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Heads' threat to parents over computer games
Jason
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Head teachers in Cheshire have warned parents they will report them to the authorities if they allow their children to play computer games rated for over-18s.
The letter was sent by the Nantwich Education Partnership group to parents from 16 schools in the county.
The heads claim games such as Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty contain unsuitable levels of violence.
They warn parents they could be reported for neglect in some cases.
The heads state that playing such games or accessing certain social media sites can increase early sexualised behaviour in youngsters and leave them vulnerable to grooming for sexual exploitation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32103991
Interesting. I do think things like this are awarded age ratings for a reason, but then I think that most parents are obviously a much better judge of what their children can or cannot cope with in that respect, but then many aren't and use games consoles and the internet as glorified babysitters.
Maybe there's an argument for not exposing children to age-inappropriate material because of how de-sensitised to things they'd end up becoming ?. I don't know. Lots of contradicting feelings and opinions on this, but it's an interesting approach to take I think.
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If games affect them adversely then they already have problems already...
Both me and my friend grew up together playing GTA games and we havent been affected by them!
But then it is just another pathetic and lazy argument from the anti game brigade.
I don't think it's the "anti game brigade" because they mention social media as well.
if i had a kid in that' shcool i'll tell the teachers to sit on it, they're my kids and i decide what they can and cant do no one else, if i do not like it i pulled my kid out of that school
we should not be letting teachers have this much power over other people's kids
But the law says he shouldn't as they are bad for him, like alcohol and cigarettes so why do you chose to ignore the first but not the latter, unless of course you do let your child do they latter.
I thought he was saying at school, how can he see them playing when they not at school?
Kids can have alcohol, they just can't buy it, and cigarettes are bad for everybody.
What you have to consider is children will play GTA with a childrens' mindset. Actually they like to play the online version most, as opposed to the story, but still. They just like driving the cars around and blowing stuff up, and getting into gunfights with the other players. It's too cartoon-like to be approaching anything real anyway.
That said, my nine year old is also a massive horror movie fan, and both of them at the moment are really into anything with zombies In for some reason.
kids are allowed to drink alcohol with their parents permission.
and as for games and dvds that should be up to the parents so it's nobody else's b****y business,, as the parent knows best what their kid can handle, if your child can't handle that type of game you would not buy it for them, If they can you buy it for them
Are you being ironic?
Paranoid much?
Trouble with someone disagreeing with your point of view, so you resort to insults and think violence might sort them out.
the only place teachers should have how is in the school the minute they get out of the school gate the schools have no power over the kids
Adult themed games, sexual content
Some people would say, it's pixels on a screen, but today's modern console / computer graphics are fairly life-like
Would you sit primary school age children in front of a porn flick?
Could argue games are worse, because of the interactive element.
A key point in this argument would be any desensitisation that could occur
These adult games carry an 18 certificate for a reason
Or is it something like cigarettes where it's illegal to buy but not illegal to use if underage.
I did watch 18 rated films from about the age of 4 by the time I was 7 I had my own copies of films like A Nightmare On Elm St and Friday The 13th and always got the latest one the day it came out.
The school kids might have been talking in class about the games they play at home.
And if they are being physically, sexually or psychologically abused outwith school, should that be ignored by the teachers? If they come to have knowledge of it.
If the minute they get out of the school gate they have no power to intervene then that's what would happen. If Jill Doe gets really scared watching Resi Evil or Evil Within and is made to by a parent or elder sibling despite asking not to see it, should that be ignored?
Are these people elected? Is it a private organisation?
I find it hard to believe an accountable group of people would ever send out such letters to voters.
Regardless of who these people are, the general direction for education in this country is unaccountability. With parents and the public having little to zero influence over the loons gradually taking over education.
This sounds like a legal disaster in the making.
That's a pretty dangerous assumption to make. Then you end up with a Cleveland abuse issue. Or, you go the other way and end up with Rochdale.
The only time schools care about kids outside of school is if it affects the school, ie how they are wearing the uniform to/from school, or if you post negative comments about the school/teachers on social media. If on the other hand something serious like bullying outside of the school is happening, guess what the school doesn't want to know.
I do agree with the head to a certain extend...I do think any parent who lets a child play these sort of games, or watch films with adult content, are very irresponsible for ignoring the age ratings.