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2 school girls hyperventilate while being shown IS documentary

140 Comments

Two second-year high school girls in Kumamoto City hyperventilated during a panic attack while being shown a television documentary on the radical Islamic State group, the board of education said.

According to the board, the documentary, "Tracking ISIS," was originally shown on NHK on Feb 1. Sports Nippon reported that the teacher, a male in his 40s, decided to show the documentary in his world history class on Feb 20. In one segment, a soldier is depicted shooting a young man to death. Although the gory image had been blurred, the remaining audio and narration upset two girls in the class. Both girls were sent to the school infirmary to rest.

The teacher was quoted as saying he had intended to educate his class about the true severity of radical groups like ISIS and to teach them that most followers of Islam did not share such extreme views.

The board of education reprimanded the teacher, calling his decision to show the documentary poor judgement, Sports Nippon reported.

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140 Comments
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A result of the cutification of everything - people here are all wrapped up in cotton wool, and unaware of the realities of the world.

46 ( +56 / -11 )

The board of education is wrong on this, showing world news is something that should be taught granted it is censored. As much as the government would like it keeping people in this dream land of happy happy kawaii is not education.

44 ( +53 / -9 )

Toughen up, Japan. And why report this anyway?

15 ( +23 / -8 )

Depends on how far it went. A buddy of mine sent me a link via Facebook of what might be best described as "an IS music video" (complete with tinny music and images of hostages being led to their deaths). While no shrinking violet, I would have to say that I found the video distressing. As a general idea, I believe exposing children to reality is a positive thing, however, let's not go too far.

Then again, in that the original documentary was from NHK, I can't imagine it being too graphic.

23 ( +25 / -3 )

Silliness. Reprimanded for showing an NHK documentary to 17 year old students?? A sad example of the school board trying to cover their own butts - at the expense of the teacher (not to mention at the expense of education.)

30 ( +34 / -5 )

Will have to hand out free paper bags at the next screening.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Then perhaps NHK should employ "Funashii" and cohorts to tell the story to the infantile teens?

16 ( +20 / -4 )

I agree with most of the above posters. The board of education reacted hastely and incorrectly. This was a documentary shown on Japanese public tv.

The board of education reprimanded the teacher, calling his decision to show the documentary poor judgement

Does the board of education feel the same way about NHK showing it, too?

What about photos of the Holocaust or the skulls in Cambodia, which are both found in history books, as they should be?

When done responsibly, as I believe it was in this case, reality, current events and history should not take a backseat to unnecessary and unrealistic sensitivity, especially in a high school history class.

The teacher was quoted as saying he had intended to educate his class about the true severity of radical groups like ISIS and to teach them that most followers of Islam did not share such extreme views.

Good for the teacher.

20 ( +26 / -6 )

Board of "Education"....

8 ( +10 / -2 )

people here are all wrapped up in cotton wool, and unaware of the realities of the world

Well thank goodness. I don't want to live in a world where people are so numb to the horror of violence and hate that the image of someone - a real human - being murdered isn't traumatic.

It's sad that most people apparently think murder and war is something high school students should be desensitized to.

May future generations be so lucky.

-18 ( +9 / -25 )

what are you guys talking about? i don't think the education board reprimanded him for teaching his students about ISIS. the problem was that he showed an unedited news program that depicted a soldier killing a man. even though it was blurred, you could still hear it. i the man should have used some common sense and skipped over that part.

-19 ( +6 / -24 )

Sounds like a good teacher to me, good for him and shame on the board.

14 ( +20 / -7 )

Pathetic. This guy did nothing wrong. Japan seriously needs to quit with all this being soft rubbish. The two girls getting stressed out by this is exactly the thing that needed to happen, so highlight the savagery and horror of what is happening at the moment with these ISIS goons. Ignoring it won't make it go away, and will only serve to make yet another generation of brain dead Japanese people with no interest or understanding of the world past the end of their train line.

11 ( +17 / -7 )

It's a slippery slope. Start showing such videos and who knows, next teachers might show videos of brutal WWII battles involving Japanese soldiers or the aftermath of US drone attacks that kill women and children. Then youth might come to know that powerful groups, whether nation-states or would-be nation-states are always trying to hold on to their authority or gain more as well as the natural resources and wealth that accrues from this. Students might even start doubting official stories and start critically thinking for themselves.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

The part in the article above that says: "The teacher was quoted as saying he had intended to educate his class about the true severity of radical groups like ISIS and to teach them that most followers of Islam did not share such extreme views" is what catches my eye.

Exactly what did he tell the students about most followers of Islam not sharing such extreme views? Exactly how did he go about doing this? Did he tell them Islam is a perfect religion ... or what? I think that if not done in the proper way, this could be more dangerous than showing how violent some of the extremists can be.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

The teacher was quoted as saying he had intended to educate his class about the true severity of radical groups like ISIS and to teach them that most followers of Islam did not share such extreme views.

Gees! If he really wanted to teach them about world history and to make them feel morally sick he could have shown them a documentary about Japan's imperial rule of Asia last century. Or, the atrocities committed in Minamata would have had the whole class throwing up in their school bags. I support this teacher's move. Too many Japanese kids grow up wrapped in cotton wool and have virtually no idea of what has happened in the world or in their own country. I studied Odaiba (the world's largest garbage island) when I was in high school in Australia, but most young Japanese don't even know it existed. They just think of it as a place to go shopping. They have never thought to ask why swimming is banned at Odaiba. It's because there are still huge amounts of toxins leeching out of the buried garbage and filling tokyo bay. Teach these kids the real versions of history instead of the Molly-coddling government sanctioned and edited garbage!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

In the history lessons, do they ever bring up the second world war? and do they ever talk about how Japan treated its prisoners? and do they ever teach kids all about Cambodia, and the death camps of Germany? Depending on what age the kids were I might show all of the video, or if they were quite young I might of stopped the vid at the point they kill him. there is lots of violent stuff on the TV.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Jun 15, 2014 - The Diet has enacted a law requesting a constitutional amendment to the national referendum laws regarding the legal voting age in Japan.

So, are we suggesting that 17 is not ready enough to begin the process of becoming an 'informed voter'? Next year, these folk will be enabled to vote and empowered to select whether to add, reduce, shuffle around some often-times very scary people (politicians) and/or not so scary but funded-by-scary-things people that will be leading the country within the real world.

School board: myopic; wrong.

I revoke their authority.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Great initiative on the part of the teacher. If more teachers would incorporate "real" World Topics into the classroom, Japanese kid would not be so IGNORANT to these matters!

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Sports Nippon reported that the teacher, a male in his 40s, decided to show the documentary in his world history class on Feb 20. In one segment, a soldier is depicted shooting a young man to death. Although the gory image had been blurred, the remaining audio and narration upset two girls in the class. Both girls were sent to the school infirmary to rest.

