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
Petitions and activism
Original poster

Schools are using plays with very offensive and explicit language.

124 replies

Sherrie2 · 07/02/2014 13:59

Parents may not be aware that whereas TV and films seek to protect children from inappropriate material using the watershed and film classifications, plays are not subject to any censorship and schools are using material for GCSE which would be viewed as for adults only. This is an issue for drama and English Literature. My daughter's play 'Mogadishu' contained about 400 expletives, including over 200 uses of the 'f' word and over 10 uses of the 'c' word, as well as sexually explicit language. She was 14 at the time and was made to feel very uncomfortable as she had to read the script out for drama. This particular play is being used all over the country in schools and pupils are being taken to see it, even though it is described as a 'gritty' adult drama and as 'ripely filthy'.

There are currently no limits on the use of this type of material. I have set up a government e-petition to ask for some regulations to be put in place in the use of school texts in order to bring some consistency with TV and Film ratings and to ensure that schools are more accountable for what they do.

Please sign it, as once it reaches 100,000 the government will debate it in the House of Commons. Thank you.

Here is the link to the petition. Hope you feel able to sign it.

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60223

OP posts:
EvilTwins · 08/02/2014 18:31

Adoptamama - I love you! If there was an epetition to make you ed secretary, I guarantee it would get more signatures than the OP's ridiculous effort. As a drama teacher who is gearing up to spend all day tomorrow in school rehearsing for the school play, I'm glad there are lots of parents out there who support what we do.

By the by, one of my absolute favourite plays to do at school (admittedly with KS5) is Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker. It has cunt on the first page. I

ravenAK · 08/02/2014 18:37
Grin
AmIGoingMad · 08/02/2014 18:48

So well said adopt!Thanks

WeAreDetective · 08/02/2014 21:09

Way to go missing the point, delbee Grin

calmb4storm · 09/02/2014 07:39

OP, I think the school was right to apologise to parents for not consulting them about this. It may be in the list of recommended texts for the course, but I suspect most schools steer clear of it in order to avoid exactly this situation. Its inclusion on the list should have been tailored with a warning and some advice about consultation, and I'd suggest that's where your efforts should be directed.

In the circumstances, the school has responded with dignity, and the Acting Head's points about the maturity of his pupils in handling the material are reassuring and heartwarming.

But (and it's a big but), to me there is an issue here about inclusion. If there had been a consultation beforehand, and one or two students had said they felt uncomfortable about studying the play, what then? Would they have all studied something different? Would the students who objected have been given an alternative text, and taught separately? Would there have been some who kept their feelings hidden in order to avoid being singled out? If this was an issue about a protected characteristic such as race/disability/homosexuality/religion, rather than sensitivity to expletives, would it be acceptable to put students in a position of opting out? Schools sometimes seem a little behind some workplaces when it comes to thinking about these sorts of issues.

The status quo is uncomfortable to watch. The OP has made a very public protest, and there are lots of people, in this thread at least, hurling rocks at her. Is her DD facing the same sort of victimisation from her fellow students? I hope not.

CalamitouslyWrong · 09/02/2014 09:49

I think it's extremely over the top to compare being a bit pearl clutchy about swearing to protected characteristics like disability and race. Swearing is something the OP's daughter will come across in the course of her everyday life, and not in a context where there will be discussions about the effects of language.

It isn't the case that the OP just feels a bit uncomfortable and has raised the issue. She's started a petition to have something banned and is trying to publicly humiliate the school. She could have suggested that her daughter discuss it with the teacher, but from her own actions it seems unlikely that the OP herself has the maturity to even think of such a thing.

And many of us feel quite strongly that the most conservative elements in any population shouldn't get to dictate and censor everything. This is just the secondary school equivalent of the threads we get clutching pearls that their primary aged child got a book that had divorced parents in it and they don't want their previous flowers exposed to such awful things as the simple fact that families are often composed differently.

calmb4storm · 09/02/2014 10:07

"I think it's extremely over the top ..."

You may think so, but in many workplace scenarios inclusivity issues in relation to the use of expletives would be taken very seriously.

Any HR types out there, who work for large, modern employers, probably know what I mean.

calmb4storm · 09/02/2014 10:13

"She's started a petition to have something banned"

Yes, but not many people have signed it have they? It's unlikely to happen. She's over-reacted, but so have many of the other contributers to this thread.

"... and is trying to publicly humiliate the school"

No, she's making a stand on something she feels strongly about. The school has behaved with dignity, and won't be humiliated by it. Also, she didn't name the school - others did. People are trying to humiliate the OP into backing down. I also think she should back down, but for different reasons.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 09/02/2014 11:02

calmb4storm- If her daughter's schoolmates are aware that her mother is doing this, then, sadly, I suspect she would be the victim of some ridicule yes.

Maybe the OP should have considered that element too, before going all Mary Whitehouse.

Meanwhile, could you explain "the status quo is uncomfortable to watch". I don't understand what you are trying to say. The status quo of what?

DrankSangriaInThePark · 09/02/2014 11:03

Also, seriously rofling at any teenager not wanting to study something with - shock horror- swear words in.

In which parallel universe?

calmb4storm · 09/02/2014 11:42

Drank, I meant its uncomfortable to watch everyone rounding on the OP, and rubbing her nose in it.

Many teenagers are uncomfortable about swearing. Perhaps it's a class issue, but issues of inclusivity in relation to social class are taken seriously by many employers.

Of course, if social class were to become a protected characteristic in law it would have huge implications (not least here on Mumsnet Smile). It will probably never happen, but some employers still include it in their policies.

Original poster
Sherrie2 · 10/02/2014 13:19

Sadly, this discussion needs to end as it is not constructive nor respectful so I have asked for mumsnet to remove it.

OP posts:
Feenie · 18/03/2014 17:51

Sadly, this discussion needs to end as it is not constructive nor respectful so I have asked for mumsnet to remove it.

However, I will ensure that I make a copy of the thread first then run off to the Sunday papers with it, enabling me to both quote people out of context and hideously embarrass my dd in the process. Hmm

DameFanny · 18/03/2014 18:05

Ha ha ha! There's a whole 10 signatures now - clickable link for pearl clutchers or fellow mockers

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60223

Feenie · 18/03/2014 18:11

Seriously? Just ten - even after all the media coverage?

Says it all.

Youarejustwordsonascreenpeople · 18/03/2014 18:22

It's times like this that that I am proud to be a MNer. Well done all on your replies to the OP and well done HQ for not deleting it.

MN at its best.

maillotjaune · 18/03/2014 19:05

All it needs is 100,000 signatures...

Only 99,990 to go Blush

maillotjaune · 18/03/2014 19:05

All it needs is 100,000 signatures...

Only 99,990 to go Blush

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/03/2014 19:26

Sorry - didn't realise it was such an old thread

Roseformeplease · 18/03/2014 19:32

Ooh. I was quoted (under another name). My first ever quote in a National Comic. I would have preferred the Dandy or Bunty but....

maillotjaune · 18/03/2014 19:42

Itsallgoingtobefine don't worry it's an old thread that was deleted but has been reinstated today (there's a thread in Secondary Education about it).

VoyageDeVerity · 18/03/2014 20:19

Wow that play looks great.

adoptmama · 18/03/2014 21:36

Thanks MNHQ for reinstating it.

ferrar · 18/03/2014 22:06

Sherrie2. You may want to post or repost in chat after this thread has run its course?
You may get more signatures, and unfortunately more abuse.

Swipe left for the next trending thread