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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

"My parents dont let me watch the news": reflections on 11+ interviews I have carried out

308 replies

hannaretch · 03/02/2023 23:33

Over the past few weeks I have been carrying out 11+ interviews with new applicants to our school -independent day school, outside of London, thought of as the most academic school in our town.

I generally talk to the children for 20 minutes about their studies, hobbies etc and ask them to talk about themselves. The aim is to get an idea of who they are and whether they will fit in with the school ethos. We tend to interview almost all applicants as we feel that a good interview will allow us to get a better view of the individual even those with marginal entrance exam results. They get information on the type of questions they are likely to get before the day to allow them to prepare. We also ask them to bring in an item which they then talk about.

One of the standard questions I and others ask is along the lines of do you follow the news? Talk about a current news story/ what do think about Ukraine/ climate change? type thing. Nothing too major but it allows us to get an idea of their awareness of the world. Most are able to answer with basic knowledge and some understanding of the issues and it often leads to good discussions.

I was shocked that two or three of the ones I have interviewed this year stated that they werent allowed to watch the news and had no opinions/ ideas about the issues. Surely watching the news at 6 etc or online or even Newsround is basic preparation for life? (or school interview at least?)

OP posts:

WinnieFosterReads · 03/02/2023 23:38

I'm shocked that you're showing so little discretion and starting threads at 11.30pm on a Friday night. I'd expect someone who conducted 11+ interviews to spend their time on more erudite pursuits.

Stickmansmum · 03/02/2023 23:38

Surely it is. But how many kids get everything they need from their parents?

Stopsnowing · 03/02/2023 23:41

I am a very well informed person but I don’t get my news from the television and given the awful things happening in the world would not let my kids watch the news without me (and I am not home at six).

NuffSaidSam · 03/02/2023 23:41

There's a view amongst some parents that their children must be protected from any bad news/real life indefinitely. For the child to feel sad/worried/any negative emotion for even a second is a parenting failure.

There was a thread last week where someone was outraged that 12/13 year olds had been told about fgm.

lottiegarbanzo · 03/02/2023 23:43

I agree with you but think covid may have had an impact on that age group.

During 2020 we blanked out news from DC's sight or hearing and lived in a happy family bubble; because the news was so frightening in the early days of the pandemic and because we wanted home, and our constrained little lives there, to be as calm and happy as possible.

To an extent it's an easy habit to continue, especially when so many big news stories are so unrelentingly grim and frightening.

I'm surprised these children haven't learnt more about current affairs at school but I can see how their parents may have got stuck in a habit and perhaps chosen to baby them.

Soproudoflionesses · 03/02/2023 23:44

My daughter is still haunted by seeing the Grenfell tower fire on the news so l don't ban the news but also don't make her sit and watch it either. Feel like she doesn't need to be worrying about world disasters at her age.

greenteafiend · 03/02/2023 23:44

It's 2023, there are loads of 24-hour news services that can be watched on a tablet or laptop! We usually watch Sky News on weekend mornings together during breakfast.

OppsUpsSide · 03/02/2023 23:44

I thought most classes watched Newsround nowadays, would suggest to me they just weren’t paying attention/interested.

darjeelingrose · 03/02/2023 23:57

I don't get why some are saying they don't watch TV news, surely the point is here that the children have no awareness of what is going on in the world at all, because they do not have access to any news, Tv or otherwise. I'm quite surprised actually don't people ever have a newspaper or discuss news as a family or even just have the radio on the car.

LeapingCat · 04/02/2023 00:01

My 11 year old does watch the news, he’s the one who puts it on as I usually get news online or the radio. He could definitely talk about everything you mention in some depth. I’m not sure it’s always good for him though, he has been a bit worried by some stories and needed reassurance.

greenteafiend · 04/02/2023 00:03

Exactly! I mean, even if you wouldn't normally watch TV news, wouldn't you think at some point, "My kids need to watch the news" and make an effort to do something? It's not hard to make a habit of watching TV news during a meal a couple of times a week, or even if you don't have a physical TV, use a device and watch via the internet.

The people who don't bother to have their kids watch the news are probably the exact same people who are found complaining about kids' lack of knowledge of this or that, on the threads with titles like "Things you are outraged your children don't know" or "So SHOCKED that schools aren't teaching about XYZ? Why aren't they teaching it??" etc.

Not everything is the school's responsibility, people.

