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there would be no way I would let this slide.
That's why he had to cut the rope.
Good guide on IMDB
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
4 uses of the C*** word (apologies for swear filter avoidance, but I think it has context) ! I'd hope they ffwd over those, but that's about it.
I do not even have children, but can say that there would be no way I would let this slide.
I have children I'd let this slide.
am I being over-protective?
IMO, yes.
Touching the Void? Wasn’t expecting that. Not sure how that would fit into the curriculum.
My 11 year old was shown The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and a letter was sent home prior to it. My wife bought the DVD in a charity shop and we watched it beforehand. I had no problem with it in the end, but he’s not ready for Schindler’s List.
Can’t see why 10 year olds need to be shown Touching The Void though, even if it is a great story. Is the teacher a bit, you know, Berghaus and Buffs?
90mins of Joe Simpson the main risk would be that they might turn out a bit like Joe Simpson. Otherwise it would be a non-issue for me. I am wondering what the educational aspect is meant to be though?
You can’t demand that the screening is scrapped altogether, as some parents might be perfectly comfortable with it, but it is perfectly reasonable to withdraw your child,
With the caveat that I don't have kids,
I'm not sure as I agree with this. If you feel that the film is inappropriate then raise it with the school to see if they can show something else. Being "that kid" who was the only one who missed out on something that the rest of the class has seen / done is going to be more harmful to them then hearing a couple of adults use a naughty word that they probably hear twelve times a day in the playground. IMHO.
Mountains, glaciers, geography, rivers, etc. It’s probably fine, and as has been mentioned, it would do more damage to exclude him from it. Still, if I was in authority there I wouldn’t have set a film with a 15 rating. Thanks for all the inputs.
As said above, I can't see what educational benefit they'll get from seeing the film............
Kids will be bored, not traumatised. Surprising choice of film and difficult to understand educational context other than teaching about resilience.
Having said that, age 9/10 watching a 15 is quite a stretch. We had to consent to our 11 year old watching Boy in Striped PJ's and I had no issue with doing so. I find it surprising that the school is pushing this type of arrangement across such a wide gap.
I totally get why you are asking the question though. One one hand I disagree with that age group watching 15's, on the other hand Touching the Void doesn't feel like a big deal to me. Not sure what I would do.
As said above, I can’t see what educational benefit they’ll get from seeing the film…………
Some might go on to film making and it would be good for them to know what a crap film looks like?
I waited till my lad was 12 before letting him watch aliens.
One of the great things about stw is always the vast spread of opinions. I knew I’d get some good responses and I’ve got lots to think about now. Cheers.
Being “that kid” who was the only one who missed out on something that the rest of the class has seen / done is going to be more harmful to them
When I was lickle, we moved house and I started a new junior school. The class I joined were part way through the sex education stuff and as I hadn't done any at my previous school, I was excluded. I was too young to know what it was all about (the sex ed, and the excluding)... but I do still remember it!
Whether it had any harmful consequences, I wouldn't like to say!
I also remember that they were part way through "The Hobbit" in English lessons and I didn't get excluded from that shite and its given me a complete aversion to Tolkien throughout my life.
As said above, I can’t see what educational benefit they’ll get from seeing the film…………
Isn't the book part of the curriculum? I imagine the film will be shown as part of that to help out pupils who struggle to engage with reading.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ is a good place to start for any TV/film/game you have concerns over. Obviously far more nuanced than a number in a circle.
I'd be ok with it
Being “that kid” who was the only one who missed out on something that the rest of the class has seen / done is going to be more harmful to them then hearing a couple of adults use a naughty word that they probably hear twelve times a day in the playground. IMHO.
Imagine being the kid who's parents stopped the rest of the year watching a film.
The whole thing is very odd. It doesn't matter whether individuals might be ok with a particular film. lf its to be shown in class more or less all the children and their parents have to be ok with it.
A 15 film with the C and F word in it isn't ok to be shown in primary school, it just isn't !! My feeling is that this is purely the teachers choice, he hasn't thought it through or run it past a more senior staff member. Your obviously concerned so call the school and speak to someone higher up the food chain.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ is a good place to start[/i]
Interesting!
their view:
"age 16+
Excruciatingly tense story of a terrible accident."
My lad has spent many weekends with drunk Trackdayers coming in like they're high on heroin after doing a session on their bikes.
I'd be fine with it.
lf its to be shown in class more or less all the children and their parents have to be ok with it.
Which is why schools generally send a letter out a asking the parents.
I think it's up to you to decide - asking here shows you have a genuine concern to make sure your children don't miss out on anything educational, but you seem uneasy about it, so go with your conviction/judgement.
I personally have made sure my children know all the naughty words they should not ever repeat, so wouldn't have a problem with a sweary version of the film. The only possible problem with swearwords is child is a shit and goes off saying them everywhere knowingly to offend, or child is too innocent and has no idea it's a swearword so repeats it everywhere and causes offence (scenario 2 happened to me once that I recall!).
I agree it's quite a harrowing film, but probably OK for older children. As for:
We shouldn’t have to be put in the position where it becomes necessary to opt out a child from a film.
