International teachers’ coalitions gang up against Bully: Scholarship Edition
Aside from the recent issues that faced Rockstar Vancouver‘s Bully: Scholarship Edition in the UK, the game apparently isn’t done yet courting some more controversy. This time around, teachers are urging retailers to not sell this controversial game. Find out more after the jump!
Two months ago the controversial game of Rockstar Vancouver faced issues with teachers in the UK. With news of the coming of Bully: Scholarship Edition (Wii, Xbox 360) to store shelves, a coalition of groups representing teachers from Canada, the United States, Britain, South Korea, Australia, and the Caribbean Canada have urged retailers not to sell the game.
Emily Noble, president of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, has spoken her mind regarding this matter, saying that they want the retailers to be responsible. Furthermore, she added that, “is this the kind of marketing that they want to be [doing], selling games that glorify violence?”
Noble noted that the game encourages the kids who play it to target other kids and be a bully to them. Aside from the kids that are ill-treated by these bullies, teachers as well suffer the same situation, making it difficult for everyone in the school setting.
But even banning the game won’t do any good says Michael Hoechsmann, an assistant professor at McGill University and an expert on the role of violence in video games. Hoechsmann added that:
As tempting as it may seem, I’m not so certain that banning this will somehow result in a more peaceful and more loving school population.
This young person being confronted with all that seeks the one remedy that he appears to have access to. If there was a peaceful schools committee at the Bullworth Academy, maybe Jimmy would have joined the committee.
In terms of the content of the game Hoechsmann has not found any compelling evidence that suggests that playing a video game filled with violence will lead to real violent actions.
Buy: [Bully: Scholarship Edition (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [Bully: Scholarship Edition (Wii)]