"Golden Time" - for music videos?

[gussiegrips]

Primary School has smart boards in every class. Smashing.

Kids get 20 mins of "Golden Time" every Friday morning - and the whole behaviour reward system is tied up to losing Golden time, getting the activity of your choice - fairly standard stuff.

P6 (9-10 year olds) have been allowed to play music videos on the smart board as part of Golden Time - so, Katy Perry's roar, Pitbull Bonbon Americano, Will.I.Am's scream and shout - and an assortment of Annoying Orange etc.

I REALLY object, and want to go to HT to enquire what the educational purpose of watching semi-clad women wriggling around might be...but, then, I'm aware that I'm turning into a hoary old feminist.

Daughter's not remotely interested, but, I'm outraged that the girls are being subjected to this crap in class. They are about to get a bunch of stuff about self esteem and relationships, and yet, on the big screen...look at the large bosomed, vacant eyed, pouting, big haired ladies!

Does your school do this? Am I being ridiculous? Are Katie Perry's breasts normal reward fodder in schools up and down the country?

TIA

I would have a fit, on feminist grounds, and just on general grounds!

I am with you in this. Music videos are often shockingly mysogynistic. I think this is getting worse not better too.

Y6 teacher here. My class can choose songs from YouTube to play as a special treat while we do art type stuff. They know if they choose anything with any bad language they will never get to pick again. And I always minimise so the video is not visible. I agree, the message from most music videos are inappropriate for girls and for boys. I know they will probably see them at home, but I don't want to endorse their attitudes in school.

Thanks, guys.

I'll ask the teacher about it. There's always the chance that my 9 year old's not giving an accurate account of what they see - though, she's never seen me do THOSE moves in my kitchen dancing...don't have the hips for it anymore.

That's dreadful.

Have a look at this new campaign which is challenging racist and sexist music videos.

They could play the songs but no video. I'm a bit about that though and I'm not at all keen on the concept of "golden time" tbh.

Ds has golden time, but never had music videos they have music playing, board games, scalextric etc and laptops with games available through the schools VLE. Sounds like teacher may not have thought it through.

I REALLY object, and want to go to HT to enquire what the educational purpose of watching semi-clad women wriggling around might be

This ^ makes you sound unreasonable as you have already stated that it is golden time. It isnt an educational activity (in that the video isnt teaching anything), its a treat.

However it is perfectly reasonable to ask the teacher not to show the videos because they give a bad message. I have to say I kind of agree, don't think I'd show them to my year 6s. That said, you have to be prepared for the teacher to come back and say 'sorry, there are other children in the class besides your child. They picked a treat which is in my opinion not inappropriate.'

This is why I posted - see, I do get that Golden Time is a treat, and it's a system that seems to work well in the school. And, I do get that I may well come across as a total party pooper. And, that I'm not the target market for Ms Perry's bosoms. I don't want to come across to the HT as a loon.

However, I do think that whilst they don't need to be rote-learning every single minute of the school day - I do think here is a link between the early sexualisation of girls and the drivel on these videos, and facebook and the internet et al. I've not got any evidence for that, but, I'm confident that a quick google would furnish me with something.

Surely I don't need to point out to a (previously faultless) teacher that misogyny isn't great in a classroom?

So, I wondered whether there might be sensible reason for young kids seeing this guff that I'm overlooking because I'm too old and past it.

I think where people make themselves seem 'fussy' is when they start pulling out reasons left right and centre.
Its got boobs in
Its rude
Its not learning
Its trash
Golden time doesnt work
etc etc

This isnt about golden time, you tube, education or Katy Perry. Its about children not being shown inappropriate images, especially at a relaxed time of day when the teacher is less likely to discuss the issue with the children. If you want to seem fair to the school then you need to stick to the issue otherwise you will get 'oh she's only saying that because she wants her little darling doing sums all day'

That's helpful, ta.

Part of my hesitation is because I kind of lost it at school when we were having a family crisis and sort of blubbed in the HT's office. They were very good, but, I expect I'm pegged as a loon. which, to be fair, would be fair.

And yep, if the teacher was getting the kids to look at the videos and think about the portrayal, well, I'd be fine with that. Though, I gather, that sex ed doesn't include useful things like that. Or facebook. Or that it's not obligatory to be sexually active.

Right ho. Might catch the teacher tomorrow and ask her how she screens what's shown on the screen.

The school's smashing. They even gave me a biscuit whilst I snottered all over their office.