Why the f... would they show this to kids? I avoid IS documentaries in case they show an execution for 'educational purposes'. And to those of you who say 'toughen up'... what the heck is wrong with you? You WANT teens to see death and torture? I know, let's show some kids a video of the Jordanian pilot being burned to death... that be okay? Jeez, kids do not need to see this stuff.

While the image is blurred it's still there - you still know what's happening. In much the same way as J Porn is pixelated or blurred, you still know what is is being shown... someone's DEATH! Their MURDER. It's no better than a snuff movie.

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

And to those of you who say 'toughen up'... what the heck is wrong with you? You WANT teens to see death and torture?

Thank you. I thought I was the only sane person here.

Showing children real live murder is not educational. I can't understand why any of you adults want to see such things, let alone get upset that a teacher gets in trouble for showing real violence - murder - to children.

-9 ( +6 / -15 )

How sheltered must their lives have been?! I am glad it shocked them. It taught them a valuable lesson that life isn't all about cakes, clothes, Disney and 'kawaii' crap. Good on the teacher.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

slumdog

for the first time, finally I agree with you...

Hiding the truth will do no good, expose the real evil of this group! not only to be aware but to warn the young people who are showing interest of joining this terrorist group

the school is the perfect place to tackle these issues. I salute the teacher too!

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Go back up and look at idf66's comment. -^

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Hiding the truth will do no good, expose the real evil of this group! not only to be aware but to warn the young people who are showing interest of joining this terrorist group

Right so show death and murder to schoolkids... yeah, great. Here kids, Jihad Johnnie is going to cut the heads off some Japanese people. It's okay, it's educational.

-18 ( +2 / -20 )

Thunderbird2

Right so show death and murder to schoolkids...

Tell me, what is wrong with showing the reality to these students? unfortunately, this is what is currently happening on their generation, they have to be aware fo what's happening around! These are not kids! they are 2nd year highschool students fro god sake!

It's okay, it's educational.

Indeed Educational! a better way to divert their attention on spending their times watching useless variety shows and chatting on LINE and play TSUM TSUM!... it's also an eye opening to some to realize how lucky they are just being JAPANESE compare to other nationalities.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Tell me, what is wrong with showing the reality to these students? unfortunately, this is what is currently happening on their generation, they have to be aware fo what's happening around! These are not kids! they are 2nd year highschool students fro god sake!

I wouldn't even watch that kind of stuff. I don't need to see and hear people being murdered to know it happens... it's on the bloody news every night. Thankfully British broadcasters don't show that, and it's against UK law to distribute beheading videos. Are we in the UK being children? Are we wrapping our kids in cotton wool?

No, I would never show anything like that to kids. Giving kids nightmares or causing distress does no good whatsoever.

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

education boards better be careful...can't have any rebel scum letting the precious youth in on the fact that there's a big scary world out there that jp is a part of.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Thunderbird

I wouldn't even watch that kind of stuff

that's your choice to be blinded and be a coward about the reality... it's not a NIGHTMARE! It's the REALITY and happening in the real world that might come to Japan someday! (who knows)

When will you prepare the people for this? when its too late???

again these are not KIDS! They are Highschool students, a gateway to adulthood

6 ( +9 / -3 )

that's your choice to be blinded and be a coward about the reality... it's not a NIGHTMARE! It's the REALITY and happening in the real world that might come to Japan someday! (who knows)

A coward? Because I don't want to watch some b@st@rd cutting a guy's head off? How is that cowardice? I suppose you'd get the popcorn out and cheer as the blood sprays everywhere?

When will you prepare the people for this? when its too late???

Prepare them? For what? The day they see people getting their heads cut off, burned alive or shot? Hopefully they won't have to experience seeing anything like it.

again these are not KIDS! They are Highschool students, a gateway to adulthood

Under 18 they are minors, not adults: ergo, kids. Or if you must, youths.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

You know I am truly shocked that the majority of people here think it's okay to show youths a video where a murder is enacted by terrorists. How does this 'prepare' them for life in the big bad world? Will they one day come across a man in black shooting a man in orange? The only time people will come across this situation is if they themselves are next, or they are gunmen. Your average citizen in a civilised country will in all likelihood never witness this with their own eyes, and that's as it should be.

I am genuinely amazed that people think this is all well and good. Would you take young people to see an execution to teach them about reality? I am truly baffled by the logic on display here... to me and most British people this is a just wrong... and we've been on the sticky end of terrorism for longer than America.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Sorry, but I disagree with those saying that this is okay to show to children in schools. I think it's important to educate them about the situation in the ME where possible, and about IS based on ministry standards, but an unedited documentary which shows someone being shot and killed is not appropriate. You and I might be able to handle it, and unfortunately that would be kids who would say, "Cool!" on the other end of the spectrum, but given that SOME could NOT handle it (and evidently that's the case with two kids having panick attacks!) it should not be shown. And for those arguing that "it was on TV so it's okay", well, a whole lot of stuff is on TV that it's not okay to make kids watch. At the VERY least, if a teacher is intent on showing such a thing they need to edit it and/or receive parental permission to show it in class. It's not a 'slippery slope' at all. In other nations you wouldn't be allowed to show Imperial Japanese troops shooting innocent Chinese in the streets, or people in Europe by the Germans or Allies, either. Or if you did you would be in BIG trouble, and rightly so, if someone complained or was affected by it later.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

I understand that some people are offended.

But what would you think if the same scene was on the news, in an action movie, computer game or similar. Many people already see more violence on the news than in many action or war movies. Feel bad for the 2 girls but how much and how long to we coddle people.

I was raised in an age when there were no warnings like "contents graphic contents", etc.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

People don't need to see the actual acts of violence to know they are happening. That's a ridiculous line of thought.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

But what would you think if the same scene was on the news, in an action movie, computer game or similar. Many people already see more violence on the news than in many action or war movies. Feel bad for the 2 girls but how much and how long to we coddle people.

Most people know that they are not real.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Is it? There are some things whose Import you can't understand if it is hidden behind Blue Sheets.

Recall a school outing to Dachau and Mauthausen camps, standing in rooms where vivisections and other human experiments were performed.

Memories I won't forget, same as having friends killed and seen die in accidents in front of me. Those thing happen all the time too but a story and not even a picture will have the same impact.

Also remember that many soldiers are not much older than those 2 girls.

The average age of a Soldier in Vietnam was 19.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Muscle up, if it was on NHK it can't have been that gory. Well done to the teacher for showing his class the gritty issues which exist in real life outside of manga, talento, J-Pop and puri-kura.

9 ( +10 / -3 )

So seeing death should be a part of growing up? Bollox.

-14 ( +2 / -16 )

It would give people a better understanding and maturity.plus, would make ore people abhor violence and war.

