British School District Threatens to Report Parents Who Let Kids Play Violent Video Games

Do schools have the right to regulate the video games your kids play at home? That's what a group of schools in Cheshire, England, is trying to do, and they're receiving some criticism for their efforts.

The Nantwich Education Partnership sent letters to parents at 15 elementary schools and one secondary school with a thinly veiled threat suggesting that if parents don't start monitoring their kids' time playing games like Grand Theft Auto, Gears of War, and Call of Duty, they could be reported to the police.

The letter states, "If your child is allowed to have inappropriate access to any game, or associated product, that is designated 18+ we are advised to contact the police and children's social care as this is deemed neglectful." The letter went on to note that playing the games and using social media sites like Facebook and WhatsApp can make children "vulnerable to grooming for sexual exploitation or extreme violence."

Reaction to the letter has been strong as parents voice their concern that schools are not only overstepping their bounds, but also that this could lead to parents reporting each other.

Margaret Morrissey of the pressure group Parents Outloud says, "So I absolutely get why they [the head teachers] are doing it — it's because children do need to be protected from technology. But to get the social services involved is an absolute disaster, because it starts telling parents that we don't trust you to be responsible for your children."

What do you think? Do schools have the right to police what kids do at home?