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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is not an activity in primary school

223 replies

Summertime2006 · 19/09/2026 10:59

My son's class were asked to bring in a white plain tv as they were going to be doing designs. The teacher did not go into detail about these designs and what they would be about.

I asked my son if he had a nice day and just general conversation about what they are using the t shirts to design. I assumed it would be for an art project.
He told me that actually it was for geography and they were all designing t shirts for a climate protest.

I was a little taken a back because I thought schools were not suppose to get involved with politics or activism.

Now before people start, yes I think the climate is important and yes we all need to do our bit for the world. However I think there is a time and place and I don't think a primary school geography class is that place for the teacher to put it upon the children.

Aibu?

OP posts:
LittleBearPad · 19/09/2026 11:23

Ponoka7 · 19/09/2026 11:15

And a good majority will do C&C from Asda/Next and pick it up as part if their normal shop. Or, as is the norm around me, wider family/other parents will grab one.

Show quote history

But it’s still a T-shirt that wouldn’t otherwise be bought and which will chucked away before long.

CandyCrushLevel14809 · 19/09/2026 11:32

My concerns would be how they taught them about protesting. That’s quite different to awareness. What age are they?
PP said many people would pop a t shirt in with their usual Asda shop. Many people don’t go to supermarkets or into town. Depending on the amount of notice I’d have had to use Amazon, which would be ironic and piss me off.

Timeforachange26 · 19/09/2026 11:34

LittleBearPad · 19/09/2026 11:04

A climate protest seems a bit odd. Generally schools avoid political statements. It would be worth checking facts though as children can misunderstand from time to time.

This Surely it's not up to school to be " encouragi g" protests for whatever reason

Jk987 · 19/09/2026 11:34

He needs a bit more cotton wool to protect him from the real world.

Timeforachange26 · 19/09/2026 11:36

NameChangeScot · 19/09/2026 11:04

Is it a real protest or a fictional one for the activity?

I think it can teach a lot about being part of your community, standing strong for things that are important to you, different ways to be herad. It's probably one of the less controversial topics to use to teach this e.g. if it was stop the boats or trans rights.

Shouldnt tell the kids " what's important to them" though. Whatever cause you support should be personal choice only

NeverDropYourMooncup · 19/09/2026 11:37

I wouldn't worry, nobody's going to be glueing Y2 Sparrows to the runway tarmac.

We haven't got the money for gluesticks.

strugglingwithlife · 19/09/2026 11:37

YANBU

Arewethebadguys · 19/09/2026 11:38

Biscuitsforbreakfastt · 19/09/2026 11:03

YABU. My own kids were involved in Climate awareness groups and Earth days etc in primary school over 20 years ago. It’s hardly ‘activism’ by making them aware at a very young age that we should be taking better care of the only habitable planet we have. You’re being ridiculous.

All of this!!!

PinkiePipe · 19/09/2026 11:39

Yabvu. School is exactly the place they should be teaching climate awareness! This is likely to be one of the biggest challenges future generations will face.

It isn't politics, it is scientific fact.

user1471538275 · 19/09/2026 11:41

Agree it's a terrible message to send to children - buy single use rubbish to throw away to learn about saving the environment.

The one thing our children don't need is encouragement to buy rubbish for the sake of buying. They need the opposite - REDUCE, reuse, recycle.

HollyhocksandPeons · 19/09/2026 11:42

You are absolutely right. This is not an activity for primary or secondary or tertiary education. I doubt you can do anything about though. Don't criticise it at home thought - our children are so messed up about double-messaging. One thing said at home, another for public consumption. Let this one slide. Pick your battles.

Bloodysquirellls · 19/09/2026 11:42

Sounds like a great teacher!

squarecrow · 19/09/2026 11:43

It seems I’m in the minority, but I agree.

I think protesting should be about personal beliefs, not beliefs put on you by your teacher, and I think it’s something you would consider as a much older person. It’s not necessarily a safe activity either, so seems a bit irresponsible to me.

