If your primary school child';s class did a display about Pirates would you be bothered

[saltire]

DS2's class (and all the infant classes)have a thing once a month where the parents can go into the class for half an hour, called Soft Start. Iwas in today along with one or two other mother's. In one corner is "Pirates corner", with books about Pirates, maps of the world with the oceans highlighted, boats etc.
The teacher said she had put it up as some of the children - boys and girls - had been talking about Pirates of the carribean film, and asking questions about Pirates, treasure etc. One of the mums complained to the teacher, in front of all the children that
"My children don't get to see films or DVDs or television and why should they be subjected to things like this when they can't join in with the talk, and don't know the characters". The teacher pointed out that the display was "Pirates" in general not the film,the children were taking a genuine interest then she was happy to let them do so.
On the way out the aprent was on her way to see head teacher to complain. Would you
haveoblem with it if it was your Dc's class.

Message withdrawn

no I really wouldn't. i guess the film is an odd starting point but lets face it loads of kids wouldn't have seen it so hardly a problem.

nope.

errr no the woman is clearly odd

my ds's school had a pirate day (they all dressed up) on the last day of term

it was fab

Nope

maybe it was the whole rape and pillage aspect?

I thought it was a good thing, especially since DS2 is taking an interest. This is the same woman who got ALL the children banned from playing Star Wars, Doctor Who type games (based on TV programmes) in the playground because her children don't get to watch television and she didn't want them coming home and talking about television programmes.
All the parents were up in arms as the rest of us thought it was great that the children were using their imagination, and they were playing other games as well

no I wouldn't but there are people out there with very strange ideas about what can be harmful to their childrens young minds

No.

my dd will be doing Pirates after half term ( she is in reception) and we are all v excited about it!

fgs. The woman sounds like a total loon.

Blimey, I really wouldn't want to be living in her head. How on earth do you enforce a silly rule like that? Do they have Star Wars watch??????

Saltire, she sounds barmy. Sounds like the teacher was responding to a genuine interest the children had - I think that's good, responsive teaching, and that is sadly lacking in many schools. If the teacher has to take it down, I would be complaining that such a positive response to children's interests was being stamped on.

Is she going to shield her children (and, by association, all the others in their class) from television forever? IMO, she has to accept they live in a world where people have and watch tv. What if they went to someone else's house, and the tv was on?

ROFL at this woman.

I was going to suggest that maybe she had been involved in a piracy incident in the South China Seas and that's why she's sensitive about it...

But I think it's more likely that she's berserk.

no.

I think the woman is being perfectly reasonable

Mad woman. Ds1's class have been learning about pirates and they've really enjoyed it.

It's a generic subject fgs not a reenactment of Pirates of the Caribbean. lots of fun with maps, geography, money/loot, stories - just the sort of thing to get boys in particular engaged. Presumably they haven't shwon them the film itself otherwise would have no problem here. She sounds like the sort of person who would find a problem whatever .

What a scary female!

I wouldn't have a problem with pirates at all: bit of geography, bit of history, bit of rape and plunder.

Excellent ..!

Thing is Henrietta, when they go to other peoples houses they are glued to the television. I haven't had them in my house . However a friend of mine had them and she says they are as good as gold, they will watch a DVD or a tv show, and she gives them a glass of lemonade and a chocolate biscuit (none of which they get a t home) and she says they are angels.
Whether the mother knows all this or not, I don't know. So they are seeing televion say once a week for an hour or two.
I thought she was a bit off making the comments she did and to go and see the Head about it. i shall ask DS2 later if the display is down

No mention whatsoever of the film, no pictures of Mr Depp -unfortunately- and they ahven't watched the films, it's just a display about Pirates in general

I think it is great that the teacher is picking up on things that the children are interested in and exploring them.

BUT

when I was little we were not allowed to talk about or sing about pirates as my mum's friend had a lodger from vietnam and the boat he came over on was attacked by pirates - but that is a completely different issue!

I have mixed feelings about the pirate display, I would have to see it to give a definite judgement. I am totally on her side re. the Star Wars/Spiderman/Dr Who/Pirateso f the Caribbean stuff though. It is completely inappropriate material for young children and educational settings should not be promoting or endorsing it their interest in it IMO.

I am not crazy about all aspects of pirates but ds is very fond of them

we don't watch tv or films atm so I wouldn't be keen on something focussing on tv characters, but pirates are a generic thing and not necessarily related to recent films.

I agree it's not school's place to promote Star Wars etc., but it's also not their place to interfere with play which references the child's own experience/ interests.