Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Watching 'I Am Legend' at school

52 replies

FernieB · 12/06/2012 10:37

Have discovered that a Year 7 science class is watching 'I Am Legend' during lessons. Is this common? Am I the only one who thinks this is not appropriate/a good use of class time? Just wondering.

OP posts:
wordfactory · 13/06/2012 10:13

Have read the link but remain unconvinced.

There is a helicopter crash early on in which all the main characters family are killed.

Later, he has to shoot his only companion (a dog) in the head.

This is very intense stuff. And the zombies are fecking scary!

Coops79 · 13/06/2012 10:22

Regardless of the quality of the film, this is not an appropriate use of teaching time. Nor is it appropriate to show a 15 certificate film to Year 7. There is a place for using clips from films, I do it all the time, in order to stimulate interest in a subject but it has to be in the context of using the information/ideas in an active way. To ask a class to passively watch telly for 3 whole lessons is not simply lazy, it is not teaching at all. This sort of thing gives our whole profession a bad name.

Original poster
FernieB · 13/06/2012 13:03

Have now had a response from the teacher who has apologised as he did not realise it was a '15' rated film. He still intends to continue showing it to the children. His explanation of the reasoning behind it did not seem logical to me. I have requested that my DD goes elsewhere during these lessons and he has confirmed that this will happen. Incidentally, my DD is a twin and her sister is in a different science class with a different teacher who is not showing this film (actually they are ahead in the curriculum as well).

Read the link - not convinced of any real educational value in the film and certainly not with this age group.

OP posts:
Original poster
FernieB · 13/06/2012 13:05

wordfactory - I heard about the 'dog shooting' scene which apparently reduced a couple of the girls in the class to tears. I think a lot of hiding behind school bags is going on.

OP posts:
5madthings · 13/06/2012 13:15

its a good film, i like it but not for 11 yr olds! how did the teacher NOT KNOW it was a 15, sorry but thats crap and i would want a better explanation than that, he shouldnt be showing it unless he has the express permission of the parents and i cannot see why it is relevant to a science class particularly but then i got cross with my ds1's high school (yr 8) as for PE they watched a james bond film and had to 'pick out the gymnastics moves' (rolls eyes) i mean seriously?!!

nummus · 13/06/2012 14:28

He didn't realise it was a 15? I would be going into see him and pointing out the big '15' on the box. What a numbskull. I certainly wouldn't want him teaching my dd.

Original poster
FernieB · 13/06/2012 14:38

Thanks everyone for your responses. I thought at first that maybe I was over-reacting - it's a relief to know I'm not the only one who thinks it's inappropriate.

OP posts:
TwllBach · 13/06/2012 14:53

I'm normally a big advocate for using popular culture and media to engage pupils, but I'm 24 and I sobbed during the film and did find it quite scary/distressing! I get that it would provoke interesting discussion, but IMO its more suitable for an English/philosophy or something similar - for children of an appropriate age.

I also don't think there is a need for it to be shown in full over a series of lessons. I would be angry if it was my DD.

FamiliesShareGerms · 13/06/2012 19:53

It's a very scary film!! can't myself see the justification for showing the whole of it to a group of underage kids...

Mind you, found out today my Yr 1 son has been watching The Lion King this week - because they are doing a project on Ghana... Hmm

HMQueenElizabeth · 13/06/2012 19:55

As a scientist I'd be extremely annoyed if my DC's science teacher thought watching 'I am Legend' was suitable science lesson material. I'd be having a word most definitely.

On a separate note.
What rating is it? I remember it Beijing quite scary!

HMQueenElizabeth · 13/06/2012 19:58

I've read more of the thread. What justification did the teacher actually give, where is the true science content in this Hollywood movie.

I'd be really annoyed, lazy and inappropriate teaching IMO and if I got nowhere with the teacher, I'd go to the head! Angry

DorisIsWaiting · 13/06/2012 20:29

I just spoke to DH about this and he was Shock. He was scared (and he watches alsorts of crap).

I don't think I would leave it at that and would have words with the head.... my biggests issues was the waste of teachjing time so far AND how far they will have fallen behind peers in other classes.

It's really really poor teaching, how has the teaching been for this class the rest of the year?