Also many people these days when shown certain scenes can no longer tell if it is real or not.

I am not recommending shocking footage like that needs explaining and proper background info.

For us Europeans the camps and other is history we can see, feel and touch the picture gets bigger and understand in war there is only pain, death and suffering. One reason why many countries are now reluctant to get involved in conflicts.

My opinion anyway.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Strangerland: "People don't need to see the actual acts of violence to know they are happening. That's a ridiculous line of thought."

Precisely. As much as highschool kids might like (and of course loathe) it, you can't show porn just because we know people have sex, or at least to teach sex ed, and there's a good reason why they are signs and explanations about the danger of chemicals in chemistry instead of throwing acid in someone's face or showing videos of people being hurt or killed, etc.

It"s ME: "It would give people a better understanding and maturity.plus, would make ore people abhor violence and war."

That's utter BS. And even if that's the case, how can you possibly follow that with "they don't know what's real" as a justification for showing what's real?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Smith.

As an Ex-Soldier I do speak a lot with other vets and the consensus is that too much of what happens in war and crime is hidden. One reason is they don't want bad press for the ongoing war actions.

The statement about "real" is that questionedpeople took movie action as real war footage on news. News and movies are now that close in contents and quality.

When and how would you say that above censored footage could or should be shown, considering that some students already watched it in the NHK Documentary.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Good thing those two girls didn't see the video of IS torturers lighting a fire which quickly moved into the cage where the Jordanian pilot wearing gasoline-soaked clothing was being kept.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It would have made everyone happier had the teacher got some parental permission slip.

The teacher should have said there's going to be some graphic content and those with queasy stomachs are welcome to go to the cafeteria.

I watched a PBS Frontline documentary on ISIS the other week. It was extremely disturbing and I had a difficult time going to sleep the next few nights.

It's one thing to read a newspaper headline stating "22 Christians beheaded", a statistic to us readers. Seeing 22 Christians beheaded becomes a tragedy to the viewer. We cannot put our heads in the sand. We must educate ourselves as well as our young.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The teacher just did his job, why reprimand him? Life is hard and unforgiving, it's better the students learn this early instead of cuddling teddy bears.

9 ( +9 / -1 )

Looking at some of the comments here it seems to me that there are quite a few posters that actually like the fact that Japanese have their heads in the sand and want them to keep it that way. I wonder why?

Odds are these teenage girls probably have seen horror flicks that showed a heck of a lot worse than the blurred out scenes of an NHK documentary.

Good for the teacher! Japan needs more like him!

Exactly what did he tell the students about most followers of Islam not sharing such extreme views? Exactly how did he go about doing this? Did he tell them Islam is a perfect religion ... or what? I think that if not done in the proper way, this could be more dangerous than showing how violent some of the extremists can be.

Proper way? His comments alone stating "to teach them that most followers of Islam did not share such extreme views" is your answer. That is point blank right on target, couldnt have said it any better myself.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Japanese education boards and schools have a policy that if a parent complains then the teacher is reprimanded. This goes even if the teacher received permission from the headmaster. Its nonsensical but thats how they do things.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

As shocking it might be the documentary, I'm with the teacher this time.

Sure, There should be some warning to the students, (at 17, you should legally warn the parents, but I think is common sense to ask the students directly), This was not some violent beheading or sniping shooting (which we know you can find - unfortunately - easily on the internet). It was a documentary, it is supposed to be illustrative of the reality.

It would be natural for the whole class to feel distressed, and a good teacher should be able to put in context the situation, in terms of educating. This is what he was supposed to do isn't it?, It is not "showing gory images to kids" for the sake of upsetting the students. What if some of the students want to be Journalists, photographers, tourist guides, doctors without borders, diplomats, or Idols touring the whole world, are you forever sheltering them?.

I refuse to tell them kids, they are one step for being adults, at 17, I was in my first year of the university, as many of my generation, and as for the girls that suffered a panic attack, I do not consider them weak or anything, but a sign that they have their limits, and the other students should realize their own limits too

As for the board of education, it seems they are against of "remember history correctly" (quoting Crown Prince) so it would be natural for them to react this way, as it is, they are a 0 to me.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

The parents are at fault for shielding their children from the real world for so long.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Japanese education boards and schools have a policy that if a parent complains then the teacher is reprimanded. This goes even if the teacher received permission from the headmaster. Its nonsensical but thats how they do things.

I have worked for a BOE for over 10 years and I can tell you from experience that this is not true. Parents often make complaints about teachers for any number of reasons and BOE's do not just reprimand a teacher based upon an individual parents complaints.

BOE's will check, and interview, and in their own way investigate any allegations that parents may make but it is not so easy to simply reprimand a teacher for an accusation made by a parent.

The "headmaster" here is called a principal, and principals here are pretty much like the daimyos of old Japan. Local BOEs have little authority to over-turn any decisions made by a principal.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Kids today the world over have been pampered and sheltered from reality. They walk around with their noses stuck in Ipods and cellphones.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"People don't need to see the actual acts of violence to know they are happening. That's a ridiculous line of thought."

Agree. I don't get what most people are saying here...Why do you think it's so necessary to see actual violence for undersanding politics and hystory? It's already bad enough when American Sniper (fiction) becomes a super hit.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Then perhaps NHK should employ "Funashii" and cohorts to tell the story to the infantile teens?

This was in Kumamoto thus that black bear would do best.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

My guess is that NHK did not place warning comment that you need to get NHK permission to shiw film, Did not state nature of film is gluesome. Not rated P or PG 18. Or the instructor paid to NHK to show film .

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

People don't need to see the actual acts of violence to know they are happening. That's a ridiculous line of thought." Agree. I don't get what most people are saying here...Why do you think it's so necessary to see actual violence for undersanding politics and hystory? It's already bad enough when American Sniper (fiction) becomes a super hit.

Folks have to understand about the age group, country, education background, culture and a host of other things about JAPAN before making comments like this.

These kids NEEDED to see it, NEEDED to hear it, and NEEDED to understand it to believe it. Kids here NEED the exposure as they have been sheltered along with the rest of the country as well to understand what is out there in the world.

Japanese kids (adults too) are naive, TRULY naive, and for the most part do not know nor comprehend that crap like this is happening in the world because they dont face it here.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

man Japanese kids and many adults need to toughen up, see no evil, hear no evil, doesnt make it magically go away. japanese need to be more aware of the tremendous evil and good that goes on outside of Japan to give there everyday lives some perspective. Japan as many would come to believe is not the center on the universe and everything outside is just empty space.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I don't believe you lot - you really advocate minors watching death and murder on the screen to toughen them up? Watching a horror or war movie the viewers know they are not real. Nobody is getting hurt, no-one is killed. Show them a video of someone being shot and killed - that's reality. WHY would they need to see that? What benefit is showing a murder to their education? How will that enrich their lives?