This is typical of the right to impose one's views on everyone that seems to be more and more prevalent these days. Get over yourself. Make a decision on what's best for your children, and don't expect other people's views or children to be the same.
I've talked to my 9 year old son at length about touching the void as i re-read it recently and he was asking me about it. It is a great story of resilience and goal setting. I didn't let him read the book or see the film though due to the language.
I remember watching walkabout at school at about 12. We all got very excited with the full frontal nudity when Jenny Agutter went skinny dipping.
I can't imagine that the book of Touching the Void is on the curriculum for 10 year olds (I have a 9 year old son, have read the book and have the film on DVD).
Sounds more like an inexperienced teacher who does not know what they are doing. I'd check with the head, my childrens school wouldn't show it due to the language.
I'd be interested to know why they're watching it.
I remember watching walkabout at school at about 12. We all got very excited with the full frontal nudity when Jenny Agutter went skinny dipping.
We read Watership Down in English Lit, probably aged about 14. We got a bit giddy hearing a teacher reading "piss off" out loud. Different times.
If it has been put on the curriculum, then the film will help students understand it better. The blame here would lie with whoever decided this was appropriate for primary curriculum.
I am sure that the teacher who is showing it has their own children and / or works with hundreds of children a year and is quite capable of deciding what issues are present. They will also have access to the mute button for bad language (perhaps they even watched the film and wrote down the timings to use the mute). Also they can fast forward the gory bits, isn't tech wonderful these days.
As long as educational justification can be demonstrated then the film can be shown. I doubt in a primary school that the Head Teacher isn't aware.
Tbf though, I was watching reservoir dogs / trainspotting at a young age.
Gotta admit! Chopper was decent viewing
As a primary school teacher of 20 years, there's no way I would show a 15 rated film to my year 5 class. The teacher is opening a can of worms that I wouldn't want to. I'm pretty liberal. I wonder what the school governors would say about this? Experts have rated the film! Trust the judgements of ratings authority. If you're not happy about the film being shown, make the school aware. I'm sure you're not alone .
My parents were both teachers. Mum quite liked all the crazy channel 4 stuff and we often watched them. We watched plenty of 18 films on the coach on school trips . Steve Beko and Mississippi burning were on the curriculum.
In other respects I was quite sheltered compared to some peers. That turned out to be a disadvantage.
Molly coddle children if you want but you will create a risk Averse, unbalanced wean with no tools to deal with issues further down the line.
They will be seeing worse on the internet already. Don’t kid yourself on everything is locked down.
Jesus they made a film?!
I am pretty sure we got to see a boob in a cartoon version of romeo and juliet aged about ten.
Video* got paused and we received a bollocking for all laughing.
*I think it might even have been a betamax
Kids might be exposed to all sorts in life these days but that doesn’t mean it should be available, even censored, in a primary school.
Touching the Void isn’t age appropriate and I’d want to know why they think it’s a good idea because it’s not!.
Is it possible they have a bleeped/censored version? I wouldn’t have a problem other than the c-word.
Thats a good point. we definitly watched a dissapointing version of braveheart at school.
Molly coddle children if you want but you will create a risk Averse, unbalanced wean with no tools to deal with issues further down the line.
Well, that's bollocks.
It's not even a good film.
But no I'd not even show it to my S2 class of 13yo's. Maybe that's me being risk averse.
I think the teacher should choose another age appropriate film to show them , or at least promise to beep out the swearing.
I showed Junior J the Wizard of Oz @2 y/o and he is now witchphobic. :-{
@ lols at nwa Tuesday.
I love how using the word "curriculum" instantly gives this thread/teacher credibility. Can anyone with experience as a teacher, indicate which "curriculum" says its OK to show a film rated for Year 10's/11's to some Year 5's?
I love the phrase "all berghaus and buffs." As use by a previous posted. Its more likely that the teacher is into "outdoors" and has taken the opportunity to put Touching the Void into his SCHEME of WORK for literacy or something like that.
Common sense would tell you that a 15 rated film is not suited to 9 year olds. Show me the piece of paper that says "Touching the Void" with all its sweary bits is the only way to engage Year 5's and then I might back down but REALLY?
That teacher is a LADO complaint waiting to happen.
Thats a good point. we definitly watched a dissapointing version of braveheart at school.
You watched the standard film then? 😀
Surprising, I've just had to give consent for my year 5 son to watch School of Rock even though its a PG and they've just performed in the Musical. I thinking of saying no to protect him from Jack Black.
I'd have no problem letting my children watching Touching the void, they've heard plenty of swearing (often from me) and it's probably appropriate for the situation unlike the ridiculously placed F bomb in Ready Player One.
There is a massive difference between a parent showing a film rated 15 to a 12yo and a teacher, in school, as part of a lesson.
Take it to extreme. You might give a 15yo a glass of wine at home but would you be ok with a teacher doing it on a trip to France?
It is ridiculous but it's easier to have a solid red line that is not crossed than fuzz it with the curriculum excuse. (Which is just nonsense)
Hmmm, I would have to re-watch it as I can't remember the swearing. I do remember the endless Boney M though. I wouldn't want a class of kids singing Boney M back at me. No.
Telegraph story has made my day 😆
Crevasse ****er !