Anger at Poole school's "suicide lessons" (From Thisisdorset)
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Anger at Poole school's "suicide lessons"
9:00am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Latest By Harriet Marsh
Jennene Garnett thinks Poole High School's lessons are wrong
AN OUTRAGED mum has vowed to take her daughter out of ‘lessons in suicide’ at Poole High School.
Jennene Garnett says teaching teens about such sensitive issues is inappropriate and that daughter Jasmine Bird, 15, came home distressed when she found out about their next religious studies topic.
The 38-year-old mum-of-two’s fears grew when other parents said their youngsters were shown different ways to commit suicide.
The school’s deputy head, Fan Heafield, however, said the topics formed part of the Year 11 syllabus and was approached with sensitivity.
And any student concerned by the issue would be excused from completing these lessons.
Ms Garnett, a care assistant from Danecourt Road, called the lessons “horrifying” and said: “I know of four people that have committed suicide.
“It’s so widespread, the statistics are shocking and a large amount of children kill themselves as well.
“I read that every 82 minutes someone takes their own life, so a good third of those pupils will have probably been affected by it.
“It’s not an appropriate thing to teach children.”
She wants Jasmine to sit out the classes on suicide and euthanasia, which form part of the Medical Ethics unit on the national curriculum OCR Religious Studies syllabus.
“It’s quite a sensitive issue that affects people across the board,” she added.
“The rate of suicide in Britain is so high in this day and age.
“A friend said his son did the class last year and was shown |different techniques of how to commit suicide.
“I think it’s appalling and don’t want my children involved in that sort of lesson.
“I don’t think it’s fair on her.”
Poole High’s deputy head, Fan Heafield said the topics are tackled with great sensitivity at the end of the two-year course when students are more mature.
“Any student who is concerned by the issues will receive support from their house officer and will be excused from completing these lessons of the unit,” Mrs Heafield said.
“However as these elements form part of the examination at the end of Year 11 we have a responsibility to our students to ensure the full syllabus is covered.”
Pupils also watch part of the 15-rated film A Short Stay in Switzerland, which follows a woman seeking to end her life at a Swiss clinic.
Comments(109)
speedy231278
says...
9:01am Wed 15 Feb 12
uvox44
says...
9:09am Wed 15 Feb 12
The Liberal
says...
9:17am Wed 15 Feb 12
jaylo
says...
9:28am Wed 15 Feb 12
keeley74
says...
9:29am Wed 15 Feb 12
.most of us were not religious when these practices were in place however it formed a foundation.so now it's ok to teach kids about suicide?hmmm where's the fear of offending and british/ c of e citizens? funny that,once again,sod the british...up yours!!what's next............the karma sutra...........how to rape???!!! well done jennene i totally agree with you.
Duckorange
says...
9:37am Wed 15 Feb 12
xxairoxx
says...
9:53am Wed 15 Feb 12
rayc
says...
10:16am Wed 15 Feb 12
Healthy
says...
10:31am Wed 15 Feb 12
xxairoxx
says...
10:50am Wed 15 Feb 12
Dr Strangelove
says...
11:51am Wed 15 Feb 12
derek_acorah
says...
11:53am Wed 15 Feb 12
Duckorange wrote:Flanders: Let's thank the Lord for another beautiful day.
I'm shocked - shocked - that kids are still having their time wasted with RE classes.
Superintendent Chalmers: "Thank the Lord"? That sounded like a prayer. A prayer in a state school? God has no place within these walls, just like facts don't have a place within an organized religion.
rightsideofthe law
says...
11:53am Wed 15 Feb 12
The line i read that stated "a friend said his son did the class last year ans was shown different techniques of how to commit suicide" is completely ridiculous to the point of being embarrassing to read! I can just see it now, the teacher telling students how long to leave the toaster on before dropping it in the bath, or how much bleach will do the trick. This is ridiculous!!! 1. Kids are not stupid and are well aware of things that can kill them, they dont need to be told this. 2. this is an important subject (that focuses on euthanasia not suicide) that teaches students about the rights of humans and how their religions affects this. 3. These lessons DO NOT teach techniques! Although i have used the word kids throughout this rant these lessons are actually taught to the young adults of the school. the same students who are taught about the holocaust.
