Am I out of touch ?

Originally Posted by neio79

Some parents need to get a life and relax abit not try and hide their kids from the truths of the worlds history. I can see the point yes it was illegal, but FFS it was shown to highlight a specific point in history and probably to highlight the horrors of war as well.

I totally get what you,re saying , and we dont try to hide reality from our kids, I just thought the opening scenes were a bit strong for young kids, saying that it doesnt seem to have affected her so thats ok.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Films a 15, was wrong for the school to show to a 14yo

End of

Yes, the school is breaking the law if they're showing it to 14 year olds.

However, I have this at home, which is a PG certificate, and is far more gory and harrowing than films like Saving Private Ryan, for the reason that the dead and dying are real people, not actors.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by neio79

Some parents need to get a life and relax abit not try and hide their kids from the truths of the worlds history. I can see the point yes it was illegal, but FFS it was shown to highlight a specific point in history and probably to highlight the horrors of war as well.

And its because of the "let it slide" attitude that you show there that we are in the mess we are in now.

You can hear/read about the horrors of the war WITHOUT seeing it in graphic detail on a tv screen.

Try reading anything by the War Poets, ie Siegfried Sasson and Wilfred Owen (which is what I did in school)

Originally Posted by Wilfred Owen - DULCE ET DECORUM EST

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstrippedFive-Nines that dropped behind.
Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . .
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by neio79

Some parents need to get a life and relax abit not try and hide their kids from the truths of the worlds history. I can see the point yes it was illegal, but FFS it was shown to highlight a specific point in history and probably to highlight the horrors of war as well.

Indeed it was shown to highlight a point and IMO a very valid and relevant piece that will speak to the children. HOWEVER, the school may well have broken the law by showing (as above not sure of legalities re private / public showing) this to children specifically excluded by the age certificate. At the very least they should have obtained parental consent for each child that watched the film - it is the least I would expect as a parent. I would have given that consent in the context the film was shown and even if the consent was not sought I would not be that upset by it, but would have discussed the film / lesson with my child to ensure they understood and took something from the experience.

The school's apparent disregard for the law and parental choice would have concerned me greatly if my child was attending this school. I would most certainly be writing to the school to express my concern about showing the film to my child without my consent. I would expect an explanation why the parental consent procedure was not followed.

Sometimes I wonder if this is why things are so different with kids these day to how they used to be (from what I am told, things have changed a lot).

[timwilky]

I would have let my kids watch it. The D-Day landings etc were not taught in history when I was a kid, perhaps WWII was too modern and there was still a lot of documentary about it on TV. we don't tell kids today about Korea, Vietnam or even the Falklands.

I remember news articles of Vietnam on TV. Some of those would today not pass the film censors age limits. Kids, especially at high school need to learn there is only sadness and despair in war. When somebody is shot. it tears bone and causes huge holes, people die horribly. Not the neet little hole of traditional Hollywood where the hero fights off the pain to go for glory.

Originally Posted by G

Fair point, some parents do need to chill out.....but if a parent doesnt want their kids to see films like that, which are deemed to intense for their childs age.....then that should be respected regardless of what more relaxed individuals believe is OK.

yes individual parents wishes should be regared by the school. But i am confident if any parent complained after the school explained why they done it they would understand.

Hmmm, tricky issue this.

Some of the kids in the class may of been 15. Some (like Stewie's kid) definately weren't. The film is a certified 15.

What would I do in that circumstance? Well, I suppose it depends.

If James had seen it (given that he suffers from extreme anxiety caused by Dyspraxia, and even watching CITV can cause nightmares), then I'd probably make a formal complaint to the school to enquire why I wasn't asked permission to show the film to him, given that he isn't old enough to see it.

If Harry had seen it (given that he's far more adventurous than any other kid I've seen), I'd of waited it out, no effects means no complaints. But I'd have a little word in the teachers ear to say that really they should of asked my permission first.

If Cerian had seen it, again, I'd of probably waited to see the effect it had on her before I did anything.

Now, if my other half was in this position, I'd have to try & do everything I could to stop her taking the school to court (My other half way over-reacts to things like this), as I don't feel that sueing anyone would help the school, given the incident is over & done with already.

FWIW, Harry is 3, and already happily watches 15 films (that we approve first) along with his brother & sister in the comfort of their home.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

And its because of the "let it slide" attitude that you show there that we are in the mess we are in now.

You can hear/read about the horrors of the war WITHOUT seeing it in graphic detail on a tv screen.

)

dosent quite have the impact as seeing it on screen though. I read about bike crashes and fatals, but if i saw it it would be a bit more harrowing.


Its not a let it slide its more of a my god have the fluffy croud now got arround to stopping teaching the realities of the worst parts of our history!!

Maybe they should show the kids some of the helmet cam footage we currently take on ooperations now, i can assure you that is some seriouslt fu**ed up sh*t not censored. That will show them the horrors of war alright!

[G]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Indeed it was shown to highlight a point and IMO a very valid and relevant piece that will speak to the children. HOWEVER, the school may well have broken the law by showing (as above not sure of legalities re private / public showing) this to children specifically excluded by the age certificate. At the very least they should have obtained parental consent for each child that watched the film - it is the least I would expect as a parent. I would have given that consent in the context the film was shown and even if the consent was not sought I would not be that upset by it, but would have discussed the film / lesson with my child to ensure they understood and took something from the experience.

The school's apparent disregard for the law and parental choice would have concerned me greatly if my child was attending this school. I would most certainly be writing to the school to express my concern about showing the film to my child without my consent. I would expect an explanation why the parental consent procedure was not followed.

+1 Thats what I was trying to see.....hence please see disclaimer in my signature lol