The film "Alma" being shown to primary school children

[Mischance]

Has this happened with any of your children? It seems to be all the rage and standard practice in the curriculum for many schools. The film is utterly grotesque and has been the reason for school phobia in at least on child I know, and a source of great distress to others.

If you go online you can find lesson plans from many schools, both primary and yrs 7/8.

When I think about all the wonderful inspiring literature that we have it makes my heart sink that such a grim piece of film should be chosen.

I am not asking for all their reading to be of the "Care Bear" style, and inevitably they will be exposed to more challenging, but at primary school? Why, just why?

Sorry op, but my dc would absolutely love that to have been shown at primary.

One of them in Y2 for their Sat's had to write about Owl Babies... The teacher was laughing telling me about the work they handed in complaining it was a rubbish book with a rubbish story for babies and had a list of books they preferred.

Hopefully it engages children and sparks curiosity.

It sounds fucking scary. I will admit I'm a big wuss but I wouldn't watch it. 2 of my kids would have loved it. One wouldn't have slept for a week afterwards

Just watched it on youtube. I really wouldn't call it grotesque. It's so important children learn about all types of literature- this is a really interesting concept, relatable to children, a little bit scary and creepy but definitely not OTT for years 7 and 8. Almost a bit gothic horror? I think it's great.

I agree OP, I would seriously question the wisdom of showing that film to primary aged children. I am sure some would enjoy it and could cope with it, but I think a significant number would find it very disturbing. I would have absolutely hated it at that age and if this was shown to my children and they were disturbed by it I would be really cross with the school. Brrrrr. Horrible.

It's a bit boring and cliched. Not an original idea at all. There were much better stories in Misty and even Bunty and Judy back in the day 😆. Some of them scared me half to death.

Mine would have loved that.

Showing my age now but does anyone remember 'The Boy From Space' they used to show in primary schools in the 80's? And the public information films about the dangers of railway lines and electricity substations?

I don't think this film was any scarier than that. Getting children to engage with writing can be challenging and if this sparks their interest then I'm all for it.

This is a perennial question.
I complained to my GCSE teacher that we were reading Lord of the Flies, which I found to be horrific and deeply disturbing, because of what it says about the
psychology of human beings (or at least boys). I thought at the time (as an opinionated teenager) that the book should not be taught in schools. Most of my class quite liked the gore and drama and didn't really engage with the psychology.
However I suffered no long-term damage.

If the material is aimed to be 'suitable for even the most sensitive', then half the class will find it childish and boring. Sadly, material has to be aimed at 'the average' when you are teaching a class of 30.

Why is it better for sensitive children to be horrified, than it is for horror-fan children to be bored?

If teachers aimed all teaching content at the most sensitive, perhaps the UK wouldn’t have the worst school age mental health in Europe.

It's an important message for children to learn about being careful when they're curious about something, and they have to learn sometime.

At least they're not watching those godawful public information films from the seventies and eighties. Now THEY'RE terrifying.

The film in question does not have a UK certificate. However, in countries where it does have a certificate, it has the equivalent of a U certificate. According to IMDb, it has moderate frightening and intense scenes. If primary schools can't show films with a U certificate or equivalent, what can they show?

I've just looked up the film and I think you need to let go of your pearls.

perhaps the UK wouldn’t have the worst school age mental health in Europe.

We don't. Not even close.

My Y6 child is using this as a stimulus for creative writing. He's very enthusiastic about it!

It's a fucking horrible film and boring to boot. Our primary school got so many complaints from parents they no longer teach it. I can think of quite a few 'U' films which wouldn't be appropriate. I've seen plenty of reminiscent threads of 70-90s kids programs and several posters having 'watership down' burned into the psyche.