Canadian teachers are … [trying] to stop stores from selling an updated teen video game … Bully: Scholarship Edition, produced by Vancouver-based Rockstar Games, pits a 15-year-old student against other students and teachers. "The concern is that it is glorifying violence, [that] it is glorifying bullying," Emily Noble, president of the Canadian Teachers Federation, said yesterday.
At the University of B.C., curriculum studies associate professor Don Krug said trying to get stores to stop selling the video is just a quick fix … Instead, suggested Krug, caregivers, educators and others should use the game-playing experience to talk about the behaviour. "It is not going to go away," he said. (Source: The Providence
)
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Lost in the article is a description of what the Bully video game is all about. The main character is not a bully himself, but rather trying to defend himself against bullies at his new school. The game does give players freedom to choose their actions (ie to attempt to stop bullying or to become a bully themselves), although it punishes players harshly for immoral actions in the game, such as picking on females or children.
What is your opinion of this game, and the teachers’ protest? Is it appropriate for teens to play (the game is rated "T" for teen, meaning suitable for ages 13 and up)? And is this the best way for the teacher’s federation to spend their time?
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