We at D+CFilm enjoy a violent movie as much as the next person. Indeed, we were probably the only people in the entire world complaining that Eli Roth’s Hostel wasn’t gory enough.

Nevertheless, we have a certain amount of sympathy for the region’s teachers, who have issued a call to local MPs to join them in condemnation of what they see as the media’s growing obsession with violence.

NASUWT, the largest union representing teachers and headteachers, made the plea following a motion at a recent regional conference which raised concerns about the growing levels of violence across the South West.

Les Kennedy, NASUWT’s South West regional organiser, told D+CFilm: “Violence is becoming a regular part of our society, and it’s time someone made a stand.

“Teachers across the South West are seeing an increase in violence in a range of forms, and that is having a huge influence on our pupils, either through first-hand experience at home or on the streets or increasingly through how it is depicted in the media.”

Julian Chapman, chair of the NASUWT South West regional committee, added: “Television, radio, DVDs and the internet are awash with violence. The glamorous depiction of violence in the media needs to stop.”

Er, radio is awash with violence?! Granted, Scott Mills makes us want to go all Basketball Diaries on Radio 1 staff, but that’s about the extent of it.

Chapman continued: “Sadly the issue is not getting the coverage it deserves. NASUWT calls on all the region’s MPs to join with us and put an end to the increasing cycle of violence in the South West.”

We’re not sure it’s as easy as that. Without wanting to sound like the Daily Mail (god for-fucken-bid!), the best people to police the internet, cinema and telly are kids’ parents.

Of course, we’re all achingly liberal these days and don’t want to curb little Beowulf’s artistic freedom so we blanche at laying down the law. But we think programmes like EastEnders are helluvalot more damaging than the likes of Hostel. What we’re basically saying to our kids is ‘this is how adults are sposed to act’. Screwing around, screaming at each other, punching people in the face… ummm, selling fruit and veg?! No wonder kids are confused!

But hey, what do yous lot think? Why not drop us a line at ‘the usual address’.

Posted by Thin White Duke

This entry was posted on Monday, December 11th, 2006 at 10:16 am and is filed under Local, National, News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.