Squid Game: Schools in north and north-east forced to act on latest Netflix smash

By David Proctor

October 26 2021, 5:02 pm

Schools in Aberdeen and Wick issued advice to parents on Squid Game.

An Aberdeen school has warned parents after some pupils apparently acted out scenes from violent Netflix show Squid Game.

In an email, bosses at Countesswells School said pupils are finding it difficult “to separate fiction from reality”.

Meanwhile, a school in Caithness has urged parents not to dress their children up as any of the show’s characters for Hallowe’en.

Wick’s Newton Park primary sent out a message asking people not put kids in outfits that resemble those from the series.

Squid Game is a South Korean TV series that follows the exploits of hundreds of cash-strapped players who accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games.

It features deadly tasks and violence.

Netflix said it is their “biggest TV show ever” and it has been watched by 142 million households across the world.

School urges parents to talk to children

The email sent out to parents at Countesswells urged anyone who let their children watch it to speak to them.

It also includes a link to the Safer Schools website which details some of the activities children could recreate.

These include Red Light, Green Light where players attempt to reach a spot in a stop-start fashion.

In the show, this involves a doll robot that can monitor any movement and it kills anyone who moves.

There have already been reports of this activity descending into violence in schools in Belgium as a result of the show.

Councils in England have also issued warnings to parents.

The Countesswells email reads: “Over the course of the day, it has become apparent that many of our pupils have been watching the Netflix series Squid Game.

“Some of our younger pupils are convinced that the game is real and are finding it difficult to separate fiction from reality.

“We have spoken to the individuals involved but would appreciate that if you are allowing your child to watch the programme that you have a conversation with them.”

We have contacted Aberdeen City Council for comment.

Should children be watching this at all?

Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games.

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Martin Greig, on Aberdeen City Council‘s education committee, said the show should not be seen by primary school children.

Netflix have given a 15 and older rating and he believes nobody younger should be tuning in.

Mr Greig said: “This programme is not recommended for children because it shows violence and cruelty.

“It would be better not to produce this kind of extreme material in the first place.

“These kinds of brutal images and storylines should not be available to view. They could normalise abuse and harm to people of all ages.

“Entertainment needs to be responsible and demonstrate the importance of respecting other people.”

Fancy dress ban at Highland school

Children at Newton Park can dress up on Friday – just not as of the characters from Squid Game.

A message sent to parents said pupils should not wear any outfits from the Korean programme or any horror films.

It said: “Please note that these outfits need to be appropriate for outside play at break and lunch and also appropriate for the age of the primary school children.

“There should be no costumes from Squid Games or horror films as these are not suitable for children in primary school.”

A Highland Council spokesman said: “We have a devolved school management system in Highland schools. The management of festive celebrations in schools is at the discretion of individual headteachers.”