Original poster
FernieB · 14/06/2012 12:40

It was explained to me that the reason the film is shown is to introduce the idea of interdependence - the key terminology for this topic is apparently conveyed by the film. The reason they are being asked to record the numbers of living things they see in the film is because they are going to construct ecological number pyramids which will help them with their homework.

As far as I am aware the teaching has been fine up to now, but I do see this as a complete waste of time.

OP posts:
HMQueenElizabeth · 14/06/2012 21:36

Can you please give the science teacher a Biscuit from me... My first ever.

I don't normally swear but bollocks! I'm a scientist, it's my passion, my work, if my son ends up watching 'I am Legend' instead of being taught then I will end up Home Ed-ing! Angry

And it still doesn't address why the teacher thought it appropriate to show a 15 rated film to 11 year old children without their parents permission.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 14/06/2012 22:53

Sorry what?

He can have a Biscuit from me too. I have been teaching this topic, we've been going outside (in the rain!) and doing proper ecology, not watching a film.

I would contact the head, he should not be showing them films that are certified above their age. I always thought that was Against The Rules.

danebury · 17/06/2012 08:44

I'm new to mumsnet, but I'm a teacher (English, not Science) and I would have had my knuckles rapped VERY hard for this. If a parent complains that a 15 is shown, then it's a big issue.

At the very least a short clip could be shown, but a DVD should never take up that amount of time.

balia · 17/06/2012 08:49

Are you sure the head knows about this? It's just not allowed - I'd email the head for clarification.

spg1983 · 17/06/2012 10:38

It is definitely against the rules. If the teacher intends to show a video it MUST be age appropriate.

I am amazed that he's been questioned about it and has continued to show it - he's either very irresponsible or totally clueless.

Unbelievable!

KitKatGirl1 · 17/06/2012 11:30

I cannot believe he has continued to show since having it pointed out the children are up to 4 years too young to watch!

In our schools library, there are quite a few DVDs to borrow (mostly foreign language ones) and the children have to bring a note in their planner from their parent to say they are allowed to borrow a film rated higher than their age.

Another school in our town was plastered all over the local paper for letting year 7 watch a 12A rated film because some of the children were still 11 (early in the year they nearly all are!) and the Head apologised and everything.

(However they are allowed to read nearly anything they like and I don't see any hypocrisy in that at all!! :-) )

Tigerstripes · 19/06/2012 17:55

I am a teacher and the main issue here is that the teacher is showing an ENTIRE (not well chosen, non-graphic, age appropriate clips) 15 rated film to year 7s and his excuse for doing so being that 'he didn't know the rating' but then when it's brought to his attention by an angry parent says he will continue to show it!
Everything else (waste of class time etc) could be seen to be subjective but this is not! Email the teacher back and if no joy, email the HOD.

Avocets · 19/06/2012 18:26

Wow - I would be deeply unimpressed if this was happening to my Y7 daughter. I have just signed a form allowing her to go to an after school screening of The Hunger Games, which is also a 15 (I think) but which I would let her watch if she was with me. I have no problem with after school watching - in fact I'm really impressed staff are giving up their time to give the girls a nice end of term treat, but during lesson time would be extraordinarily inappropriate - especially lesson after lesson!

Avocets · 19/06/2012 18:29

Actually he reminds me of Bad Teacher - the character played by Cameron diaz in the 2011 film of that name - but that's supposed to be a comedy (and is wildly inappropriate and adult, although very funny).

bruffin · 19/06/2012 18:37

Hunger games is a 12a

NoWayNoHow · 19/06/2012 18:43

WTAF?? "He didn't realise it was a 15" - how, exactly, did he not realise? It's on the box. He's a teacher. At the very least, if they intend showing films outside the appropriate age group, they should be getting parental permission.

However, seeing as parents wouldn't have even been allowed into the cinema with their 11 year olds when this was showing, I fail to see how it's something he can sanction continuing to show.

It is a very, very scary film with some incredibly sensitive and difficult scenes in it, and if my DS was being shown it aged 11, I'd be RAGING

I wouldn't let his non response stand, and would be escalating to HOD or head teacher.

raininginbaltimore · 19/06/2012 18:52

I am a teacher (not science). I use clips and for one summer course in yr 10th o show the whole of Hotel Rwanda. It isnt against any rules to show films below classification, that is only for sale. However I only show film clips below age if the clip itself was ok.

He sounds ridiculous. I would speak to head of science or head.

Swipe left for the next trending thread