These kids NEEDED to see it, NEEDED to hear it, and NEEDED to understand it to believe it. Kids here NEED the exposure as they have been sheltered along with the rest of the country as well to understand what is out there in the world.

Bollocks mate. They KNOW what's out there, same as the rest of us do. They see news reports, and they will have known all about the two Japanese guys recently murdered by IS. They don't NEED to see it, or hear it.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

T2, it's an NHK - not BBC or Channel 4 - documentary. The content won't have been shocking, just the reality that what we portray in film happens in real life as well.

It's vital that children know the reality of war, and the flag-driven groupthink that causes it.

*If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori.**

Wilfred Owen

On 4th November Owen was shot and killed near the village of Ors, France. The news of his death reached his parents home as the Armistice bells were ringing on 11 November 1918.

(*transl: it is sweet and fitting to die for the fatherland)

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Well, I don't why he's showing this in a history lesson, as it's happening now !

How about showing them the film 731 - Men Behind the Sun.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Sense... a Wilfred Owen poem isn't quite the same as SEEING (even blurred) someone being killed. A poem can move you, but in the end it's a poem. A video showing that is something you can't forget easily.

I really don't understand why people need to see real death and murder to 'know the reality of war'... does that mean that American people should have been shown US airmen being tortured and killed by Viet Kong or NVA to make them understand the reality of the Vietnam War? It doesn't make any sense.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

@Yubaru: what you are saying is pure nonsense. I guess according to you, for a person understanding what an autopsy is, he MUST see it even though he isn't a doctor. Japanese people can be naive but they are not stupid. Stop forcing your values on a country that isn't yours.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Being faced with reality in an educational setting is sometimes necessary. However, there is absolutely no excuse for showing an actual unobscured execution under any circumstance because of the exact same reasons why for example the display of rape or child pornography is forbidden: The victims have not given permission to their degrading treatment (death) nor to the public broadcast of it.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Been there, done that. Now, let these kids get their proper lessons & expose them to the world & reality which awaits them. Isis & terrorism (sad to say) wont go away easily. Showing the video was educational, you see. They are in HIGH SCHOOL. Not youchien!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

How many of you when you were at school were shown a video or a film (depending on your age) of a person being killed? How many of you who DIDN'T see such a film or video don't know what's happening in the world?

When I was 17 I didn't need to see people being killed to know that people were being killed by the IRA. I knew it was happening. So how does my experience in 1981 differ from the 17 year old Japanese students this story is about?

I will say it again for the ghouls out there: you do not need to see a person being killed to understand that people are being killed. How hard is that to understand?

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

"You can't handle the truth!"

3 ( +4 / -1 )

To me, this is a perfectly healthy and normal sign. Someone being killed should be a horrifying thing to see. Where I am from (Canada), not even 20 years ago this would have had similar effects. I remember hearing about the police and other emergency services using a training video called "The faces of Death"(?) to de-sensitize professionals from being traumatized by seeing real people die. At the time, us "normal people" would cringe even at the thought of watching something like that.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

These silly girls just wanted to make a dramatic scene in front of their friends.

They should be ignored or else punished for wasting everybody's time.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

According to the article, the violent parts were blurred-out. Big deal. Kids see as much violence on tv, manga, video games etc. etc. Its absurd to reprimand the teacher, who took it upon himself to be an innovator and "open up" some minds. Japan (in the long run) will become a beter country when they confront contemporary issues, espeacially in high school / university studies. No GHOULS barred-

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Unbelievable.

According to the article, the violent parts were blurred-out. Big deal. Kids see as much violence on tv, manga, video games etc. etc. Its absurd to reprimand the teacher, who took it upon himself to be an innovator and "open up" some minds. Japan (in the long run) will become a beter country when they confront contemporary issues, espeacially in high school / university studies. No GHOULS barred-

Rubbish. As I said before there's a world of difference between a death in a manga and a death of a real person in front of you. As for the blurred out portion - as I said before, porn vids are also censored - would you let 17 year olds watch one of them?

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

@Thunderbird2: I agree with you, finally some common sense!

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

These silly girls just wanted to make a dramatic scene in front of their friends.

"Silly" because they were sensitive?

What'll happen when they're called upon to cut up a chicken

Now a human being can be compared to a chicken?

Terrorism & Radical Islam are today's reality.

And you can know that reality without watching people being slaughtered. We even know that there are men who rape women, so we have to see a real rape to know it? We know that Western drones kill millions of people around the world for oil and stuff, we need to see the corps of people killed by these drones to know the reason behind those wars? Or is it okay to see people being massacred just because we are speaking about ISIS?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

I find a lot of Japanese kids get panic attacks. Then again, teaching where I do now, in a western country, a lot of kids in general get panic attacks. I wouldn't be so quick to make fun of Japanese kids for freaking out. Some of the negative comments on here are just as "infantile" as they claim these kids are.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Then again, teaching where I do now, in a western country, a lot of kids in general get panic attacks.

I live in a western country as well, and I'm tired as hell to see on the news dead people everywhere. Also when there's a murder case, they speculate about it without any decency, for example speaking about HOW a child was abused and killed, explaining all the minor details. It's disgusting, also the parents of the victims often protest against this practice, that is defended like "free press". But in these cases isn't free press anymore, only speculation for the sake of ratings. When you know one person has been killed (if by an "ordinary" killer or by ISIS), this is enough, why you need to see the act or know all the details, like if you were watching a gore movie? This is bringing to de-sensitize people, and it's not about education or free press at all!

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Dont bite that hand that feeds you. In japan's case, "dont stray from the hand which protects you."

You darn right (Alex80) that Abe is acting in accordance with its main ally- USA. I sleep well every night. Do you?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I sleep well every night. Do you?

I don't. In Italy we have already so many problems, and the fact my country is involved in wars like those in Iraq, Afghanistan, and maybe again in Libia, don't make me sleep well. I pity the tons of immigrants who arrive into my country escaping from war and desperation, but at the same time I fear them, because sadly they commit a lot of crimes.

I can understand why Japanese people would like to be left out from this hell.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Seen some pretty gory TV in Japan over the years, including people shot to death. Thankfully usually shown late in the evening. In Europe, as far as I know, TV stations arent allowed to show point of death footage, but there are still some harrowing scenes shown. Again usually later on and always with a warning beforehand.