I honestly believe this story is ridiculous and how it made it to print i have no idea! This is just another example of people's need to moan and now people are using their children as bait for getting their face into the newspaper. I feel sorry for the receptionist at Poole High who will have to deal with the hoades of moronic parents
retry69
says...
12:15pm Wed 15 Feb 12
e law made an excellent point in that some parents need to grow up more and possibly that lack of understanding of their own childrens education may reflect on some of our youngsters behaviour
rightsideofthe law
says...
12:21pm Wed 15 Feb 12
People ar saying will learning about suicice get you a better job, "NO" which is a view i used to take of many subjects years ago. Will learning the square root of pie ever be used in my future office job? NO. But all of these subjects are designed to make kids "smarter" and better equiped to deal with the world they are going into. Someone commented about how common suicide is. Well then surely you would like your children to know why it happens rather than believe everyone who commits suicide "fell". This is extreme and im exaggerating but it does seem as if parents intend to hide their kids from the world they will one day take over...
jeebuscripes
says...
12:30pm Wed 15 Feb 12
"A friend said his son said did the course..."
Of course she hasn't read it. Here is the link, go and read it and then make comment.
http://www.ocr.org.u
k/qualifications/sub
jects/religious_stud
ies/
Maybe before choosing this as a GCSE option, she should have read it as well.
freedom for pokesdown
says...
12:52pm Wed 15 Feb 12
We might assume that warning of a danger helps us avoid it but sometimes it's not quite that simple.
Azphreal
says...
1:21pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Harv1979
says...
1:47pm Wed 15 Feb 12
The syllabus is available to any parent to read whenever they like so is it not really a case of not taking enough interest in your child's education in the first place?
As an aside, I left school twenty years ago and, even back then, we studied suicide and euthanasia as part of our RE course - nobody was complaining then. Really not news!!!
FrDarryl
says...
2:01pm Wed 15 Feb 12
FNS-man
says...
2:26pm Wed 15 Feb 12
I remember as a 12 year-old discussing in RE how to decide whom we would throw out of a hot-air balloon to save the others. These moral discussions are important to forming your own opinions about the world.
If the teacher is giving recommendations on how many paracetomol to take, and there is a practical session on tying your own noose, then this would be unnacceptable. But I imagine that is not the case.
denmarmat
says...
2:41pm Wed 15 Feb 12
FNS-man wrote:This is where the intelligent comments cease
You can't really discuss religion for very long without considering murder and suicide. The question of whether it can be right to take your life, or the life of another, is a fundamental one. The objection to a 15 year old discussing these things is ridiculous.
I remember as a 12 year-old discussing in RE how to decide whom we would throw out of a hot-air balloon to save the others. These moral discussions are important to forming your own opinions about the world.
If the teacher is giving recommendations on how many paracetomol to take, and there is a practical session on tying your own noose, then this would be unnacceptable. But I imagine that is not the case.
FrDarryl
says...
2:56pm Wed 15 Feb 12
'All public moral claims must be proposed non-judgementally.'
Which claim is itself of course either self-refuting or begging for absent antecedent truths, at least if classical logic enters into classroom protocol as well.
FNS-man
says...
3:00pm Wed 15 Feb 12
SurfReefFunTime
says...
3:03pm Wed 15 Feb 12
If your not going to discuss at 15-16 with your peers when are you going to? School is for educating...
Ooo my poor baby..discussing topics which are going to make him/her cry - get over it and get your heads out of your bottoms.
The echo says what?
says...
3:08pm Wed 15 Feb 12
I would prefer my children are taught about the realities of suicide and euthenasia in a controlled environment with trained teachers who are prepared to give suitable responces than have the issue come up in the middle of the 6 o clock news when it's being discussed, or in the middle of Logans Run!
juniperberry
says...
3:19pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Robynleanne
says...
3:36pm Wed 15 Feb 12
People are assuming the lessons are talking about overdosing or wrist slitting.
Bearing in mind this is in an RE lesson I'm going to assume that there's a little more religious context than simply "how to kill yourself".
How utterly ridiculous for a parent to suggest that a school is giving a child advice on this.
Healthy
says...
3:48pm Wed 15 Feb 12
jaylo
says...
4:03pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Azphreal wrote:How many teenagers do you see reading newspapers,you choose to read the papers and listen to the news.
Does she complain when the media run a story about a suicide? That normally has the way they died in it so could give 'ideas'.
EGHH
says...
4:31pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Morrigan
says...
