Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
bathdragon · 20/09/2026 18:21

You are all delusional this is brainwashing at it's finest

inappropriateraspberry · 20/09/2026 18:56

I doubt they are going out to protest. It will be an in class thing, completely private and a good way for discussing what protests are for, whether they work etc.

Swanfeet · 20/09/2026 19:18

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?

After your first paragraph I was all ready to say of course you’re not being unreasonable…how on earth are you supposed to find a white tv to take in and how would you carry it there!! 😂😂

Bluepiano · 20/09/2026 19:19

About a decade ago, I did a mock climate change protest with my year 5 class. We made placards, posters and made up chants. We did the protest in the playground in front of the school. It was great and the children were really engaged. It came at the end of a
unit which included learning about man made climate change. There is an overwhelming scientific consensus that human activity is the primary cause and it is children who are going to be most affected by it. The children in my class were very eloquent in explaining they felt
helpless to do anything about it and had no way to express their anger at the people in charge. That’s why I decided to let them do a protest.

MandSJaffaCakesRule · 20/09/2026 19:20

You'd hate my kids school then, they studied Greta Thumberg, have written protest letters to Donald Trump about standing rock pipeline, written stories from the pov of a protestor at the drowning of Capel Celyn and writen speaches to rally the troops as if they were William Wallace and that's the only ones I've known about.

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 20/09/2026 20:14

IamNatashaSparaks · 19/09/2026 11:05

The ironic thing is that many parents probably either had to drive to buy the T-shirt, or ordered it on Amazon.

Just another wasted tee shirt that probably end up in the bin and landfill.

Not exactly a great idea. They would have been better with a poster on recycled paper.

LidlToffeeYumYums · 20/09/2026 20:53

Assuming they aren't going to take children onto the roads and actually stage a protest, I don't think this is so bad, and should be seen more from an education angle instead of an activism/political one

Sampra · 20/09/2026 21:00

I don't think this is too bad. I would argue that as long as they are not protesting and are instead taking the shirts home etc, instead of actually protesting, it is acceptable and a fairly creative educational activity. Would be great if schools could fund the shirts though let's be honest haha

Yourcatisnotsorry · 20/09/2026 21:19

The irony of ruining 30 t shirts for this exercise (probably bought specifically!).

Annoyedbyhusband · 20/09/2026 23:08

This is an activity that has been going on since the 80s, I think we designed posters for anti littering, I remember doing stuff around protect the wildlife and project on the WWF. Climate change is the latest environmental concern, so its topical and current and I doubt the school was going to take them on a march.

askmenow · 21/09/2026 03:02

What a waste of clothing! Make posters with paper that can be recycled. Teachers shouldn't be so heavily, and in this case misguidedly, into politics. Indoctrination starts so early. A T-shirt that will likely never be worn.

Purpl · 21/09/2026 04:28

In the 70s at primary school we were also taught about saving planet resources i dont see any isdue.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 21/09/2026 09:14

Is it misguided to teach children about the need to look after the planet, @askmenow?

Even children can learn, in an age appropriate way, about politics - after all, it does affect their lives just as much as it affects adults' lives. Indeed, one could argue it affects them more, as they will be living with what the politicians do or do not do for much longer than we will.

RP2211 · 21/09/2026 09:29

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.

It would be to recognise climate change. Anyone who thinks this is an issue is ridiculous.

RP2211 · 21/09/2026 09:32

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?

You need help. It's an activity to highlight climate change. Absolutely bore off and get over yourself.

notanothermother · 21/09/2026 10:25

I feel like primary school geography is the exact perfect place to learn and introduce the idea of activism and climate change? When is it appropriate if not there? They didn’t go make political statements about war, question sexuality, religion or gender identity? Which could all be seen as controversial. We are all against climate change no? Unless you are a secret billionaire oil tycoon or something. They made a t shirt probably saying save the trees… it’s a pretty safe step into enlightening children that bad things are happening around the world and people should stand up for what they believe is right.

LilacMeadows123 · 21/09/2026 10:26

Moveoverdarlin · 19/09/2026 11:04

Of all the things to get worked up about this is not one of them.

You’re being absolutely ridiculous.

Completely agree, ridiculous

ClarkeFangirl · 21/09/2026 18:16

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.

Whether parents are picking them up or having them delivered, the sustainability of this activity is still poor. No one will be spending on a nice ethically produced, made to last, tshirt. It's an idea that should have been considered for about ten seconds then dismissed. OP is NBU.

Timeforachange26 · 21/09/2026 18:37

Purpl · 21/09/2026 04:28

In the 70s at primary school we were also taught about saving planet resources i dont see any isdue.

Did you have to buy new clothes that may have been shipped across the world to do it though. Therefore using not saving resources

inappropriateraspberry · 22/09/2026 18:51

I would use an older white school polo shirt, there’s always one that’s a bit tatty or stained or getting a bit small. (That’s of the uniform is white t-shirts, but most are.)

Timeforachange26 · 22/09/2026 18:59

inappropriateraspberry · 22/09/2026 18:51

I would use an older white school polo shirt, there’s always one that’s a bit tatty or stained or getting a bit small. (That’s of the uniform is white t-shirts, but most are.)

Both my primary aged GC wear white button down shirts( different schools)

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/09/2026 21:02

The points about waste and sustainability are well made.

The school could hand out t-shirt shaped and sized paper shapes for the t-shirt design.

DraigCymraeg · 22/09/2026 21:09

DogAnxiety · 19/09/2026 11:01

Yes, very. You don’t have enough to worry about.

Nonsense.
This is politics - teachers and schools should be impartial.
Anybody who thinks otherwise is wrong.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page