SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ)- A Shawano Elementary School Principal says he is concerned that online videos that kids are watching at home, are being exposed to other students at school.
“It was not meant to shame anybody or make them feel bad, it was just bringing awareness to it.”
Principal Troy Edwards pointed out multiple youtube videos with violent, vulgar and sexual messages, and said once he learned more about the content, he decided it was not appropriate for school.
“We did some digging and looking into it and we were very surprised and shocked.”
In his email, Edwards said kids are being exposed to trending video game and youtube videos at home, but it does not stop there. He says kids are having discussions, and sharing that information and content with other students.
Edwards pinpointed certain videos and games that he has had his attention called to.
“Five Nights At Freddy’s” has content that shows violence, frightening and intense scenes.
In Five Nights At Freddy’s, you are looking through the eyes a security guard, and must stay alive against an onslaught of animatronics who want your blood. In the fourth game of the series, the player is a frightened child trying to fend off nightmare versions of the Five Nights At Freddy’s animatronics from their bedroom.
The game and video series has become so popular, that t-shirts, backpacks and school supplies with the characters are commonly seen in schools, including Hillcrest Primary School in Shawano. Edwards said there are two different sides of the characters.
“There is the soft fluffy teddy bear side of them, but then there is the behaviors and choices and things that they talk about and do, so that’s the side that we are talking about.”
Edwards says he understands that the characters are popular, and while he can’t tell parents what supplies or clothes to allow their kids to have, he wants them to be aware.
“If they choose to do that at home, that’s fine, but it is not a topic that we want to be discussing at school.”
In his email, Edwards also pointed out the youtube series “Jeffy the Puppet”, saying it displays sex, violence, profanity, alcohol, drugs and smoking.
“Annoying Orange” displays content that is lude, vulgar and frightening for kids. The talking orange visits with other talking fruits and vegetables, but in the end those talking fruits and vegetables get eaten, blended, sliced with a knife, or other violent acts. Edwards tells parents that the content also addressed sex, smoking, drinking and drugs.
“Bendy and the Ink Machine” has violent, and intense content.
Edwards also warned about the game “Hello Neighbor”, which has the person playing sneaking through a neighbors house, and avoiding booby traps while the neighbor chases that person with household items. As the levels progress,the content because more violent.
Edwards says he has not seen any direct behaviors at school that he is concerned about, but said he feels that while some parents may be okay with their kids viewing this content, others may not like the idea of their kids being exposed to it by other kids. He said it is not his place to tell parents what they can and cannot allow at home, but many parents told him that they did not even know these videos existed.
“It has been all positive, I have yet had anybody tell me that they took offense to it or disagreed.”
Edwards said the best advice he can give to parents is to keep a close eye on what their kids are viewing online, and said the parent-teacher relationship is important.
“We want to have a good working relationship with them. We want to be able to bring things to their attention, and want them to be able to bring things to our attention.”
Edwards said the content that these videos expose children to would normally not be school appropriate anyway.