4:32pm Wed 15 Feb 12
People of my generation (late 40's) did not get taught about that and I fail to see why kids today need be.
Suicide is a sad fact of life for people of all ages - but lets face it - teen years are supposed to be for FUN. There will be time enough to learn about euthanasia/suicide etc as they grow older.
Let the kids enjoy their school years without dragging them down to depair by unnecessary talk of death by their own hands!!
jaylo
says...
4:37pm Wed 15 Feb 12
The echo says what?
says...
4:42pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Morrigan wrote:But don't you see, its the teen years in which most of your childs education takes place, so it is the right time to address the issues. When would you suggest otherwise, when they are dealing with real issues of work and relationships in their 20's? Teen years aren't for FUN, they are for learning. "Unnecessary talk of death" - stop wrapping them in cotton wool!
Personally, I would not allow a child of mine to attend such lessons. Kids have a hard time studying for exams as it is - and quite why this topic should form part of the national curriculum is beyond me!!
People of my generation (late 40's) did not get taught about that and I fail to see why kids today need be.
Suicide is a sad fact of life for people of all ages - but lets face it - teen years are supposed to be for FUN. There will be time enough to learn about euthanasia/suicide etc as they grow older.
Let the kids enjoy their school years without dragging them down to depair by unnecessary talk of death by their own hands!!
FNS-man
says...
4:46pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Morrigan, the teenage years aren't for fun. They are for self-doubt, self-harm (often for females) and self-abuse (always for males). Even for the happiest child, secondary school is a daily struggle to survive and carve out a place in the world.
skylark12
says...
4:57pm Wed 15 Feb 12
AdamSFC
says...
5:23pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Pablo23 wrote:well said
“It’s so widespread, the statistics are shocking and a large amount of children kill themselves as well. "
Ah, that explains why you don't want them to be educated on the subject then?!?
People burying their heads in the sand and pretending something doesn't exist is the worst thing to do.
Get it out in the open, in an educational environment and discuss it in a healthy way.
Would your prefer children get their education from unregulated web sites with questionable agendas, which appears to be the norm on the more contentious subjects these days.
LockBeck
says...
5:52pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Similarly, R.E lessons often go off into other debates so i highly doubt that the children were actually intentionally taught different ways to commit suicide
ThomasChant
says...
5:53pm Wed 15 Feb 12
jeebuscripes wrote:Totally agree. At some point, if the parent was conscientious she would have seen that part of her daugheters course would have covered death, suicide, euthanasia etc. 15 year olds are a stones throw from being adults and they need to be able to develop the ability to discuss and debate difficult issues. Why the need to highlight the fact that the film they watched was 15 rated? They're all 15 years old or above!
I bet this mother hasn't even read the syllabus. "A friend said his son said did the course..." Of course she hasn't read it. Here is the link, go and read it and then make comment. http://www.ocr.org.u k/qualifications/sub jects/religious_stud ies/ Maybe before choosing this as a GCSE option, she should have read it as well.
B Newing
says...
6:08pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Before I start, I would like to state that I am currently 15 and attending Poole Grammar school. I have been studying the religious studies syllabus now for 4 years and 2 years at GCSE level.
RE IS NOT A WASTE OF TIME!
RE is not what you remember from your youth; reading the bible for an hour. It is now learning about different attitudes, beliefs, religions and ethics. This has given me a much wider view of the world and its practices rather than the cooped up view that all other religions are wrong or malicious. It is actually an easy subject but very important to learn.
Suicide....
WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT SUICIDE!!!!
We talk about euthanasia; assisted suicide. We talk about the ethics of euthanasia and the views of different religions. This is not giving us the ideas and methods to go and kill ourselves which, gathering from this article, is what you believe. Please, before you make a complaint find out the syllabus yourself.
PS: @jaylo
Your comment has no regard to this topic at all and is wrong. The teen pregnancy rates have gone up due to parents and the education system not giving them the knowledge and maturity to practice SAFE sex. I would like to point you towards (I think) Holland. They have one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates in the world. They also have the age of consent at 13... So how have they managed this? They start sex education at a very young age! If you educate a young child about responsibility early on, they will have that outlook for the rest of their life. Please keep your views to yourself unless they can be backed up by numerous scientific studies that show a positive correlation between education and teen pregnancy rates.
Thank you for reading the entirety of this comment.
hannahstra
says...
