Her nine-year-old son Jason Kay is now terrified of having a shower on his own and has become afraid of the dark, she said.Because..?
… the class at Eastfield Primary School was played the clip from the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock movie, including the dramatic music leading up to character Marion Crane being stabbed to death and her screams, earlier this week.
The school in Anlaby Road, west Hull, insisted the purpose of the lesson was to "establish mood created by music".But that doesn’t appease the fearsome Mrs Kay. Not one little bit…
"He now feels he has to take his plastic sword and knife with him every time he takes a shower or goes to the toilet.
"He is always asking an adult to guard the door while he does whatever he has to do in the bathroom.
"This has had a massive impact on the way he thinks and I am furious with the school."I’m, frankly, amazed that you think this story isn’t going to get the poor little chap bullied into the middle of next week!
"I don't mind admitting that I get a bit scared when I hear or see any type of murder scene, so it is no wonder Jason is so frightened – he is nine years old."Philip Larkin was right, wasn’t he?
H/T: APILN
In this case I suspect Philip Larkin was only half right. Ahem.
ReplyDeleteIMdb, no fan of censorship, has pointed out that the film was always intended for adults and that when using it with adolescents some pre-briefing is advisable. They regard it as completely inappropriate for young children.
ReplyDeleteUsing just a clip of the sound is in some respects worse since it is a brilliant piece of writing but is then shorn of context. It is no more helpful on its own than playing them a scrap of the Brady/Hindley tapes.
It was a bloody silly choice in the educational context of nine year olds and who ever thinks they are doing 'proper film studies' needs their laptop looking at very closely.
In other news, the school had originally considered using a sound clip from Deep Throat, but then remembered bananas were on the lunch menu.
ReplyDeleteThe mother is referred to as Mrs Kay, and the boy has the same surname.... Something not quite right here...
ReplyDeleteHe now feels he has to take his plastic sword...
ReplyDeleteOr scimitar?
Joe Public,
ReplyDeleteI'm informed by a trusted source that "A" Karen Kay has made something of a name for herself in the genre whereof you speak.........
To be fair, I agree with WOAR. The secene is completely unsuitable for 9 year-olds.
ReplyDeleteTo help him come to turns with it, perhaps a plastic cutout of a hand with a dagger on the wall near the shower?
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, I tend to agree that the scene from Psycho probably is unsuitable for viewing by children of that age. However, I watched an episode of Doctor Who with my then 6 year old and it frankly scared the shit out of her. She required a fair amount of reassurance and comfort that evening, and I had to go in to her a couple of times in the night to answer her questions regarding whether there were any aliens in the attic, but by the next day she was fine. It was never mentioned again. Maybe the same would apply to this young lad if mother dearest wasn't trying her best to create such a mountain of shit from a molehill of relatively nothing...
ReplyDeleteXX "He is always asking an adult to guard the door...XX
ReplyDelete"BUT, Jason, the manic knife killer WAS an adult! Do you REALLY feel safe with me standing here,.... waiting,.... listening, ....WATCHING for your everey weak moment, in the dark, when no one can hear you scream?"
"Using just a clip of the sound is in some respects worse since it is a brilliant piece of writing but is then shorn of context. It is no more helpful on its own than playing them a scrap of the Brady/Hindley tapes. "
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd have chosen 'Jaws', but then I suspect young Master Kay would stop bathing...
"I'm informed by a trusted source that "A" Karen Kay has made something of a name for herself in the genre whereof you speak........."
:D
"Maybe the same would apply to this young lad if mother dearest wasn't trying her best to create such a mountain of shit from a molehill of relatively nothing..."
Quite! I expect to see him in the dock or the coroner's court before he's 21...
""BUT, Jason, the manic knife killer WAS an adult! Do you REALLY feel safe with me standing here,.... waiting,.... listening, ....WATCHING for your everey weak moment, in the dark, when no one can hear you scream?""
LOL!
Captain Pugwash had a similar affect on me when i was younger. Don't like pirates even now.
ReplyDelete