Feedback needed please

by MrMoe 55 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  hillbilly

  There are many documentary -archival type works out there that make the Nazi era's sickness clearly visible to any person with concience or working brain. I can't imagine that school requiring the "R" and "X" versions to be used to make the point. The "G" and "PG" versions are more than adequate in communicating the Nazi horrors,

  It seems to me if the kids are having nightemares, etc they are not as "jaded' about violence as the school board thinks they are. I say school board because that teacher has to provide a 'lesson plan" that identifies the media materials required to do the class work. The local board is responsible for content, however, they may not know what is being required in a classroom at all times.
  Bottom line is that the TAXPAYER is the customer in a public school system and if the TAXPAYER feels it is not appropriate the TAXPAYER needs to speak up and be heard.

  I think that "reality" based war fiction is a great thing-but may not be OK for kids. The level of graphic depiction found on say, The History Channel is more than enough for public high school.

  Just my 2 cents worth.
• 

  mommy

  Mr Moe,
  This is a tough one, and a choice needs to be made on an individual basis I think. I am going along with Waiting and Lisa on this one though, and feel that they should have to view this. Too many children are sheltered and not allowed to see horrific things, this may end up shocking them in later life. I think it is better to be prepared than to walk around thinking nothing can happen to you. Also I think it helps people to have sympathy and be more willing to give of themselves when they see this stuff occured. Perhaps a kid who has been taught his whole life by his family to hate Jews, will see another side of the Jews, and will not follow with the hatred.

  My children 6 and 7 watched the 9/11 shows, and subsequent reports. Including the families living in 2 sides dwellings with little to no food or clothing. Without me even starting to discuss it with them, just the basic reason why they were there and what they are going through, both of them went into their room. They went through their clothes and picked out some warm outfits, even my daughters favorite pajamas, they wanted me to send them to the children so they could stay warm.

  I allow my children to watch these types of things, and yes I would even allow them to watch the holocaust movie. Because it gives them a broader sense of what is in this world. They can prepare themselves and decide how they want to react, with my help. I am here to guide them, and by opening up their minds to the world around them. I would much rather do it then rely on another.
  wendy

  Blind faith can justify anything.~Richard Dawkins
• 

  expatbrit

  Hi Moe:

  I think I'm with Waiting and Lisa here. School should teach facts and reality, and those are not always pleasant. Yet that is the real world. Fourteen is not an age to be artificially shielded from the realities of life and history.

  The point of this assignment is for the students to be able to put themselves in the place of historical people. This teaches them empathy, amongst other things. How can they accomplish that if they are given an unrealistic and sanitized version of events on which to base their work?

  As for them being shocked, isn't that a good thing? They are supposed to be shocked and disturbed. If they were not shocked there would be cause for worry. Perhaps giving young adults a realistic education in the horrors of history will help their generation steer clear of them in the future.

  In the real world, people die horribly, the guy doesn't always get the girl and the dog doesn't always escape at the last minute. Mollycoddling teenagers with the Disney version of history does them no favours for future life.

  Expatbrit
• 

  LDH

  Then if you're going to be sheltering a 14 yr old from this type of 'entertainment,' might I also ask:

  Is that child allowed to watch ANY rated R movie? (remember, 17 not admitted) I would suggest that she not, if she can't handle reality.

  Has that child seen any horror film, even Psycho, the original black and white?

  Does your child know the difference between fantasy and reality?

  Some people ARE more sensitive than others. I'm merely suggesting that a 14 yr old honor student may be protesting out of idealism.

  I remember being 14 and willing to DIE for my right to Senior Skip Day! My 14 yr old sister became vegetarian (altho my parents refused to recognise her right to do so).

  My point is, make sure these scenes would REALLY bother the child and they are not just trying to be manipulative.

  If they can't watch the film, could they read a book that is just as graphic and do the report? Perhaps this is an option.

  At 14 you can no longer 'protect' your child from the reality of this world. If you think you can, you are deceiving yourself, and raising a delusional child.

  That is Witness ideology at it's WORST! "protect" your child. WRONG. Only by EXPOSING your child on an age-appropriate basis will your child develop a true WORLD VIEW.

  Maybe watching this film will make the girls want to do some volunteer work for Amnesty international, or something. Being horrified at war is a good thing.

  Because remember, those people on the film LIVED it. Your niece is lucky, she doesn't have to. But she can still learn a lesson from it.
• 

  ianao

  MrMoe:

  I think UtopianReformist put it best. That is the best way to handle the situation tactfully. I personally feel that you will know best what is good for your children.
• 

  bboyneko

  You people who feel the kids need to watch those videos have not dealt with anxiety disorders or people who are generaly more prone to anxiety. No one should be FORCED to watch videos of graphic executions.

  In the case of anxiety disorders, a person who watches something disturbing cannot stop thinking about it. Its a torture as it will replay over and over in their head, causing no end of anguish.

  The teacher should not require this. In a college course, where teachers are afforded much more freedom as to their teaching methods, I wouldnt argue against it, as long as the required videos were listed in the course description.

  Yes, some kids can handle it, but I'd say the majority of 14 year olds, especially 14 year old girls cannot. And they shouldnt be required to be exposed to a disturbing experience.

  -Dan
• 

  ashitaka

  Moe, since this probably won't be the worst thing she has to handle in her life, I think she should see it. If she feels sick, good. Those poor people who died in the camps would have loved to have been living in America, with plenty to eat, things to wear, with the worst thing that could happen to them being watching a war movie....you're neice will be ok. Tell her to buck up....the real world's a lot worse than a video.

  ashi
• 

  ianao

  bboyneko:

  Yes, some kids can handle it, but I'd say the majority of 14 year olds, especially 14 year old girls cannot. And they shouldnt be required to be exposed to a disturbing experience.

  Oh boy! I'll cover you if you duck and run quickly.
• 

  LDH

  Thank you, Ianao.

  Lisa

  PS. A 17 yr old Irish boy can make a bomb and have it explode in his hands and kill him two days ago, all for his political ideology, but God forbid a 14 year old American girl has to watch something so HORRID as war!

  What the hell is this, Barbie land?

  This is like White Flight out of the city and into the burbs--idiots think that as long as there's no 'darkies' around, they're protected from the big bad inner city! Yah right. Which is why all these little white suburban kids are shooting up school. Columbine, etc etc.

  Maybe your sis in law should take a hint from all of the naive Americans who "thought it couldn't happen here"--a thought echoed over and over after 9/11.

  Americans, contrary to popular opinion, do NOT live in a cocoon. Let her learn it now.
• 

  bboyneko

  We all agree that watching a baby executed is a negative experience. Why would we want others to see it? To show just how horrible it is? Will someone who was planning on putting a baby on a pitchfork suddenly going to chang his mind after seeing a video of this? If the nazis had seen footage of a similair event you think it would have stopped them? YOu think someone is going to say 'well at first I though that a baby being impaled on a pitchfork was not that bad of a thing, but after watching this video I see I was wrong'

  Im not saying burn all footage of the event, im saying if someone wants to see it let them, do not force them to. That's just abuse, plain and simple.