7:01pm Wed 15 Feb 12
CharlotteBaker
says...
7:03pm Wed 15 Feb 12
It is so so important to make sure people are well educated in these topics. Yes it may seem upsetting but teachers do not tell them how to commit suicide!!!!! Teachers are well experienced in how to approach this in a sensitive way.
Palantir
says...
8:48pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Child and teen suicides are a terrible thing and the best defence of it is knowledge, not ignorance!
What if we just didn't teach safe sex at high schools or even any education about sex at all? The rate of teenage STD's and pregnancy would rocket. If we didn't teach about other religions then we'd see greater numbers of hate crimes through ignorance and lack of understanding. Only through sensitive education and learning can we deal with the issues that trouble society today.
So if we don't teach our children about such sensitive subjects as suicide and how to get help if they feel like committing suicide, how can we expect them to survive in this world?
sarahcr88
says...
8:56pm Wed 15 Feb 12
I think at 15, your child is nearly a young adult, they need to start accepting REAL LIFE and what goes on.
RJMann
says...
9:02pm Wed 15 Feb 12
I believe, this issue brings many important points across, and touch on emotions we may not felt before.
I don't understand the need for the childs mother to involve in the education of her child. Understand this is a examinational practice, preparing them for the exam.
I would also like to point upon the headline...It's not Poole Highs fault. If it's in the Natinal curriculum, then this is what HAS to be taught...It's the Government which decides the most important.
short fatone
says...
9:46pm Wed 15 Feb 12
What a load of waffle
I am off now to jump in the river piddle at the bottom of my garden.
spooki
says...
9:49pm Wed 15 Feb 12
spooki
says...
9:50pm Wed 15 Feb 12
ollief1
says...
10:37pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Also we watched a film which was heartbreaking but the story was carried by the BBC at the time so frankly stop moaning.
peter hurt
says...
10:57pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Anything to sell a paper!
AlphaMan
says...
11:13pm Wed 15 Feb 12
PHSFH Student
says...
12:11am Thu 16 Feb 12
THEANONYMOUS
says...
1:09am Thu 16 Feb 12
'Good Job' sarcasm intended.
billd766
says...
2:06am Thu 16 Feb 12
They were written (I assume) by current and ex pupils who have actually gone through the RE lessons and have genuine knowledge of what was taught.
Most of the other posters have no real idea and are using their scant knowledge of the subject to project their own versions of what should or should not be taught at schools nationwide.
If that is what you really want to do then get on to the school boards and try to change things.
When I left Henry Harbin back in 1959 nothing like this was ever taught.
I am now 67 and living in Thailand and should push come to shove I want to go at a time and a place of my own choosing. I don't want the medical profession to keep me alive as a vegetable incapable of doing anything for myself.
My wife knows what I am planning to do and my 7 year old son will be told a bit later.
I don't want my wife or family put in jail for helping me to die just because the law says so.
The law does not know me so how can it act in my defence against my express wishes.
out suicide and euthanasia
I learned about suicide and euthanasia the way most people who feel the need to know find out.
You go online and Google it.
There is a wealth of information out there and if you don't want your child to know then lock your child up for ever because they will find out another way which is most probably the worst thing they can do.
Phixer
says...
2:18am Thu 16 Feb 12
Morrigan wrote:Agreed!
Personally, I would not allow a child of mine to attend such lessons. Kids have a hard time studying for exams as it is - and quite why this topic should form part of the national curriculum is beyond me!!
People of my generation (late 40's) did not get taught about that and I fail to see why kids today need be.
Suicide is a sad fact of life for people of all ages - but lets face it - teen years are supposed to be for FUN. There will be time enough to learn about euthanasia/suicide etc as they grow older.
Let the kids enjoy their school years without dragging them down to depair by unnecessary talk of death by their own hands!!
Phixer
says...
2:25am Thu 16 Feb 12
RJMann wrote:So you didn't learn English language when you were at Poole High!
Reading your comments on this issue. I would like to say, I went too Poole High, and taught this 'Very' lesson. I does not 'tell you' methods of suicide. It talks about a 'Real Story' of someone wanting to end their life due to the illness they had, which they witnessed in her Husband.
I believe, this issue brings many important points across, and touch on emotions we may not felt before.
I don't understand the need for the childs mother to involve in the education of her child. Understand this is a examinational practice, preparing them for the exam.