I'm not surprised some kids hyperventilate at the sight of a murder. In fact I'm glad those kids haven't been desensitised to violence like people often were in the past and in some places still are, sadly. Perhaps the teacher was a bit presumptuous? He should cover current conflicts in his lessons but it would have been better to edit the documentary to suit the audience.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

That is strange. It says that "Tracking ISIS" was originally shown on NHK on Feb 1. So, the Japanese public that could include any age groups had seen the documentary. Did the board of education reprimand NHK? If not, they cannot reprimand the teacher alone. Reprimanding the teacher alone is an unfair treatment. Besides, cutting a human head off is even in the Japanese own history.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

That is strange. It says that "Tracking ISIS" was originally shown on NHK on Feb 1. So, the Japanese public that could include any age groups had seen the documentary.

In that case, parents could decide to show or not the documentary to their kids.

Besides, cutting a human head off is even in the Japanese own history.

So? It's in the history of many countries (probably it happened everywhere), also in French revolution. This doesn't mean little kids have to see a decapitation.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

How many of you when you were at school were shown a video or a film (depending on your age) of a person being killed? How many of you who DIDN'T see such a film or video don't know what's happening in the world?

We didn't have media on classrooms in my time, but when I was 14-15 I went to a real autopsy, I was warned of the nature of the procedure, the person died from cirrhosis, the only shocking thing was that it made me not to drink alcohol. I repeat, I don not believe the Teacher show the documentary or the gory parts of it for the sake of showing off, the purpose was to educate.

Take the movie "The Schindler´s list", just because it is a movie doesn't mean that it wasn't real, there are shocking scenes (and I'm not talking about shooting people, although those happened too) that are violent too (the burning for example, or the bathroom) and common sense rates the movie as PG 15 (official classification is R) so, you will not show it to youngsters? What method would you use to show the real scope of the holocaust? or any war? If the movie was an actual documentary (there are a lot of them) you'd reprimand the teacher? what if nobody fainted, distress, or had and anxiety or panic attack? would this be even news?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

There is no need to show grisly executions to children of a sensitive age. Personally I know what ISIS does and do not have to watch videos of people being beheaded or burned alive to confirm it, though it seems there are lots of people who actually enjoy watching that sort of thing.

Whether or not it was shown on NHK makes no difference. At home you have the option to switch the channel or turn off the TV; a student in a classroom does not have that choice.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Would think the girls were faking it just to get out of class which worked. So if this documentary was so bad, what would happen if some of the WWII documentary were shown? The ones done by the BBC and US? I think the teacher should be commended, it may keeps some idiot Japanese from going to these areas and getting killed. The world is not a safe place and it really depends on where you go. You had those Japanese workers killed in Africa not that long ago. The world seems to be fall back to a world similar to the pre-WWII world where the Nazi are replace by IS but it may be worse since they target everyone who disagrees with them. Seen like we are declining into another middle ages where radical conservatives control things. Putin is more like Hitler than a Soviet.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

At 17 I think they're old enough to see a blurred out clip of an execution that was shown on NHK - public broadcasting - which I'm sure was quite timid and mild.

If they're thinking of lowering the voting age to 18, they'll have to be a little more aware of reality and not hyperventilate at a censored TV clip.

This is a world history class and this is one of the major crisis' hitting the world right now.

Twelve years ago, I showed an edited video of the 9/11 attacks to my advanced world history class with kids the same age as these two girls and I thank god I didn't have kids as childish and weak as these two.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

At 17 I think they're old enough to see a blurred out clip of an execution that was shown on NHK - public broadcasting - which I'm sure was quite timid and mild.

If they're thinking of lowering the voting age to 18, they'll have to be a little more aware of reality and not hyperventilate at a censored TV clip.

What is the logic behind thinking that kids have to see these images to be tough/adult?

1) For someone who hasn't seen violent images of death, the ideas themselves can be disturbing.

2) You don't need to see someone getting their head chopped off, or being immolated, or even shot to death to know it's wrong. If you do need to see these images in order to know the actions are wrong, then it says something of your ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

What is the logic behind thinking that kids have to see these images to be tough/adult?

@ Strangerland

They DIDN'T SEE it. It was blurred out.

The one small scene that went unseen was but one part of the overall documentary.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

They DIDN'T SEE it. It was blurred out.

Semantics. The fact is they saw visuals that represented someone getting killed. A disturbing thought for many, and completely unnecessary.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I am with pro-choice on this one. At the very least, I think the teacher should have cleared this with the school and the parents before the fact. Then, and most importantly, explain thoroughly to the students before showing the video, allow any students who choose not to watch it, to go study in the next room, and then have a thorough discussion afterwards.

With that said, I don't see why high school kids need to watch someone actually dying in order to "toughen up" or become "more aware" of what's going on. They are high school kids, they're not stupid (most of them anyway). Most people whether adult or adolescent who can make most of their daily decisions on their own can surely decide for themselves whether or not they want to watch something like this. Personally, I don't.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Sense... a Wilfred Owen poem isn't quite the same as SEEING (even blurred) someone being killed. A poem can move you, but in the end it's a poem. A video showing that is something you can't forget easily.

A result, then.

does that mean that American people should have been shown US airmen being tortured and killed by Viet Kong or NVA to make them understand the reality of the Vietnam War?

This Hollywood narrative is precisely why we need to educate out children, not sanitize reality.

American fatalities were in the tens of thousands. Total Vietnam War fatalities are estimated between 1.2 and 3.2 million, including this one, which I remember seeing on the TV as a teenager:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGrsw6m9UOY

And who could forget easily the terrified burned little girl running away from a napalm attack?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The board of education reprimanded the teacher, calling his decision to show the documentary poor judgement, Sports Nippon reported.

The Board is wrong and I commend the teacher in trying to explain to his students what is going on in the world. At least he was using a documentary that was produced by NHK, and not just raw video footage from You Tube. One thing I would recommend that the Board take a look at is the latest story on how ISIS members have gone into a Musem in Mosul, and destroyed some statues that were over 2,000 years old because they believed that they were symbols of idolatry, and they should understand that the Great Buddah in Kamakura and other shrines here in Japan will face the same fate if they don't start teaching their students what it is that these groups want, and not worry about what is politically correct and just burying your collective heads in the sand hoping that if you do nothing to them, they will do nothing to you.

As far as the violent scenes go, I wonder do these girls get nervous watching some of the TV shows and movies that are shown in the media today.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I thank god I didn't have kids as childish and weak as these two

This is so sad, people who do not want to watch another human being murdered are apparently "childish and weak".

I cannot understand this position at all. It is unnecessary to show the murder of another human to explain the state of the world today.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Maybe they didn't use enough 可愛い characters to explain what's going on.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I just think there are more violent images in movies and video games. Take Azumi for example or Samurai shows. As for parents, sometimes they are more like to mess up the educational system than help it. You can not hide from what is happening in the world and sooner or later it will be on your shores if you ignore it. The German Jews didn't think the increasing violence would affect them until it was too late.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

As far as the violent scenes go, I wonder do these girls get nervous watching some of the TV shows and movies that are shown in the media today.

