I don't know what I think about this..PETA videos in school...

[Hakluyt]

Year 9 DS watched the PETA video about slaughterhouses in RE yesterday. I'm a bit unsure about this- it wasn't presented as one side of an argument or anything- just used to show how we exploit animals.They were warned that it was upsetting, and if they didn't want to watch it to put their heads down and cover their ears .

Obviously I am strongly opposed to cruelty to animals, but I have concerns about PETA's methods and wonder whether it's appropriate to use their stuff? Ds has actually seen this video before, we watched it at home when we were discussing becoming vegetarians (yes, yes I know, Guardianistas!) but I would be a bit concerned about kids seeing it "cold", and with, apparently, no discussion about the standpoint and aims of PETA. Do I have any sort of point here?

I haven't seen the video but I know PETA have shot undercover videos about extreme cruelty in slaughterhouses. I imagine it was shown as part of the RE syllabus on rights on animals?

Well as it was part of RE there WILL be a debate and discussion about it. Presumably the teacher didn't want to preempt any discussion before the video otherwise they wouldn't have been able to watch it objectively.

There was only a brief pre-discussion, and nothing else until next week. Still not sure what I think.

I would not have problem with it. Peta video would be hard hitting, but shows what goes on

I imagine the teacher only had a limited amount of time and wanted something to grab the students attention. My daughter didn't do the animal part of the syllabus which is a pity as we are vegetarian and she would have liked it. She did bring home a leaflet from LIFE as part of her study of the ethics of embryology which made me bloody annoyed. I think teachers try and provoke strong reactions!

I think its a good thing.

I think that my concern is sending them out having seen such disturbing images without any further discussion for a week. Not everyone has a supportive home to talk about worrying stuff......

I think in your original post you were more worried about PETA "propaganda" - which is it...

Both. I think PETA videos are not the sort of thing that should be shown to children without context. The "if slaughterhouses had transparent walls" one in particular suggests that that is what all slaughterhouses are like. There needs to be context and discussion.

Hakulyt. Given the fact that your DS school is a low achieving Secondary school where more than 2/3 of its year 11 achieve less than 5 A-C Maths/English at GCSE. The school should be concentrating on teaching content that will help reduce the huge deficit in their education, not making them watch Propaganda films.

A 1 hour lesson wasted watching "Rubbish" . Kids can make up their own minds away from school, certainly not wasting precious learning time watching propaganda.

Ask if they will devote equal amounts of time to materials from say the National Farmers Union and Research Defence Society. And if not, why not.

OP have you considered emailing the teacher with your concerns? I am surprised the video was shown out of context. It sounds like rather lazy teaching if the class are just plonked in front of the video.

Can you ask to see the scheme of work or lesson plans for the term?

They only have one RE lesson a week- I thought I'd wait and see what happened in the next one before I queried it. I know the teacher concerned, and I was surprised that it was shown in the way it was. It is possible that DS is misreporting, but he is usually pretty good on this sort of thing.

smokepole- I couldn't disagree more. My ds's school has a very disadvantaged catchment, and a high proportion of children who for various reasons, do not have their horizons broadened at home. The school, in my opinion has a duty to show them the wider world - to educate them in the the broadest way possible. The non academic side of school- that is the exposing to ideas and ways of life different to the pupil's own- is as important as the academic in my opinion.

Oh, and it's not a particularly low archiving school in the context of its intake.

I've never heard of PETA but googled it and looked at their video about the life of dairy cows. I used to work in the industry (in the UK the video was about US dairy cows) and the life portrayed is just so far removed from reality. The welfare standards on most dairy cows in the UK is extraordinarily high as basically happy contact cows produce more milk. I agree children need to understand that animals are slaughtered to provide us with food but I also agree with the comment above I hope their videos with all their inaccuracies will be countered by information from the NFU etc.
With regard to slaughter houses perhaps children should be given the opportunity to hear from someone who works in one to hear a different story.

Hakulyt.I take it your DS will be "going Grammar in the 6th form" for his A levels , or will he be getting real "1-1" teaching at his current school for his A levels.

I thought DDs1 school was quite disadvantaged, educationally and in economic terms but it still got 54% 5 A* -C including English/Maths last year. A School that still had 13.3% FSM and only 15% high attainers. It also has a real "sixth form" department that offers A levels and in 2013 82 students took A 2 exams with an average grade of D+.

There is not that much difference economically between DDs1 school and your DS school, the difference is DDs school was a good one making the best of its catchment (not wasting time watching rubbish films) but teaching.

13% FSM is not very disadvantaged.

And you do not know which school my son is at- you were wrong when you speculated on another thread.

And education is about more than GCSEs.

I'm a ethical vegetarian and was an animal rights campaigner in my youth. But PETA is a dangerous extremist organisation. More so in the US than in the UK, but even here they perpetuate lies about the use of animals in science. I can't respect any organisation that promotes its cause through misleading propaganda and outright lying to garner support. Not to mention their outrageously sexisit and misogynistic ad campaigns - how anyone can think that humiliating women in public is a good way to convince people to treat animals better is beyond me. I'd be having strong words with the school.

smokepole - bringing up personal details about the OP's previous posts and which school (you think) her DS attends is creepy and stalkery. Why are you doing it?

Smokepole why is your only contribution to this thread to slag off OP's child's school?

Please don't engage with smpkepole- there are issues and history. Thank you, though.

Titchy/Kulam. Point taken Sorry!. It is not meant to be creepy or stalking!

Hakulyt. You were dismissive of me on another post, but that is dead and buried (I don't bear grudges) . 'Speculation is just that' not important , my posts were 'guess' work , I also never mentioned any school names, other than one which obviously not your sons school.