I would also like to point upon the headline...It's not Poole Highs fault. If it's in the Natinal curriculum, then this is what HAS to be taught...It's the Government which decides the most important.
Phixer
says...
2:25am Thu 16 Feb 12
RJMann wrote:So you didn't learn English language when you were at Poole High!
Reading your comments on this issue. I would like to say, I went too Poole High, and taught this 'Very' lesson. I does not 'tell you' methods of suicide. It talks about a 'Real Story' of someone wanting to end their life due to the illness they had, which they witnessed in her Husband.
I believe, this issue brings many important points across, and touch on emotions we may not felt before.
I don't understand the need for the childs mother to involve in the education of her child. Understand this is a examinational practice, preparing them for the exam.
I would also like to point upon the headline...It's not Poole Highs fault. If it's in the Natinal curriculum, then this is what HAS to be taught...It's the Government which decides the most important.
FNS-man
says...
7:15am Thu 16 Feb 12
And you never learned at school that there's no need for an exclamation mark after every sentence! It's really annoying! Are you actually shouting as you write!?!!!
YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST START TYPING IN CAPITALS!!!!!!!!
Or using LOL!!!!!
FNS-man
says...
7:18am Thu 16 Feb 12
FNS-man
says...
7:18am Thu 16 Feb 12
FNS-man
says...
7:19am Thu 16 Feb 12
contra
says...
8:25am Thu 16 Feb 12
Even if the mother doesn't care about such a large issue, would she prefer that her child isn't taught the whole syllabus and fails the RE GCSE? Hiding from it isn't going to change it, it just makes it worse for the people who suffer with it.
jaylo
says...
8:59am Thu 16 Feb 12
FrDarryl
says...
9:11am Thu 16 Feb 12
PHSFH Student wrote:'RE GCSE ... about tolerating other religions and learning to respect different beliefs...'
As a current serving sixth form student of PHS (a brilliant school which has allowed me to flourish) i could not bare to stand back and simply watch this sea of ignorance wash away the facts. The truth is that in RE GCSE (which i took 1 year ago and got an A in.) they do not just teach you about different religions, it is about tolerating other religions and learning to respect different beliefs. Therefore i myself find it hard to believe (excuse the pun) that this parent does not want her daughter to be taugh about tolerance, and i have multiple friends that have contemplated suicide and few who have even attempted it, and those that have live with, and constantly regret the consequences.
And lest we missed the point, if I may rephrase (apologies to PHSFH Student if this wasn't the point):
My point precisely.
retry69
says...
9:21am Thu 16 Feb 12
Morrigan wrote:If you honestly think that at 15years of age these pupils are still kids and they are being talked to about death by their own hands,you have obviously not taken any notice of the other pupils comments and sadly you are probably well out of touch of the educational needs of children going through their schooling years
Personally, I would not allow a child of mine to attend such lessons. Kids have a hard time studying for exams as it is - and quite why this topic should form part of the national curriculum is beyond me!!
People of my generation (late 40's) did not get taught about that and I fail to see why kids today need be.
Suicide is a sad fact of life for people of all ages - but lets face it - teen years are supposed to be for FUN. There will be time enough to learn about euthanasia/suicide etc as they grow older.
Let the kids enjoy their school years without dragging them down to depair by unnecessary talk of death by their own hands!!
retry69
says...
9:21am Thu 16 Feb 12
Morrigan wrote:If you honestly think that at 15years of age these pupils are still kids and they are being talked to about death by their own hands,you have obviously not taken any notice of the other pupils comments and sadly you are probably well out of touch of the educational needs of children going through their schooling years
Personally, I would not allow a child of mine to attend such lessons. Kids have a hard time studying for exams as it is - and quite why this topic should form part of the national curriculum is beyond me!!
People of my generation (late 40's) did not get taught about that and I fail to see why kids today need be.
Suicide is a sad fact of life for people of all ages - but lets face it - teen years are supposed to be for FUN. There will be time enough to learn about euthanasia/suicide etc as they grow older.
Let the kids enjoy their school years without dragging them down to depair by unnecessary talk of death by their own hands!!
retry69
says...
