Stunned children at St Mary's RC, Bacup, Lancashire, were shown footage of the Blitz and were told that London - where some of them have relatives - was under bomb attack.*sigh* I’m getting that déjà vu feeling again….
Teachers then led them to a cellar when an air raid siren sounded and a firework was let off to simulate a bomb.
The school project aimed to help children empathise with what it is like to live during wartime by making them believe that war had been declared.Because that’s what it’s all about now – not who, when, where, why, but ‘how did they feel?’…
Headteacher Mike Richards announced in the morning assembly that Britain was at war, but abandoned the project at around 1.30pm after some of the children became upset.Oh, FFS!
He said some of the pupils had since had nightmares.
Youngsters were also warned about evacuation.
Mr Richards admitted teachers were 'very upset' that pupils had been left distressed and suffering from nightmares.Clearly, it isn’t the children who need to learn to empathise…
Mr Richards explained: 'We were doing World War Two as a topic and we saw advice from schools that basically suggested that we introduced the topic as if it was really happening. We didn't foresee these problems.'Really?
You didn’t?
I mean, you never read the news?
The headteacher said he had spoken to around 10 parents with concerns about the exercise, although the school has not received any written complaints.Well, why do it then? Why fail to learn the lessons of all the attempts that have already made the papers and exposed the educational system to even more ridicule?
He added: 'We have changed the curriculum to being much more creative and informal and towards creating memorable experiences. On this occasion we realise that we went too far.
'The school apologises for any distress that was caused but we don't come to school with the idea of upsetting our pupils.'
A mother of a pupil at the school, who asked not to be named, said:… 'Nobody with an ounce of common sense would have put them through it.'Yes, but common sense clearly isn’t too common…
The Local Education authority declined to comment.I just bet it did.
I learned much about WW2 from my parents and grandparents, who lived through it. Why not ask some older folks to come into school and talk about their memories? Hearing it first hand is always more instructive than the sort of 'playschool pretend' described, and local memories, being closer to home, far more compelling. The local British Legion would probably be delighted to assist, provided they didn't get bogged down in CRB nonsense. Or is organising something like that out of the question in 'modern' education?
ReplyDeleteToo much danger that the "Oldies" would introduce non "PC" ideas into the poor children's minds....
ReplyDeleteGod forbid that they should be made aware of how dictatorships develop through ignorance and apathy. They might then realise what's happening around us now.
The parents should report the teachers to the police for what amounts to pretty severe psychological abuse. What's the section 5 charge.. 'behaviour likely to cause alarm or distress'. Open and shut case.
ReplyDeleteWho's going to tell Cracked they need to rewrite this to make it nine?
ReplyDeleteThey wanted to introduce the kids to what the second world war was like, but the educationalists have, as usual, shown them how the Nazis would have worked here if they had won. You know... thought control, propaganda, 'correct' thinking and so on.
ReplyDeleteAnother lefty triumph of the will.
See my comments regarding teachers in "Why aren't we blaming Doctors ...
ReplyDelete"Why not ask some older folks to come into school and talk about their memories?"
ReplyDeleteSome schools do that - can't help thinking they are the ones that really 'get' teaching.
"Who's going to tell Cracked they need to rewrite this to make it nine?"
I bet if they revisit that one, it'll make an appearance!
"...the educationalists have, as usual, shown them how the Nazis would have worked here if they had won."
Good point!