School warns about TV show
Parents alerted to Netflix’s Squid Game
A Rutherglen school has warned that pupils are being ‘unsettled’ by violent Netflix series Squid Game.
Staff at Burnside Primary raised the matter with parents due to the amount of chat about the programme among youngsters.
The series is rated 15 and, viewed by more than 142 million people in just four weeks, is Netflix’s most successful show ever.
The South Korean drama features contestants in debt trying to win cash by completing children’s games with a deadly twist. This is brought to life with extreme depictions of violence, including shootings, stabbings and organ harvesting.
And that has raised concerns amongst teachers and staff at at least one school.
A message to Burnside Primary parents seen by the Reformer states: “We are aware of some emerging chat in school among children regarding a UK certified 15 game/Netflix show called Squid Game.
“Although this game/TV show is unsuitable for children, some of our pupils are becoming unsettled by peer conversations.
“Please be assured that where this is raised by children, staff will reiterate that this game is not real and will close down further discussions.
“We would appreciate parent/carer support with this, thank you.”
A number of schools across the country have previously reported children copying the games featured in the show, complete with the violent twists from the programme.
Experts also warned that the programme’s themes could disturb youngsters.
Dr Sandra Wheatley stated to the Daily Star that: “It may make them question, ‘why is nobody helping them?
“Clearly there are messages there that we really don’t want our kids to take on board.”
The name Squid Game comes from a Korean children’s game where players are split into teams with the attacking side trying to reach an area of a squidlike diagram.
The council’s education department confirmed that the head teacher had circulated a letter regarding the matter, but said nothing more on the incident.