9:21am Thu 16 Feb 12
Morrigan wrote:If you honestly think that at 15years of age these pupils are still kids and they are being talked to about death by their own hands,you have obviously not taken any notice of the other pupils comments and sadly you are probably well out of touch of the educational needs of children going through their schooling years
Personally, I would not allow a child of mine to attend such lessons. Kids have a hard time studying for exams as it is - and quite why this topic should form part of the national curriculum is beyond me!!
People of my generation (late 40's) did not get taught about that and I fail to see why kids today need be.
Suicide is a sad fact of life for people of all ages - but lets face it - teen years are supposed to be for FUN. There will be time enough to learn about euthanasia/suicide etc as they grow older.
Let the kids enjoy their school years without dragging them down to depair by unnecessary talk of death by their own hands!!
user_name
says...
9:25am Thu 16 Feb 12
After the recent suicide in the grounds at Poole High School, I would think there is no better time to teach such a topic. When the teachers start handing out razor blades then I will think about pulling my daughter out of the school. As a former nurse, I am all too aware of how suicide can impact on loved ones and friends and I feel that this is a good chance to highlight this fact. Let her pull her daughter out of the class if that is her wish, but stop making a big deal just to get her picture in the paper.
FrDarryl
says...
9:30am Thu 16 Feb 12
If I may paraphrase:
My point precisely.
FrDarryl
says...
9:37am Thu 16 Feb 12
I'd be grateful to the site admins to delete my last two comments as they're gibberish.
dd9andy
says...
9:53am Thu 16 Feb 12
ThomasChant
says...
9:54am Thu 16 Feb 12
*Fiona*
says...
10:00am Thu 16 Feb 12
You ve to keep a careful eye on school teaching in these godless times.
When my son was at secondary school they told him all forms of sex were normal and even had him making voodoo masks in art lessons.
The Liberal
says...
10:50am Thu 16 Feb 12
*Fiona* wrote:What's wrong with voodoo? Just because someone doesn't have the same beliefs as you doesn't make them evil.
I agree with the mum its totally outrageous and unaccepable
You ve to keep a careful eye on school teaching in these godless times.
When my son was at secondary school they told him all forms of sex were normal and even had him making voodoo masks in art lessons.
LadyAbbie
says...
11:24am Thu 16 Feb 12
Glashen
says...
11:24am Thu 16 Feb 12
*Fiona* wrote:In you terms you may have a point Fiona since you believe in Mumbo Jumbo such as creationism why not Voodoo. However if you accepted scientific explanations for the universe you would realise these ideas are superstitious nonsense and your son making voodoo masks was not more reason for concern than a fairy story.
I agree with the mum its totally outrageous and unaccepable
You ve to keep a careful eye on school teaching in these godless times.
When my son was at secondary school they told him all forms of sex were normal and even had him making voodoo masks in art lessons.
FNS-man
says...
12:06pm Thu 16 Feb 12
retry69
says...
12:31pm Thu 16 Feb 12
*Fiona* wrote:Deviating from the topic as usual Fiona but there will be a few people that may argue that there are too many Gods
I agree with the mum its totally outrageous and unaccepable
You ve to keep a careful eye on school teaching in these godless times.
When my son was at secondary school they told him all forms of sex were normal and even had him making voodoo masks in art lessons.
*Fiona*
says...
3:31pm Thu 16 Feb 12
keeley74 wrote:So true...
ok let me see............where did the lords prayer go from assembly? where did hymns go?oh that's right it was got rid of for fear of offending anyone of a different faith.newsflash.....
.most of us were not religious when these practices were in place however it formed a foundation.so now it's ok to teach kids about suicide?hmmm where's the fear of offending and british/ c of e citizens? funny that,once again,sod the british...up yours!!what's next............the karma sutra...........how to rape???!!! well done jennene i totally agree with you.
_______________
What the school is doing is a mis guided attempt at political correctness- which is a form of re-education and a form of brainwashing.
Its worryingly dark in nature and also slightly sinister...
ollief1
says...
6:21pm Thu 16 Feb 12
Also what has been forgotten is the fact that someone actually committed suicide on the school premises last year and so we should be taught about it. Also to re emphasise I am a current sixth former at the school and studied this exact course not even a year ago and so for all these ill informed guesser dragging our school reputation through the dirt i say one thing. Why don't you join us in lessons so you can see exactly what is taught
retry69
says...
7:07pm Thu 16 Feb 12
ollief1 wrote:Well said best comment yet
At *fiona* what absolute rubbish. The school isn't brainwashing us by teaching us about suicide and euthanasia it is simply telling the truth about the world.
