Are schools allowed to show kids PG rated films without permission?

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

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My little girl aged seven has come back from school telling us that the teacher has asked them to bring in a harry potter film if they have it, so they can watch it at school (reason unknown, possibly random tangent to their learning) We are pretty strict on what our kids are allowed to watch, and normally vet stuff before they see it, or we will watch it together as my daughter is quite impressionable. Disney and pixar type stuff is normally fine, but Harry Potter isn't something we would feel is appropriate for a number of reasons yet.

I'd kind of expect some sort of courtesy from the school before any film for this age group rated as PG is shown? I don't think we are alone in our thinking and I have no doubt quite a few children will have seen it but that's not the point

Let me know your thoughts, constructive only please :-) maybe someone on here is a teacher?
 
Seriously? My three girls can watch PG all day. They can't be sheltered all their life and it's healthy for them to stretch their imagination and exposure to slightly more mature themes. Some Harry Potter movies are higher age rated but the first one really is child's play.
My thought is that if itv or BBC show it pre 9pm then it's ok.
 
Only the first 3(?) Harry Potters are PG, the rest were 12/12As.

Personally I would think the first 2 would be ok for younger kids, possibly the third might be a bit scary (is that the one with the werewolf?).
 
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/pg

PG Parental Guidance
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children.
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Basically it seems like they can, though I would speak with teacher about your concerns. Just purely out of interest why do you feel that they would not be suitable?
 
Thanks I'm not sure which of the series it is, I know a couple are pretty kid friendly but others are certainly not. Even the first ones I would watch with the kids first and gauge their reactions a little, I guess everyone is different.
 
I remember as a kid I used to watch Aliens, Robocop, Terminator and Predator with my dad. So terrifying and intense as a kid. All of that was ok, but when I threatened to get Hulk Hogan to "throw him out the window" apparently wrestling was turning me into a little **** and I wasn't to watch it anymore. Great memories :D
 
i watched saving private ryan at school in my history lessons, we was under age then lol

but i think we did have to get permission to watch it
 
I loved the Arnie movies as a kid, my dad even let me see gentle smut movie series like the "confessions of..."
I grew up as a fine law abiding specimen and am glad I was allowed to watch the variety as some in school were not allowed and had a more awkward, naive childhood/early teens. If you don't let them see it then they will only become curious themselves anyway.
 
I am not sure what the current regulations/culture is. But in my day Teachers/schools were considered to be in "Loco Parentis" IE when your children are under their care, they have the same legal status as the parents. So I would imagine that if this is still the case they have the right to authorise the viewing of PG movies.

It might be considered courteous to consult parents first, but I don't think they are breaking any rules.

OTOH, for those that are concerned about such matters, the school "may" be committing an copyright offense. I am not sure that the "Licensing" of home DVD's permits public viewing in a school environment.

(In my day schools got into a lot of bother over the photocopying of sheet music)
 
LabR@t said:
Public broadcast, it is not allowed.
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I think there is an exemption for use in schools/educational facilities.

Certainly I remember watching films of certain things at every school I attended, ranging from charlie and the chocolate factory (good version) at primary school on something like the last day of term, to Ghandi at middle school, and A Grand Day Out at upper (I can't remember which lesson it replaced).

[edit]
A google says that there is an exemption for schools if the film is shown in relation to "curriculum activities".
 
If you're that bothered about it, you could always threaten to report them for an unlicensed public broadcast of a 'home' licensed DVD :p

They'd probably decide its just not worth the hassle, they're probably only using it to bunk off doing something else. We must have watched Grease and Bugsy Malone dozens of times in school music lessons when the teachers were too busy doing something extra curricular with the kids who actually played instruments.
 
Jamesyboyjim said:
I remember as a kid I used to watch Aliens, Robocop, Terminator and Predator with my dad. So terrifying and intense as a kid. All of that was ok, but when I threatened to get Hulk Hogan to "throw him out the window" apparently wrestling was turning me into a little **** and I wasn't to watch it anymore. Great memories :D
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My favourite film aged 10 was Aliens and Terminator 2. I used to sit and watch my Dad play Resident Evil 1 and 2 whenever they came out as well. My Mum was fairly angry I watched horror movies over at my friends house though, Nightmare on Elm Street probably isn't appropriate for children..
 
Roar87 said:
My favourite film aged 10 was Aliens and Terminator 2. I used to sit and watch my Dad play Resident Evil 1 and 2 whenever they came out as well. My Mum was fairly angry I watched horror movies over at my friends house though, Nightmare on Elm Street probably isn't appropriate for children..
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I remember watching The Blair Witch Project with my dad on projector when I was 10 in 1999, scared the crap out of me :D

Watched Blade as well.
 
Dunks said:
I remember watching The Blair Witch Project with my dad on projector when I was 10 in 1999, scared the crap out of me :D

Watched Blade as well.
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I think I was a little older, we watched it on VHS with some of our female friends and were basically disappointed after all the build up.
 
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