but as a trip, it's way off beam for early years children - yes, some will cope fine, others will be terrified.

Crap idea.

Original poster

Mistymoo · 16/12/2005 18:52

Permission has been received by all the parents but 3 (me being one of them). I know all this because I have been volunteering at the school all week and the deputy head told me.

The head was also expecting me to look after the 3 that were not going, as I have been volunteering to help out at school over the last week and next week and I am on the non teaching staff relief list!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

BluStocking · 16/12/2005 18:55

OhO! So where does that leave you?

Original poster

Mistymoo · 16/12/2005 18:59

The deputy told me to phone in and say ds was sick.

I'm not getting paid for my help so I don't feel under any obligation to go in. I also know that AF will be visiting then so I won't be feeling very well any way

OP posts:

puff · 16/12/2005 19:00

Misty, are you a member of staff at the school?

I'd have had parents up in arms about this when I was teaching (early years) - there would have been loads of parents of younger children very unhappy about it.

puff · 16/12/2005 19:00

Oh right, well definitely call ds in sick then.

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