Also what has been forgotten is the fact that someone actually committed suicide on the school premises last year and so we should be taught about it. Also to re emphasise I am a current sixth former at the school and studied this exact course not even a year ago and so for all these ill informed guesser dragging our school reputation through the dirt i say one thing. Why don't you join us in lessons so you can see exactly what is taught
clodaghdear123
says...
9:49pm Thu 16 Feb 12
retry69
says...
9:54pm Thu 16 Feb 12
clodaghdear123 wrote:It seems to me after the last two comments its the parents that need the educating not the pupils or ex pupils
I don't know how many of you people saying its 'outrageous' have actually experienced suicide. However when I was 10 my sisters boyfriend killed himself and it hit me very hard. I'm very happy that people my age are being taught about it because when I was 10 I didn't know anything about it, and I've realised over the last 5 years how common suicide is. Being taught about suicide as a class in religious studies shows us ways of dealing about such trauma. Do you really think that all the people in my class are going to commit suicide just because we openly talk about it in lessons? Im sure it will reduce suicide rates because attempted suicide is normally a cry for help, if the whole class and teacher is openly talking about it maybe the person who feels like they would commit suicide would open up to someone about it. Do you think its better to 'hide' this kind of trauma to 15-16 year olds? We will find out about it anyway surely its better for it to be an open topic in class rather than for us to experience this trauma with no adult guidance. By trying to 'protect' us from it you are making it worse for us if we experienced it. We are mature enough to deal with these topics.
retry69
says...
9:54pm Thu 16 Feb 12
clodaghdear123 wrote:It seems to me after the last two comments its the parents that need the educating not the pupils or ex pupils
I don't know how many of you people saying its 'outrageous' have actually experienced suicide. However when I was 10 my sisters boyfriend killed himself and it hit me very hard. I'm very happy that people my age are being taught about it because when I was 10 I didn't know anything about it, and I've realised over the last 5 years how common suicide is. Being taught about suicide as a class in religious studies shows us ways of dealing about such trauma. Do you really think that all the people in my class are going to commit suicide just because we openly talk about it in lessons? Im sure it will reduce suicide rates because attempted suicide is normally a cry for help, if the whole class and teacher is openly talking about it maybe the person who feels like they would commit suicide would open up to someone about it. Do you think its better to 'hide' this kind of trauma to 15-16 year olds? We will find out about it anyway surely its better for it to be an open topic in class rather than for us to experience this trauma with no adult guidance. By trying to 'protect' us from it you are making it worse for us if we experienced it. We are mature enough to deal with these topics.
clodaghdear123
says...
10:09pm Thu 16 Feb 12
x_Rosie_x
says...
8:42am Fri 17 Feb 12
retry69
says...
8:56am Fri 17 Feb 12
clodaghdear123 wrote:The parent in question and the few that agree seem totally unaware of what is going on in the education of their sons and daughters just by reading the comments from pupils and ex pupils shows you what their thoughts on the matter if anything it shows that the subject in question has been benefical in their outlook on life which can only be a positive note.Drifting off the topic a little but to answer your question there has been lots of publicity recently about certain schools and no comments appeared from parents showing their support,i also refer to a letter i wrote that was printed in the echo regarding an ofsted report where only one fifth of parents produced any feed back on the running of the school i suggested then that showed that maybe parents are leaving all the education of their children to the schools the response to that was no comments at all from parents there again indicating their lack of interest in the education of their children
@retry69 what do you mean?
*Fiona*
says...
9:45am Fri 17 Feb 12
xxairoxx wrote:ollief1 (six former)
well said healthy.....my kids go to the same school and i had no idea this was happening until i read the echo this morning. I will be paying the school a visit next week. My son suffers from depression due to the medication he is on so this is the last subject i want him to be involved in.....not happy but thank you for bringing this to other parents attention.
It depends on the stability and vulnerability of the individual pupil/child and also the context it is being taught in.
A lot of what passes for education is actually a form of moulding, brainwashing an encouragement to think and act in a certain way.
When I was a teenager I was very resistant to a lot of the state thought control and moulding I was being subjected to at secondary school.
ollief1
says...