CandyCrushLevel14809 · 19/09/2026 11:46

PinkiePipe · 19/09/2026 11:39

Yabvu. School is exactly the place they should be teaching climate awareness! This is likely to be one of the biggest challenges future generations will face.

It isn't politics, it is scientific fact.

Climate awareness is quite different to a climate protest.

CandyCrushLevel14809 · 19/09/2026 11:47

Arewethebadguys · 19/09/2026 11:38

All of this!!!

Show quote history

OP says they were designing t.shirts for a protest.
I'm quite shocked at how may posters can't see the difference between teaching about awareness and teaching about protesting.

CountFucula · 19/09/2026 11:58

squarecrow · 19/09/2026 11:43

It seems I’m in the minority, but I agree.

I think protesting should be about personal beliefs, not beliefs put on you by your teacher, and I think it’s something you would consider as a much older person. It’s not necessarily a safe activity either, so seems a bit irresponsible to me.

In what way is it unsafe to design a t shirt?
They won’t be going on a protest with a primary class.

Cardhey · 19/09/2026 12:05

How ironic to protest again climate change whilst wasting resources on 30 T-shirts which will be binned. Idiot school.

IdaGlossop · 19/09/2026 12:08

We've just had the hottest summer on record. Climate change is nolonger theoretical. It's a positive that geography lessons are tapping into real issues. If the children had been asked to design a poster making the case for resignation, that would be the time to intervene.

squarecrow · 19/09/2026 12:08

CountFucula · 19/09/2026 11:58

In what way is it unsafe to design a t shirt?
They won’t be going on a protest with a primary class.

Edited
Show quote history

Protesting isn’t necessarily safe. If they were making T-shirts “pretending” to be involved in some other unsafe activity I’d think that was irresponsible too. I have a lot of strong beliefs and have never been on a protest. I wouldn’t appreciate the school encouraging my children to view protests as a fun activity, especially not when they haven’t chosen the cause.

Changeisstillpossible · 19/09/2026 12:12

I remember at school we'd to make a poster to advertise a shop, as if we were opening a shop.

None of us, of course, actually opened a shop.

Surely this is similar? Making a t shirt to wear to a protest but not actually going to a protest

Fiddlesticks1 · 19/09/2026 12:17

Chn are expected to learn about their environment and how things have an impact. Designing a T- shirt with a slogan which might be about recycling for instance is an exciting thing for a child to do. Whether they wear said t- shirt is down to you/ them. Is it promoting protest -NO. Is it promoting caring for environment and what we can do to help -yes.
Read the extract regarding primary curriculum.It doesn’t say design a t-shirt, it thankfully allows teachers to teach in a way that they feel will fit the criteria and enthuse the children.

To think this is not an activity in primary school
MellowSubmarine · 19/09/2026 12:19

Making children (/their parents) buy what is probably a cheap fast fashion white t shirt that probably won’t be worn again is a crazy way to campaign against climate change

Globules · 19/09/2026 12:21

Today's prize for the most ridiculous thread goes to...

Loving the creativity of that teacher! I bet your son has a great time at primary school each day if this is how they help children to learn.

ColdAsAWitches · 19/09/2026 12:23

squarecrow · 19/09/2026 11:43

It seems I’m in the minority, but I agree.

I think protesting should be about personal beliefs, not beliefs put on you by your teacher, and I think it’s something you would consider as a much older person. It’s not necessarily a safe activity either, so seems a bit irresponsible to me.

Climate change is not a political belief. It's real, it's happening.

TheEdgyMoose · 19/09/2026 12:24

I don't understand how you could possibly object to children learning about climate change and taking positive action to protect our planet.

I don't agree with them all having to supply a white t shirt that will probably never be worn though. My daughter's school took part in a national competition to design a sustainability themed t shirt but the designs were done on paper.