Toomanywaterwipes · 04/02/2023 00:07

A lot can depend on whether the child is the oldest vs youngest in the family. I know my youngest saw shows on tv that his older siblings would not have watched at the same age.
So if the child interviewee has a sibling a few years younger, maybe that's the reason the news isn't on in the evening?
Also some children with SEN (without too I guess) can be extra sensitive to distressing news events...I know for a fact that this informs tv viewing choices in some families.

Aintnosupermum · 04/02/2023 00:07

I live in the US. I won’t let my children watch the news. They have the FT, WSJ, NY Times and The Times to read. I print certain articles from the guardian on topics they are interested in so they can learn about perspectives being different based on the same set of events.

Mine are 11, 9 and 6. They start this reading at 7.

LoveBluey · 04/02/2023 00:08

We tend not to watch the news but I make sure I talk to my child about current affairs. She is younger (6) but I have explained about Russia & Ukraine and we talked about the teacher strikes. I do like to shield her from the more depressing news stories but even at 6 it's important she has an awareness of what's going on in the world.

EasilyDirected · 04/02/2023 00:09

You frequently see posts from people on MN saying they completely avoid the news as it makes them too anxious, so it isn't surprising some children are sheltered from it too. And with access to masses of streaming channels there are always other things to watch. People listen to spotify instead of the radio. I can see how it happens.

Aintnosupermum · 04/02/2023 00:11

I will say, my elder two would find your question a bit of a struggle because they have ASD and take things literally. If you asked them if they follow the news they would not have a clue what you were talking about. Ask them about Ukraine and my middle child can give you a detailed breakdown of the history and the different weaponry supplied along with why he thinks 500-600 tanks are needed. Yes he is 9 and I have no idea how he has all this knowledge or if he is correct.

TheUsualChaos · 04/02/2023 00:13

Newsround yes, fine. The main news at 6? No, I don't want my 10yo watching all the horrors going on around the world thanks very much.

Nevermindthesquirrels · 04/02/2023 00:13

I don't think it's common to sit and watch the news, no. But I also don't think it's common to not know anything about current affairs. However, I think there is a lot of mental health problems and anxiety across the board with kids and I suspect, as a lot of adults are growing increasingly concerned with the state of the world, the parents want to cushion them from it a little.
There is also the chance they said that because they couldn't think of any impressive news stories and it was easier to say, I'm not allowed to watch it. In fact I suspect it was most likely that. Only because that's probably what I would've done at their age in a really stressful interview.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 04/02/2023 00:16

I wonder if the decline of the paper newspaper, coupled with 24 hour children's entertainment on TV and screen, has contributed to this ignorance of current affairs. In my day, it wasn't uncommon to be bored enough to read your parents' newspaper. Plus, everyone would be sitting around the same TV so if your parents watched the 9 o'clock news, or Panorama or 'The Money Programme' you did too and even if you were doing something else, you picked up bits and pieces.

Starlightstarbright1 · 04/02/2023 00:16

My ds is 15. We don't watch the news..

I tend to mot be home for 6 o clock news but doubt i would watch it.

I get the jist online or radio.

Hawkins002 · 04/02/2023 00:21

@hannaretch

when you have been brought up reading cold war espionage books, propaganda and it's uses during wars, the story of edward bernays ect, the main stream media, it could be debated is half truths ect

ManchesterGirl2 · 04/02/2023 00:25

Playing devils advocate a little here:

Do 10 year olds need to follow the news? I question sometimes if it's even worth it as an adult, as I find it so depressing and out of my control. But I feel I ought to stay informed as I have a responsibility to vote wisely, and can choose to attend protests or direct money to specific causes, and plus the economic situation might affect my choices.

None of that applies at ten. Maybe it's better to just enjoy childhood, and learn general background knowledge of the world, and then current affairs and politics can come later.

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/02/2023 00:28

That’s very odd. If I were trying to get my kid into such a school I would be encouraging force feeding the junior week

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/02/2023 00:29

ManchesterGirl2 · 04/02/2023 00:25

Playing devils advocate a little here:

None of that applies at ten. Maybe it's better to just enjoy childhood, and learn general background knowledge of the world, and then current affairs and politics can come later.

It’s interesting to know what’s going on in the world though? And it’s not a new idea that children should follow the news. My granny’s generation mostly learned to read from the Times front page.

Passmethecrisps · 04/02/2023 00:33

My older child (10) watches new around every day with her class. We also have the radio on all day at home. Radio four or radio 6 is on all day every day so the news repeats. There are stories I turn it down but typically it is left to play into any receiving ears.

we aren’t home for 6pm and my children wouldn’t watch the news with me typically. My older child would see me watching BBC 24 later on I suppose.

but all of this is about awareness of current affairs which could come from parental discussion rather than watching the news

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