Yesterday Minor, along with the rest of his year group, was called to a "Whole Year Assembly" wherein the Head Teacher spent some 15 minutes giving graphic details of the torture and subsequent "massacre" of a group of Polish Women carried out by the Nazis during WWII. Many children were reduced to tears and Minor had nightmares last night.
When the THW was in the same year (9) they were treated to a lecture on the killing of James Bulger that included details of the "torture" in full ....... even down to which of the toddler's fingers were cut off, before his death, by his killers. Details that were deemed too distressing to be broadcast by the BBC and only emerged at the actual inquest and subsequent trial.
On each occasion the children were then led in prayers of "Forgiveness" and for the souls of those killed.
Irrespective of religious beliefs I cannot see the relevance of these two examples to the "Daily Act of Worship" that the Education Acts require schools to provide.
It seems to me that teachers who happen to be Welsh delight in feeding such morbid and frankly frightening (to kids of 13) details but I am damned if I can see how this fits into their education.
On the subject of inappropriate behaviour by Welsh Teachers, yesterday Minor was informed that unless he was word perfect in reciting from memory a piece of written Welsh he would be awarded a detention today. The boy cannot speak Welsh, has never, before this year, been taught any Welsh and thus clearly needs the "Support and help" that his teachers are supposed to identify and provide. Detention for misbehaviour I can accept but the inability to speak Welsh is hardly misbehaviour in my book. Detentions at this particular school are "awarded" to be served, at the whim of the teacher, either during the lunch break, which means that the child is deprived of their mid-day meal, or at the end of the school day, causing them to miss the school bus and thus either a parent has to turn out to collect their child or the kid has to walk home, causing no end of concern to parents who expect them home at a certain time. No written notice of any detentions are ever sent to the parents .... a clear breach of the rules and carrying with it every chance that a child might accept a lift from someone.... The very thing that the "Bulger" lecture was supposed to be a warning against doing.
I have placed a call to the school and am now awaiting a promised call back from the Head.