12:03pm Fri 17 Feb 12
Also how do you know what is being taught in schools because I can guarantee that whatever you have heard in the media in virtually 100% ill informed rubbish. I would like to invite you once again for you to sit in said classes which although are called RE are in fact PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS and so without being taught about such controversial subjects we won't be able to see the ETHICS involved in such subjects such as euthanasia and suicide.
alanhl
says...
12:30pm Fri 17 Feb 12
jeebuscripes wrote:MORE OF US WOULD READ IT - IF ONLY YOU GOT THE LINK RIGHT
I bet this mother hasn't even read the syllabus.
"A friend said his son said did the course..."
Of course she hasn't read it. Here is the link, go and read it and then make comment.
http://www.ocr.org.u
k/qualifications/sub
jects/religious_stud
ies/
Maybe before choosing this as a GCSE option, she should have read it as well.
alanhl
says...
12:35pm Fri 17 Feb 12
The Liberal wrote:you are an ill informed dolt
*Fiona* wrote:What's wrong with voodoo? Just because someone doesn't have the same beliefs as you doesn't make them evil.
I agree with the mum its totally outrageous and unaccepable
You ve to keep a careful eye on school teaching in these godless times.
When my son was at secondary school they told him all forms of sex were normal and even had him making voodoo masks in art lessons.
dinkie123
says...
3:01pm Fri 17 Feb 12
jaylo
says...
4:47pm Fri 17 Feb 12
FNS-man
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5:29pm Fri 17 Feb 12
edster1
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7:30pm Fri 17 Feb 12
Yankee1
says...
10:37pm Fri 17 Feb 12
noooodles
says...
10:32am Sat 18 Feb 12
It's ironic that probably a contributing factor to suicide rates being so high is probably a result of the ignorance and ridiculous nature of the generation before who are too afraid to talk about mental health in fear that you can catch it like some sort of contagious disease. If you seriously think your child is that unstable that they will consider suicide by talking about ASSISTED suicide (it's in capitals to make a point) then I suggest you go to a shrink ASAP.
Considering philosophy and ethics questions the nature of belief it would seem prudent to question the nature of belief in terms of assisted suicide. The fear associated with this highlights the education level of the individuals who are posting. When you lot were 15 you had probably been smoking for a year and god knows what else. Leave the kids alone and do yourselves a favour and look in the mirror.
retry69
says...
11:05am Sat 18 Feb 12
catlady73
says...
3:32pm Sat 18 Feb 12
billd766
says...
12:22am Sun 19 Feb 12
3:32pm Sat 18 Feb 12
I have to agree with earlier comments that we should be concerned about the teachers who are responsible for conducting such lessons. Personally, I would not wish for my daughter, who has just commences secondary school, to be taught such things in school, particularly when euthanasia is actually against the law in this country! I feel I am more than capable of discussing such issues with my children and would rather they heard it from me and my husband than in school.
What do you actually know about assisted suicide? Do you know enough to give her the same information?
If you would prefer that you and your husband discuss the subject with your daughter that is a brilliant idea.
Always assuming that you both discuss the subject in line with the national school curriculum before your child does the course.
After you have discussed it with her who will she then talk it over with?
Her friends who will probably know more than you, you and your husband, or will you forbid her to discuss it outside of the house?
What will you do if she searches the internet herself and finds that the information you gave her conflicts with the information she finds?
Palantir
says...
9:47am Sun 19 Feb 12
Let's face it, openly talking about a subject 100% means that the person you talk about that subject with will be influenced to do it. Oh wait, they won't.
mattys
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11:19am Sun 19 Feb 12
Mrs. Nesbit
says...
11:31am Sun 19 Feb 12
pathetic1
says...
4:40pm Sun 19 Feb 12
pathetic1
says...
4:40pm Sun 19 Feb 12
portia6
says...
4:20am Mon 20 Feb 12
thinking and encourages self-awareness
fundamental to becoming a decent
human being. Seems to me Poole
High School are teaching good ethics.
short fatone
says...
9:45am Mon 20 Feb 12
the one that hurts a bit but not a lot
TaylaW
says...
2:40pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Pablo23 says...
8:50am Wed 15 Feb 12
Ah, that explains why you don't want them to be educated on the subject then?!?
People burying their heads in the sand and pretending something doesn't exist is the worst thing to do.
Get it out in the open, in an educational environment and discuss it in a healthy way.
Would your prefer children get their education from unregulated web sites with questionable agendas, which appears to be the norm on the more contentious subjects these days.