Y9 English Media Unit - Use of Psycho - is this inappropriate?

[chocaholic73]

My DD aged 14 is rather disturbed tonight after having been shown the shower scene as part of her English lesson where they are doing media. She is very young for her age and very sensitive and squeamish. Has anyone else come across the use of this with kids aged 13 and 14? I feel it is not acceptable. I know some of them will have seen it or worse before but I would not have chosen to let her. If any secondary English teachers are out there I would really welcome your comments.

[pipKA]

Well according to Amazon Psycho is rated '15' so I think the school would have been on questionable ground showing the film to a group of children younger than that.

[redllamayellowllama]

I've used Psycho as it was groundbreaking cinematically, but only with 15 year olds. Your daughter should not have been shown that without parental consent.

[Lizzywishes]

I definitely would not show that to Y9. Would be wary even with Y10 as I realise lots of parents wouldn't approve (including myself!).

[dreamworldfullofUNICORNS]

I remember watching it in Year 10 as part of media studies. We were only shown the shower scene if i remember correctly. Y9 seems too young imo.

[chocaholic73]

thanks all, very helpful. Now I just have to decide whether to say anything or not.

[mediawhore]

I am going to disagree. According to the BBFC lecture I attended a year or so ago, Psycho would most like be reclassified as a 12 (as would many other older 'horror' films) due to a change in our tolerance etc.

The shower scene is a fantastic example of cinematography and perfect for many media units.

i don't see it as inappropriate as it would have suited the purpose of the lesson and it may be creepy, but then again so is Nightmare before Christmas and Coraline! The original version is creepy but I wouldn't really class it as a '15' now and would happily use it in a year 9 scheme of work.

[Foyled]

I am 49, I watched it at school, I think in Yr 9. We were told it would be an X film at the time, but not then (about 1975).

I remember writing about it and really thinking about it, a good lesson I would say all these years later.