If they do, there is nothing wrong with that. It's a sad state of affairs when we feel that we should desensitize our kids to killing and murder in TV/movies.

This is so sad, people who do not want to watch another human being murdered are apparently "childish and weak".

I couldn't agree more.

I just think there are more violent images in movies and video games.

Maybe, but that doesn't mean that all kids are watching violent movies and playing violent video games. Plenty of children aren't, and there is nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, there is something wrong with the expectation that they should be watching and playing violent games/movies.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I just think there are more violent images in movies and video games.

That is not real violence, and people have the choice to watch them or not.

You can not hide from what is happening in the world and sooner or later it will be on your shores if you ignore it. The German Jews didn't think the increasing violence would affect them until it was too late.

I don't understand what this has to do with watching another human be murdered. Do you have to see video from the Rwanda genocide to know that that was a horrible event?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It's a sad state of affairs when we feel that we should desensitize our kids to killing and murder in TV/movies.

I was not saying that children should be desensitized to violence so that they can see it, however they need to be aware that bad things do happen in the world. Case in point, I tried to show a few Japanese female coworkers the movie trailer for the movie "Unbroken" and they both reacted as if they had seen a horrid scene when the main character was being beaten by the main Japanese guard, who happens to be Takamasa Ishihara (stage name of Miyavi) whom before they saw his role in the preview were excited to see that he was in an American movie.

These were adult women, who like these girls had no clue as to what happened in WWII, and when the crisis was with the two Japanese citizens held by ISIS was going on didn't understand what ISIS was about, and somehow thought it had to do with Abe and his stance on wanting to change the Japanese constitution. They knew nothing of what is going on in the world, except the latest talento goings on and the latest drama on TV.

I think the teacher used a valuable tool in teaching his world history class by showing the documentary. At least he is trying to expose them to what is going on. I remember back in my days in school when one of the classes I had asked us to watch what was on PBS the BBC documentary "the World At War" from about WW2, and it was a great way to understand what went on during that period, than watching some of the fictional movies on war that were being shown at the time.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Don't believe it was any worse than what they see on normal TV. Their shows can be pretty graphic. Kudos for the teacher. I've lived in Japan on and my life since 1964 and I'm 73 now. <>

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I was not saying that children should be desensitized to violence so that they can see it, however they need to be aware that bad things do happen in the world

I agree that they should be aware of what is happening in the world. But that doesn't require graphic visuals.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Case in point, I tried to show a few Japanese female coworkers the movie trailer for the movie "Unbroken" and they both reacted as if they had seen a horrid scene when the main character was being beaten by the main Japanese guard

So because you are desensitized to violence and your coworkers are not, they somehow do not understand the world?

I hate to break it to you but the normal reaction is to be repelled by violence. People should be sickened by brutality and murder.

0 ( +4 / -3 )

So because you are desensitized to violence and your coworkers are not, they somehow do not understand the world?

In this case, yes. Because my co-workers are what I would call your typical Japanese, they don't like to watch things that make them feel uncomfortable. I'm not talking about horror movies or shoot them up crime dramas, but anything that shows the world in a negative light (especially their Japanese world view) they tune it out. When discussing world events with them, they have no idea of what is going on with groups like ISIS, and to a much sadder point, nor do they realize and understand why surrounding nations don't have high regards to Japan from their WW2 history. Of course they know of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the fire bombing of Tokyo, but have no clue what went on in those other battlefileds, nor do they like to discuss the horrors that are occuring real time or in the recent past.

Teaching students that the world is not all a safe place is a good thing I think. What methods you use I admit need to be adjusted as to what leve you are teaching (don't show things like this to elementary kids), but students need to be made aware. And maybe they need to understand unlike in games and TV, once you shoot or kill someone, there is no reset or coming back.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It is not so much being desensitised as accepting it as part of everyday reality.

Or you think all Soldiers and people living in war zones or high crime areas are desensitised too. Quiet the contrary because they know real deal first hand, some of the most peace loving and strongest opponents from those area.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

my co-workers are what I would call your typical Japanese, they don't like to watch things that make them feel uncomfortable.

Nothing wrong with that.

Teaching students that the world is not all a safe place is a good thing I think.

I agree. But again, this doesn't require showing images of people being killed.

Or you think all Soldiers and people living in war zones or high crime areas are desensitised too.

Soldiers are about the worst comparison you could make. The fact that we even need soldiers in the world is a perversion of humanity. But accepting that there is a need for them in our current society, the fact is that they come home with PTSD from the things they see. They are by no means a standard by which we should be comparing the everyday man. Soldiers are supposed to be taking on that burden so that the everyday man doesn't have to.

And people in war zones and high crime areas are a different situation altogether as well. We should be doing our best to ensure these people don't need to see these things either.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

OK, maybe soldiers are the best example.

Look at EMT or ER staff, Firefighters, Police and so on. I agree we need to help people living in war zones and high crime areas having experienced both.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So, the board of education thinks that the Japan country owned NHK is irresponsible too?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Because my co-workers are what I would call your typical Japanese, they don't like to watch things that make them feel uncomfortable.

Great, that's normal! Who wants to wallow in misery all day?

Of course they know of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the fire bombing of Tokyo, but have no clue what went on in those other battlefileds, nor do they like to discuss the horrors that are occuring real time or in the recent past.

Again, who LIKES to discuss these things? I'm quite in tune with world events but I never sit around and shoot the breeze about terrorism or war crimes with my friends. Who does this???

Teaching students that the world is not all a safe place is a good thing I think.

Agreed. And high school students are not stupid, they know this.

And maybe they need to understand unlike in games and TV, once you shoot or kill someone, there is no reset or coming back.

Again, these are not small children. They KNOW this. They don't need to be SHOWN this. Nobody does.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

So, the board of education thinks that the Japan country owned NHK is irresponsible too?

If it's broadcasted on TV, people have the option to change the channel. When shown in class, that option doesn't exist. So your question isn't relevant to the topic at hand.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No choice in school?

Is the classroom door locked, you can't asked to be excused for the duration, emergency toilet break, etc.

Plenty of options to get out of watching it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Plenty of options to get out of watching it.

Or, better yet - the teacher should show some good judgement and not show video footage of murders to high school students. Then there is no controversy, is there?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Pandabelle.

Sorry, I refuse to live in that coddled Nanny society that seems to be your dream. 17 is one year from being an adult in a large part of the world, same counts for my country. At 18 we join the military, drive car, can drink alcohol, own a firearm, vote and more.

It is about maturity and if 17 can't be mature enough ......

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Is the classroom door locked, you can't asked to be excused for the duration, emergency toilet break, etc.

Plenty of options to get out of watching it.

