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31st January 2011, 12:59 PM
Teachers told terrified primary school children World War Three had broken out then led them to cellar and set off fireworks and a siren
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:37 PM on 21st January 2011
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Headteacher Mike Richards told his primary school pupils in morning assembly that Britain was at war
Stunned primary school children were told in their morning assembly that World War III had broken out.
Staff at St Mary's RC, Bacup, Lancashire, came up with the idea to help children understand what it was like to live during wartime and decided to make them believe war had been declared.
The terrified youngsters were also told that London - where some of them have relatives - was under bomb attack.
They were led to a cellar when an air raid siren sounded and a firework was let off to simulate a bomb.
Headteacher Mike Richards announced in the morning assembly but abandoned the project at around 1.30pm after some of the children became upset. He has since apologised for the exercise.
He said some of the pupils had since had nightmares.
The project began with a radio playback of Neville Chamberlain's 1939 war address.
Mr Richards admitted teachers were 'very upset' that pupils had been left distressed and suffering from nightmares.
One parent said her children, in particular her daughter who is in Year One, were 'terrified'.
Mr Richards explained: 'We were doing World War Two as a topic and we saw advice from schools that basically suggested that we introduced the topic as if it was really happening. We didn't foresee these problems.
'We did a simulated air raid and talked about evacuation, but we said children would probably be evacuated to Bacup as it was safer than Manchester or London.
The children were shown footage of the Blitz and were told that London - where some of them have relatives - was under attack
Teachers at St Mary's RC, Bacup, Lancashire, led children to a cellar when an air raid siren sounded and a firework was let off to simulate a bomb
'The idea of it was to get the children to empathise with what it was like.
'The big concern we had was that the children wouldn't believe it.
'Unfortunately we made it too real. After that we spent all the rest of the afternoon explaining to them that it wasn't.'
He added: 'The bulk of the boys thought it was great but a few of the girls were upset and had a sleepless night.'
The headteacher said he had spoken to around ten parents with concerns about the exercise, although the school has not received any written complaints.
He added: 'We have changed the curriculum to being much more creative and informal and towards creating memorable experiences. On this occasion we realise that we went too far.
'The school apologises for any distress that was caused but we don't come to school with the idea of upsetting our pupils.'
A mother of a pupil at the school, who asked not to be named, said: 'They're scared of leaving their dad and me now,' she said.
'It was really unpleasant. I was told they were shown pictures of the Blitz, bombed houses and fires.
'The kids were upset as soon as they were told and yet the school let this thing continue.'
She added: 'There's certainly some very angry parents.
'You send your child off in the morning and then they are told that there is a war.
'Nobody with an ounce of common sense would have put them through it.'
The Local Education authority declined to comment.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349158/Headteacher-told-primary-school-children-World-War-Three-broken-out.html#ixzz1CbNSvogX
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:37 PM on 21st January 2011
Comments (200)
Add to My Stories
Headteacher Mike Richards told his primary school pupils in morning assembly that Britain was at war
Stunned primary school children were told in their morning assembly that World War III had broken out.
Staff at St Mary's RC, Bacup, Lancashire, came up with the idea to help children understand what it was like to live during wartime and decided to make them believe war had been declared.
The terrified youngsters were also told that London - where some of them have relatives - was under bomb attack.
They were led to a cellar when an air raid siren sounded and a firework was let off to simulate a bomb.
Headteacher Mike Richards announced in the morning assembly but abandoned the project at around 1.30pm after some of the children became upset. He has since apologised for the exercise.
He said some of the pupils had since had nightmares.
The project began with a radio playback of Neville Chamberlain's 1939 war address.
Mr Richards admitted teachers were 'very upset' that pupils had been left distressed and suffering from nightmares.
One parent said her children, in particular her daughter who is in Year One, were 'terrified'.
Mr Richards explained: 'We were doing World War Two as a topic and we saw advice from schools that basically suggested that we introduced the topic as if it was really happening. We didn't foresee these problems.
'We did a simulated air raid and talked about evacuation, but we said children would probably be evacuated to Bacup as it was safer than Manchester or London.
The children were shown footage of the Blitz and were told that London - where some of them have relatives - was under attack
Teachers at St Mary's RC, Bacup, Lancashire, led children to a cellar when an air raid siren sounded and a firework was let off to simulate a bomb
'The idea of it was to get the children to empathise with what it was like.
'The big concern we had was that the children wouldn't believe it.
'Unfortunately we made it too real. After that we spent all the rest of the afternoon explaining to them that it wasn't.'
He added: 'The bulk of the boys thought it was great but a few of the girls were upset and had a sleepless night.'
The headteacher said he had spoken to around ten parents with concerns about the exercise, although the school has not received any written complaints.
He added: 'We have changed the curriculum to being much more creative and informal and towards creating memorable experiences. On this occasion we realise that we went too far.
'The school apologises for any distress that was caused but we don't come to school with the idea of upsetting our pupils.'
A mother of a pupil at the school, who asked not to be named, said: 'They're scared of leaving their dad and me now,' she said.
'It was really unpleasant. I was told they were shown pictures of the Blitz, bombed houses and fires.
'The kids were upset as soon as they were told and yet the school let this thing continue.'
She added: 'There's certainly some very angry parents.
'You send your child off in the morning and then they are told that there is a war.
'Nobody with an ounce of common sense would have put them through it.'
The Local Education authority declined to comment.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349158/Headteacher-told-primary-school-children-World-War-Three-broken-out.html#ixzz1CbNSvogX