What would be the purpose of this - or has ds got the wrong end of the stick somehow?

[seeker]

He's in year 7. He said that at form time today a woman came into their class wearing a visitor badge. She didn't introduce herself, but said that they would be working my a major news story. Se then told them to spend 10 minutes looking on the Internet about The Oscar Pistorius court case and decide whether they thought he was guilty or not. She then went road to each child,a asked them what they had decided. Then she said they could do their own work for the rest of the lesson. Does that sound a very odd thing to ask 11/12 year olds to do? Ds has no idea why they did it or who she was, and claims that if she had said he would have heard.......

Sounds most peculiar. Desparate supply teacher or other stand in is my guess, trying to keep then quiet and at least vaguely engaged!

Sounds like citizenship lesson to me. As a teacher I am surprised how little attention some pupils take - when I left because I was pregnant a year 8 pupil was shocked that I going and asked why I was the size of a house!! I'm amazed some of them manage to survive!!

[Ex- English teacher]

I can perhaps imagine doing this kind of activity as an introduction to looking at media and news, and how we need to learn to read between the lines in the press, bias etc., as part of English Language, or perhaps PSHE, but seems odd to do it as a one-off without any explanation

How long is form time? Is it a lesson at your sons school? If it is a lesson then probably when citizenship and pshe is covered.

Yes, they do citizenship and PHSE in form time- sorry, meant to say. I was haut surprised at the lack of discussion or explanation. Ds usually pays attention and if it didn't sound so bizarre I would believe him!