Posted on 06/26/2017 1:25:04 PM PDT by johnk
A secondary school has been forced to apologize to parents after an English teacher asked students to draft a suicide note for homework as part of a module on Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth.
More than 60 pupils at Thomas Tallis school, Kidbrooke, London were asked to pen an imaginary final note after reading one of the play’s most celebrated scenes, when Lady Macbeth takes her own life.
Having conspired with her husband to murder King Duncan, Lady Macbeth commits suicide by “self and violent hands” after being driven mad by guilt and violent imagery of his murder.
The pupils were asked to put themselves in Lady Macbeth’s position and imagine the suicide note she might write to Macbeth explaining her decision to kill herself
However, the decision has caused outrage among parents, some of whom claimed their children had been personally affected by the issue.
I met with the parent last week and apologized wholeheartedly on behalf of the school Headmistress Caroyln Roberts Criticising Thomas Tallis for its lack of sensitivity, one mother said her daughter had been told to write the note – despite having lost three friends to suicide.
She added that her daughter had become “very distressed” over the issue, and had told the teacher in question that such material made her feel uncomfortable.
“My daughter had had personal experience with people her age committing suicide,” she added. “On what universe was it ever, under any situation, a good idea to ask a group of teenagers to write suicide notes?
“My daughter is very outspoken but there are other kids not as vocal who might be suffering from depression. I support them [Thomas Tallis school] addressing suicide but it should be in a supportive environment.”
Other parents branded the decision “absolutely disgusting” and “insensitive”, with one claiming that the assignment had been ill-conceived given the age of the students involved.
"I can't imagine why a place of education would do something so insensitive, especially as childhood and teenage depression and anxiety is at an all time high at the moment,” they added.
"My daughter's friend committed suicide in the last year of sixth form a year or so ago. My daughter has never got over it and is still receiving counselling."
Commenting on the incident, headmistress Caroyln Roberts said: “A parent contacted us with concerns about a written exercise given to a class during studies of a play by Shakespeare.
"We appreciate that the exercise was upsetting to the family and have discussed the subject matter and approach with teaching staff.
"I met with the parent last week and apologized wholeheartedly on behalf of the school and reassured them about the actions that have been taken.
"The parent accepted the apology in a meeting that was friendly and cordial."
The school said “The exercise was to write a suicide letter from Lady Macbeth to Macbeth explaining her decision to kill herself. The exercise is a well-known method for getting students to understand this dramatic twist in the play. The teacher who set the exercise is very experienced. Indeed, the exercise has been praised at a recent Ofsted inspection for the progress made by pupils studying the play”.
CLARIFICATION
Thomas Tallis School (Kidbrooke) has pointed out that, contrary to an earlier version of this report, the writing of an imaginary suicide note was part of a literary exercise. Pupils were asked to imagine that they were Lady Macbeth and draft a note to Macbeth to explain her decision to kill herself. It was not suggested that they should write a note "to their loved ones”. We are happy to make this clear and apologize to all concerned.
I mean it's a stretch to write this whole thing off as telling kids to "imagine that they were Lady Macbeth".
I am very happy my children did not go to public school.
Why are we still forcing Shakespeare on kids for more than one class. It’s fun....but I’ve never been asked a question on Shakespeare throughout my entire career. I’m 73.
...and she never said to herself —
“But, soft... Tarry a mo, cousin, and consider the path
you have chosen — that it be well-thought, and not rash!
For such a action is arduous to reverse, should one change
one’s mind only a tiny bit too late...”
I don't see the problem with this. It's an assignment regarding a fictional character and a fictional event. I'd have been more likely to assign an essay, requiring points to be made in logical order with support from the text, but that's just me.
Well, first, we import a gazillion savages from Islamic hell holes.
Then we elect a Muslim as mayor of London.
Third, we don't fight back or even say anything critical.
OH WAIT...That was the suicide note for ENGLAND.
British elites have asked the public to do the same with massive Islamic colonization.
Love you lots,
Lady MacBeth
Popular assignment with the mobammaden students.
You beat me to it. My thought was what if many of the students wrote murder-suicide notes involving the teacher. Would police and psychiatrists be called or would the principal realize it was a thumb in the eye of an idiot teacher?
I have a box of school stuff of mine from the 70’s - lots of creative writing, etc.
One story is about a guy killing himself. Today I would probably get investigated. I recall the teacher wrote something like “Very touching - it made me cry.”
Then there was the magazine we had to do - but as if it were in Victorian times. Mine was the “Gentlemen’s Field and Sports” - fishing and hunting stories.
The hunting story was set in Ireland, hunting for the elusive “rug rat”. (A play on “A Modest Proposal” by Swift.)
Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One: two: why, then, 'tis time to do't.--Hell is murky!--Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?--Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.
I think it’s a new way of getting into controversial subjects with young children. All in the name of literary research of course.
Just like The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park adaptation which includes the shooting of Donald Trump.
We are led to believe this is acceptable because of Shakespeare. If you disagree you are uncultured.
We all know they had pistols in the 1600’s.
Right...
The U.K. Has already made them write a suicide note by bringing in millions of muzzies.
Stupid exercise. No matter how described. Do these students even understand Macbeth?
Why are we still forcing Shakespeare on kids for more than one class. It’s fun....but I’ve never been asked a question on Shakespeare throughout my entire career. I’m 73.
________________
Clearly you don’t watch Jeopardy.
Shakespeare is always a good read. It makes for a well rounded human being. There are lots of things I learned at school that I have not been asked about. Didn’t hurt me to learn it and most always gave me perspective
If you want to do Lit in college....fine...go for it.
Sincerely
UK
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