Um, you don't seem to understand how school works. Sure they can find ways to sneak out of it, but they shouldn't have to sneak out of it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Pandabelle wants NO Controversy or anything possibke upsetting.

It was a censored NHK Documentary, similar to the footage if the Charlie Hebdo and similar news reports.

This incident wouldn't even be mentioned in my home country and most others, reread back what I said about school trips aged 12&13 to Concentration camps and similar.

Don't even see it much discussed apart from here.

As I said it is about maturity which don't come suddenly when you become a legal adult.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Pandabelle wants NO Controversy or anything possibke upsetting.

No, I believe Pandabelle and I are on the same page with this one. It's fine to discuss the issue, but their is no need to show images of people being murdered.

It was a censored NHK Documentary, similar to the footage if the Charlie Hebdo and similar news reports.

I watched many Charlie Hebdo reports in Japan, and none of them showed anyone being murdered. So I believe this comment to be factually incorrect.

This incident wouldn't even be mentioned in my home country

That doesn't say much good about your country.

it is about maturity which don't come suddenly when you become a legal adult.

Maturity does not equal being able to watch graphic images of people being murdered.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

It's an interesting debate. I've seen a couple of things out of curiosity, a YouTube video about "justice" in Sadaam's Iraq, and the aftermath of a railway suicide near Kumamoto. Both have scarred me for life. Horrible, horrible images that I'll never get rid of.

Maybe these students should have been given the option to skip the class....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I've seen a couple of things out of curiosity... Both have scarred me for life.

Me too. I wish I hadn't looked. And that's why I don't think kids should be forced to.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It is about maturity and if 17 can't be mature enough ......

Maturity also includes the maturity to decide whether or not you want to see something you know you are likely to be revolted/scared/upset/disgusted by. TV channels issue warnings of graphic content, so that viewers have the choice to avoid seeing things they don't want to see. Kids stuck in a classroom don't have that choice.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

This is well within the discretionary rights of the teacher. I'm sorry that two felt that they had to hyperventilate. It may be gory, it is also life.

Showing such scenes may also help deter people from heading over to ISIS, which is good - we don't need any more of them.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I'm sorry that two felt that they had to hyperventilate.

Hyperventilation is an involuntary reaction. It's not something you feel you need to do.

Showing such scenes may also help deter people from heading over to ISIS, which is good - we don't need any more of them.

Yeah, because there is a huge percentage of high school students who are headed over to ISIS, right?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

17 year old girls (almost ADULTS) getting freaked out by this kind of NHK news??? If they teacher already new some of the students could NOT handle that kind of news, maybe it would have been better to allow the students to stay outside, go to the library etc... Not all students can handle news etc...in the same way. If the video had mosaic, pixilated out etc..most normal high school kids can handle this, but you have MANY kinds of mental capacities.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Bollocks mate. They KNOW what's out there, same as the rest of us do. They see news reports, and they will have known all about the two Japanese guys recently murdered by IS. They don't NEED to see it, or hear it.

If you have lived here for any length of time you will come to realize that what one sees vs what actually registers are two totally different things.

These HS kids got upset because of the reality of the situation, meaning that things finally hit home to them. Up until now crap like this never happens to Japanese people, it's always somewhere else.

They are insulated from the reality, you know in a manner of speaking it's pretty cool to be able to grow up thinking that one is safe from the problems of the world, but there comes a time when they need to know that not everyone sees things through rose colored glasses.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Anyone who would show a murder, even a blurred out one to school students is a very sick person. There is no educational value in showing a person being killed... and none of you macho, cigar chomping types will ever convince me otherwise. You might not flinch, but those of us with normal attitudes towards murder and violent death have no desire to see such things. All it will do is cause damage - as some above have suffered.

Ghouls.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

There is no educational value in showing a person being killed...

If it stops her having to see her sweetheart off to war, it's priceless.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

People need to know what groups such as ISIS are doing - not just to "infidels" but to people of their own religion as well. The Board of Education is way off base for censuring the teacher of high school students for showing an NHK program.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Anyone who would show a murder, even a blurred out one to school students is a very sick person. There is no educational value in showing a person being killed... and none of you macho, cigar chomping types will ever convince me otherwise. You might not flinch, but those of us with normal attitudes towards murder and violent death have no desire to see such things. All it will do is cause damage - as some above have suffered.

Then you had better put a stop to all Japanese anime like Naruto, One-Piece, etc etc etc, because they "kill" people all the time.

These were HIGH SCHOOL aged females, not some 5 or 6 year old. They have seen TV programs, movies, etc, showing much much worse I will bet and thought nothing of it.

It's more sickening that anyone thinks that young adults should be kept with their heads in the sand. Reality is a great wake up call, and it's NHK for cripes sake, if schools cant be showing NHK programs then hey maybe NHK shouldnt be showing the same things on the news......doh the video was an NHK documentary previously shown on NATIONAL TV.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

So exposing teenagers to the real dirty world is bad? I would hate to think they can grow to adulthood and not know about such things. This is supposed to be the time we teach the the value of critical thinking so that they can be adults someday. Time to unwrap them from the protective bubble wrap.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Anyone who would show a murder, even a blurred out one to school students is a very sick person.

Then you had better put a stop to all Japanese anime like Naruto, One-Piece, etc etc etc, because they "kill" people all the time.

Pray tell, in which schools are they requiring kids to watch Naruto and One Piece in class? And when did these animes start showing real visuals of real people actually being killed? I though they were cartoons. Are they interspersing the cartoons with snuff films now?

They have seen TV programs, movies, etc, showing much much worse I will bet and thought nothing of it.

No. I would hope that you can distinguish the difference between reality (actual videos of people being killed) and fantasy (television and movies, where the people don't actually die, and can go on to make more television and movies).

I've watched a couple of the Saw movies with my friend. Super gory (and actually not really my thing), but not real, so I could stomach it. Seeing the same thing when it is real turns my stomach.

It's more sickening that anyone thinks that young adults should be kept with their heads in the sand.

No. First, no one is saying that these kids shouldn't know what is happening, rather that they shouldn't be forced to watch images of people being murdered. Second, it's more disturbing that you would think that some be required to see visuals of someone being murdered in order to keep their head out of the sand.

So exposing teenagers to the real dirty world is bad?

No, forcing them to watch images of people being murdered is bad.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Strangerland...you do not know Japan nor the education system, you are playing games in trying to keep to your untenable position. No one saw any "real" people being killed, it was mosaiced out. Now if they had showed the pictures/video without the mosaic I might consider things differently, however it was blocked out.

Too many kids live in fantasy land here, and a dose of reality is worth the trouble if it saves even one persons life.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I think many people underestimate how much kids can absorb.

At my son's primary school they had their annual school play. Topic chosen by 6 the graders was the firebombing if shinjuku.

