Another problem I am hoping GEM can resolve.
We offer Viking Days at Chertsey Museum where the children have an action packed day of a walk around the abbey sacked by the Vikings, making card swords and looking at our real Viking sword in the gallery, and then in the afternoon we have a Viking Warrior re-enactor come in who does an amazing interactive demonstration.
We have been doing the same session for around 4 years and have had excellent feedback, our re-enactor does this same session as a freelance at many other locations, he has his own insurance, was a teacher for 26 years, is an actor (and been in Harry Potter!) and is now doing a PHD on the topic. So we are quite happy that he knows his stuff.
However we had 2 complaints from 2 different schools in the same week saying that the session is un-suitable for Year 3s and even Primary aged children. One teacher even stopped the session half-way through and asked to do something else!
The session is aimed a Year 3-5 and the children are asked to do various tasks like hold the shield while the re-enactor places a spear into, to show how the spearhead gets stuck in the shield and comes off. He always stage manages the children well so he knows exactly where they are (and what they may be likely to do) so he is in control should the child not do as they are asked.
The teachers thought that children should not be handling weapons (especially sharp ones) at all, and also they do not like him telling the children about mercy killings on the gangrenous battle field and they believed their children would go home and slit other children's throats.
I know our sessions are rather violent and gory, and I have to admit the first time I watched it I was a bit on the edge of my seat, however for 4 years we have never had even a bad comment- never mind a complaint. It was my understanding that when learning about the Vikings they should learn the truth- death and all, and it seems that with horrible histories there is a lot of it out there.
Has anyone come across something similar? I am wondering whether to research what rating it would be if it was a film such as PG or 12A?
There have been knife killings in the news for the past few years- it isn't something that has just popped up- so I don't know why this is all happening all of a sudden?
Sally
Chertsey Museum