After hearing my 13 year old daughter(13 by only 6 days) tell me about this movie I am horrified that it was shown in a 7th grade social studies class. No permission slip was sent home for approval. Am I just to used to the private school she used to go to or to I make a good point? I have not seen this film and doubt I will. Post your opinion of whetheror not you would want your 7th grader watching this in the classroom.
shareI just showed this to my 7th grade daughter at home (of course this was my choice, not the school's). Considering some of the fluff that is allowed to be shown in public school, I think this would at least make kids think beyond the narrow concerns that often take up middle schoolers' time. Despite what you might see on these threads, it is apolitical for the most part--other than it paints a rather vivid and disturbing portrayal of the effects of war. The one scene that causes trouble in this film for the age group is the allusion to the rape of the young heroine. However, it is not directly shown, only hinted at. You could make an argument that such things should NOT be shown to children at this age, but the irony there is that such things that are depicted in the movie are happening to children your (and my) daughter's age all over the world. In many ways the film is empowering to young adults, for you see children taking charge in a situation where their elders are useless. If you are bothered by the fact that your daughter saw it, I think the only way to address the issue is to first see the film. What better way to see what SHE got out of it. My daughter was disturbed by the film (we just saw it last night), but I am sure it will be the basis for many discussions about what takes place around the world and what role she plays in all of it.
share[deleted]
i recently saw this film and being around the same age as your daughter I definately think a permission slip should have been sent home. You should probably ask why one wasn't, I go to a very loose charter school and they still send them home with us. I think it should be seen in classrooms as a good and bad message but should be taken into risk when you pop in and say "we're gonna watch this movie!"...
shareI've just viewed this BEAUTIFUL film that alternately made me laugh and cry w/ it's depiction of a group of young Iraqi orphans simply trying to stay alive. Personally, I would DEFINITELY recommend this to a 7th grade class (or any of those 8 thru 12, but not any younger than 7th) BUT w/ a guided discussion after so the kids could divest what they've just seen and their (teacher) could help them understand. I would not recommend youngsters seeing this w/out parental guidance or other adult supervision because, as beautiful and comic in parts as it is, it is also tragic and brutal and there are some disturbing instances that, I feel, would need discussion for any children in the audience.
I like your take on this. I would hope that any film shown in school would be accompanied by guided discussion, otherwise, what's the point? why even show a film if there won't be discussion?
I'm proud to say my poetry is only understood by that minority which is aware.
I would never allow, or recommend, any 7th grader watch this without their parents or with parental permission. I can't even begin to count the ways in which this film is disturbing. Absolute must-see for adults or mature-minded young adults. Your average 7th grader? Wow. No no no.
sharethey show more disturbing things on prime time television 7 days a week
I'm proud to say my poetry is only understood by that minority which is aware.
Considering the brain dead garbage kids watch on a regular basis I would be impressed that a child could sit still long enough to get anything out of this film. I would much rather have a child disturbed by something that is happening in our world today and want to form a discussion about it than have them aimlessly worry about their weight or looks or what current scandal Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton or Jessica Simpson is involved in. I applaud this teacher for being daring enough to teach and not just entertain her students. If I were you esarcastic I'd worry less about this teacher. You probably have better things to worry about. All that happened was maybe your child became more aware of her surroundings outside of The Gap and The Hollywood Insider. In short she was treated like a future adult.
shareagree with joleofmichigan , this movie is for the mature age, since kids who are 13 would simply not understand the entire pain that is shown there
share
I think you underestimate what 13 year-olds are capable of understanding, especially in a classroom context with accompanying discussion regarding the finer points of the subject matter and its implications
I'm proud to say my poetry is only understood by that minority which is aware.
I think it's about time that 12 year-olds learn about the planet they live on. Their world as they know it consists of Disney Channel nonsense, pop culture propaganda,and sugar coated adderol.This is our future?For them,God forbid, to see a taste of reality is badly needed. Ask one about the war in Iraq, and Afghanistan. Ask one about the conflict in Israel. Ask one about Darfur, Sudan.When was the last time a kid actually watched CNN? It's not Nickolodion,nor was it meant to be.If kids are going to change the world, first they need to understand it. I highly recommend this film,and "Osama"for all middle school cirreculeum.Who knows, they might actually learn something.
sharetagguy, well said
shareI believe this is definitely a movie that 7th graders should be allowed to see. As a country we try to shelter our kids from EVERYTHING that requires thinking about and then we wonder why they get obsessed with clothes, material stuff and interpersonal posturing and bickering at school. If kids at the early teenage stage begin to understand that the really important things in life have nothing to do with where you stand in the school pecking order and whether you are wearing Abercrombie clothes or what type of phone / IPOD you have then when they become young adults they can change or restore the values of this country to what they should be!
In all honesty I would rather my 12 year old was interested in watching movies like this than Mary-Kate & Ashley crap.
Ian
Wait! I agree this is a very good, deep movie and could be shown at school; however, I do believe more mature children (high school) would be the better target.
Just because younger children see too much "fluff" (agreed) it doesn't mean they should be subjected to films that could bring about nightmares. Yes, the horrors of war can be discussed within limits, but that can come later -or- if you feel your child is mature enough to handle it, discuss it at home.
While it's a good thing to want kids to be informed about the world, there is a difference between a kid watching CNN and this movie. It's a pretty disturbing movie to me, and I'm definately not a 7th grader.
While I can see the point in showing it to get a message to the kids that life for most people in the world isn't as good as we have it here in America and to give them a small intro into the conflicts going on in our world, I wouldn't show them this movie. Some of the content is definately not age appropriate. Remember, these are 12 year old children. There are other ways to show them what is going on in the world. Such as a teacher explaining the conflicts herself. This movie has a lot to do with the Iraq war and life outside of America, but it's really not a good example for children to see.
Do we understand everything that is going on in the world? No, adults need to have explainations as well. i think that you can show this movie to a child as long as there is someone who can explain it in a better way, because it is a complicated movie. And remember some 12 year old children are a lot older then you would think. Children are smart, if they don't like it, they will say that they don't want to see it, but most children are actually more interested to see these kind of movies when they are that age.
shareYes, but there are parts with the girl where she drowns the child and kills herself. No twelve year old should see that.
And sorry, but I really doubt most children are interested in seeing this movie at their age when most people my age don't even like watching these sorts of movies.
in the meantime, millions of children are watching tv news and detective shows that can have their content outlined thusly: killing, rape, kidnapping, killing, beating, burglary, killing, shooting, killing rape
and they watch that every day
I'm proud to say my poetry is only understood by that minority which is aware.
Oh please. You're HORRIFIED this film was shown? Why? This film is perfect for young Americans. It shows, from the perspective of kids, the horrors of living under totalitarianism, and the ability for people, even kids, to survive. It is a story of hope, of taking action, under difficult conditions. It shows how young minds don't lose hope, how people can build trust and family.
I have no idea what upsets you so much about the film. Do you feel uncomfortable talking about real-world issues with your daughter?