Play focused on kids working at a local Kitajima engine factory and their lives up till the bombing. Some kids had no lunch and others shared theirs. End was the bombing and a slideshow about the B-29's came up over the factory dropped 9 bombs(killing everyone) and followed the train line to their primary target.

Was very well done and I was stunned that 12yr olds would choose and perform such a play. It was well researched and presented.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Can't believe the first comment has so many thumbs up. Get out of your bubble and mix and converse ... not just observing . Japanese are not wrapped in cotton wool. If a teacher showed such a documentary in Australia they might find themselves in deep you know what. f

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If Japan's youth isn't wrapped in cotton wool, then they are heedles and unconcerned about the outside world. They are certainly barred from many realities. The teacher in this incident was only being attentive to world news.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Long time ago in America, KKK a domestic terrorist organization used to hang Black Americans for fun and have a BBQ and party at the town square. They have photos of this - kids, women and men having a good ole' time.

Watching black people burn on the wooden cross or hanging tree and than attend church on Sundays.....

Public Beheadings is common in the middle east. Sometimes kids will kick the severed head around and etc. laughing and joking.

I think it should be shown in schools also the kids parents should sign waivers and etc. If their kid has the stomach for it.

But it should be shown how brutal war can be. War & Terrorism is brutal....

People kill people in creative ways.... Hopefully one day, the human race will be more humane....

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Yubaru: Then you had better put a stop to all Japanese anime like Naruto, One-Piece, etc etc etc, because they "kill" people all the time.

Only watched a few years of Naruto when my kid was little, but I don't remember people being killed "all the time". Only one or two killed, and they made a huge deal about it about how everyone was sorry, and possibly the dead came back to life a few years later in the series.

There WERE a lot of incidents where characters SHOULD have been killed, if they weren't immortal cartoon characters with resiliency of Superman. Whack someone 100 feet across a cave, they bounce off and land on their feet??? Shot full of knives and next episode all healed???

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How sheltered must their lives have been?! I am glad it shocked them. It taught them a valuable lesson that life isn't all about cakes, clothes, Disney and 'kawaii' crap. Good on the teacher.

I love this comment because I wholeheartedly agree!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

He should have asked first (school officials or parents). Something of any gore (even though it was blurred) "might" be too much for any child. I think the appropriate action was taken. I guess I am the only one though.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

It"s me

Pandabelle wants NO Controversy or anything possibke upsetting.

Glad you know what I am thinking, mate, but you are completely off base here.

You can teach sex ed without showing hardcore pornography.

You can teach about racism without subjecting people to racist abuse.

You can certainly teach about ISIS without showing murders to a classroom of high schoolers.

Absolutely kids need to know about what's going on in the world. You don't need to show footage of murders to do that.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

While the teacher was, imo, right showing this, he could have communicated with the school/parents/students first. Then, he should have asked the class whether they felt they could take videos as graphic as this, then should have sent out every student who didn't feel ready. Being as young and naive as some young girls are, you can't expect them to be not traumatized if you show them this without giving them time to prepare themselves.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

"One dead is a tragedy. One million dead is a statistic." -Joseph Stalin The point is that even if these teens have any awareness of ISIS and its truly disturbing oppression and terror (which they are hardly likely to tune into on their own), it is nothing more than an abstract, distant footnote that has zero impact on their reality. Seeing a person executed should be uncomfortable and disturbing, even pixelated (which was appropriate), but brings the reality home that the are real human beings, and this is happening today by people who would spread this to every corner of the world if not opposed. It is good they were upset, as we all should be. What is not acceptable is to allow this brutality to continue and spread because we are too uncomfortable to address it until it is happening to us. Having an abstract concept of something is not at all the same as being directly confronted by the reality. This is reality, whether you like it or not. It does not go away because enough people ignore it or simply wish it away. If you want responsible and influenced citizens, this must happen over the course of childhood and adolescence, school bring a primary avenue of this growth. It does not magically happen because society deems you Ann adult on an arbitrary date.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I love kawaii as much as the next person. but you have to live in reality. These students SHOULD be aware of what animals ISIS are. Because the way things are going, they may well have to face it in person one day.

That said, however, while I do not feel the teacher did any wrong, I think he should have cleared it with the school authorities, or whoever he needs to clear stuff with. I have, however, a sneaking suspicion that, before there was this very minor incident, the school would have approved it, and all they doing now is covering their asses.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A result of the cutification of everything - people here are all wrapped up in cotton wool, and unaware of the realities of the world.

Couldn't agree more. As my brother would say, "harden up princess(es)". Students need to be made aware of what's going on in the world. The fact is - they aren't. (This extends to history classes as well. The period covering WW2 in particular)

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Great, that's normal! Who wants to wallow in misery all day? Again, who LIKES to discuss these things? I'm quite in tune with world events but I never sit around and shoot the breeze about terrorism or war crimes with my friends. Who does this???

It is not about "Liking" stuff, it is about to be knowledgeable about current events, and to express your opinion when it does affect you, (like the case with PM and his policy concerning ISIS) didn't you vote recently?

Agreed. And high school students are not stupid, they know this.

Really? What about all those news about raping or abusing high school girls through ads on the newspapers being part of idol groups, a cast for a CM or clinical studies about "beauty products"?, it is not that they are stupid, it is just that they are ignorant, because all that sheltering.

You said it before: You can teach about sex without porn, which is true, but, what about all these idol magazines "Candy doll", which is not pornography legally although common sense tells you that it is... how would you teach that it is wrong?

Again, these are not small children. They KNOW this. They don't need to be SHOWN this. Nobody does. They are not small children, but they don't know about this, they don't know what terror it is, and about people being afraid all the time.

When I was little, I lived in a dictatorship period of my country, I didn't understand anything when certain people talked to each other in secrecy, and it was in code, why some protesters were arrested, still, even today, I'm unable to understand fully why these people who lost loved ones during that period of dictatorship are still mourning, not able of letting go... Their loved ones disappeared and never, ever they were found. Just recently there are movies that depict those darker times, and to think that it really happened it shudders my spine, but I was growing up very sheltered about that time (covered mostly because of the government) at that time all I "needed to know" is that I had to support the government of that time or bad things would happen to you.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I didn't bother to read every post, but after seeing so many up-votes to the first few posters prasing what the teacher did...I just had to say that I disagree.

Children, teenagers, young adults all have varying levels of maturity. Perhaps some are ready to see more of what really goes on in the world. But I think that this is choice of parents and not a choice of schools. As a high school teacher, I always have to remember that not all families are the same.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Too bad. People can't live in a bubble all their lives

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Too bad. People can't live in a bubble all their lives

Sure they can.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Sure they can.

Yes, I agree. But it is never a good thing - as sooner or later bubbles "burst". No, the teacher had the right intentions in this case

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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