SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

What’s Bugging Me Today

Guest Blog by Nancy Wagner, SQE Treasurer

Last Friday, I went to see The Hunger Games with my daughter and daughter-in-law. I didn’t know much about it, but a movie always sounds good to me. For those living on another planet like me, this is the movie version of the first book in a hugely-popular series aimed at teens. 

Briefly, the story concerns 24 children, ages 12-18, who have to compete to the death as penance for a long-ago uprising against the government. Only one child is to be left alive, and is then showered with riches. I have to say I thought the movie was well done and well acted, but not for the faint of heart.

As we were leaving for the 1 pm show, my daughter mentioned that her friend’s son was going to see this movie with his class. He is 12, in grade 7. She thought he was a little young to be seeing this particular flick. When we got to the theatre, there were four yellow elementary school buses pulling away. After viewing this show, I cannot begin to figure how this movie could have benefitted this age group. Watching 12-18 year-olds hunt down and kill each other doesn’t seem to have a tie-in with the curriculum as far as I can see!

The next morning, over coffee with friends, several of whom are teachers, I was told that for several schools, grades 5-7 attended this movie. I pointed out that the rating is PG-13 and was told that written permission was obtained (this is true for all field trips anyway). We talked about what possible lessons could be learned from the story and one teacher suggested that it could prompt a good discussion around bullying. However, since many of the children in the movie were enjoying their “hunt” I don’t see how this would be possible. Besides, the story is not about bullying, it is about killing. Another teacher noted that even though year after year there is more and more discussion around bullying, the bullying situation, in her opinion, has only gotten worse.

So why were so many students given half a Friday off for this? They certainly didn’t need a break from school - they had just returned after a 10-day holiday.