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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be shocked at those who went on strike today and took their kids along to hold the placards????

111 replies

Thruaglassdarkly · 01/12/2011 02:49

I am a teacher of 12 years on a break to look after my small kids. I'm married to a teacher also and we now live on one wage, which just about does us fine if we're very careful, so I feel quite lucky about that. Obviously, the pension cuts will affect us and we're not overly happy, but we are both against the idea of striking for many reasons, not least because it'll hurt many people - the kids, many parents who need to take a day off etc etc. We don't think that we should impose on others for our own gain, in short.
So, I have a lot of friends who are teachers who think otherwise. They took their kids on the protests today, took photos of them holding placards and put them on FB. AIBU to find this all a bit distasteful??? I think that these same children- should public sector workers get their way - will be facing a massive tax bill in years to come, way beyond our imaginings. Is it right therefore, to stick a placard in their hands when they are 5, 6 or so and photograph them "protesting"???? It seems a bit cynically exploitative to me and I'm so shocked that my friends have taken advantage of their kids in this way to make a political point. No flaming please - just reasoned debate. Many thanks.

OP posts:
redpanda13 · 01/12/2011 11:35

My father is a lecturer and we went on lots of marches in the 70's. I remember them being great fun and one of his colleagues brought along his Pyrenean Mountain dog for me to play with.
I would take DD on a demonstration but I would not allow her to be photographed with a placard. I guess the striker's children yesterday did not hold placards (sore little arms) but were given their parents for the photograph. Less the parents exploiting them and more the media. I would have told photographers to either take a photo of me and listen to what I have to say or take a hike.

unacceptablebehaviour · 01/12/2011 11:37

My DD (5) asked me why the teachers were striking and told me that her teacher had told her it was because the government was being very unfair on people who do the hardest jobs in the country and all the teachers were cross about it - I was LIVID!

I told her that the government have some very difficult decisions to make because the country is struggling for money and they have decided to break some promises that they made to the teachers about how much money they would give them. I said that it doesn't feel very nice when people break promises and that is why the teachers are cross and they are protesting which you should always do if you feel you are being treated badly but that I wasn't really sure if what the government have decided is a good thing for all of us in the country or not.

She was a bit bemused, not doubt the teacher's reasoning was easier to understand. But it's our job as adults to give children knowledge and therefore power, not to tell them how to think.

No, I wouldn't take my child to a rally any more than I would take them to an animal rights campaign, a feminist march, or a sunday school.

proudfoot · 01/12/2011 11:38

YANBU. I agree with you.

donnie · 01/12/2011 11:42

"I wouldn't take my child to a rally any more than I would take them to an animal rights campaign, a feminist march or a sunday school"

I would take my kids to all of these.

northernwreck · 01/12/2011 11:51

As a kid I was on lots of marches.
I agree with others who say that your parents affect you with their ideas and values in all sorts of ways.
In fact, I have been on demos and marches with family friends or friends parents as mine were not that vocal politically, so all the adults and older children in your life have an influence on you too.

Imo it is simply good grounding for questioning the status quo, and if children get this grounding it is actually a given that they will, when older, question the beliefs of the adults around them.
This is a good thing.
I don't share every value of my friends, parents or siblings, and that's because I have spent time thinking about the issues, rather than blindly believing whatever I am told by the media.

I think it's a shame that you don't want to protest for fear of "imposing on others for your own gain".
Good thing the suffragettes didn't feel that way!
Sometimes you have to upset the apple cart OP.

northernwreck · 01/12/2011 11:53

Just remembering shaking a collection tin for the miners at age 5! (Happy days!)

Pagwatch · 01/12/2011 12:06

Juila
Was that to me?

My dc are not christened and don't go to Sunday school. I am reasonably religious but I want them to chose for themselves. That have all seen me in church but I don't expect them to participate.

I say again. I don't have a problem with dcs attending and watching their parents protest. I don't have a problem with dc joining in when they actively chose to. I just think a small child holding a placard they can't read is odd.

But whatever makes sense to people. It's only my minor scruple.

FellatioNelson · 01/12/2011 12:09

Totally and utterly agree with Pag again. Sorry - boring but true!

LeQueen · 01/12/2011 12:26

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Pancakeflipper · 01/12/2011 12:29

I am more impressed with those on strike who went on rallies etc and took their kids than those who spent the day in the shopping centre doing Christmas shopping.

It affects families so why not take your family?

lecce · 01/12/2011 12:35

To those who said they don't mind dc attending but that they shouldn't carry placards etc: I can only speak for myself, but ds1 wanted a flag - he loves having a flag to wave. There is no way that I could force him to carry anything he didn't want to, and I imagine the same is true for most 4 year olds. Of course he didn't understand what it said etc and my explanation for why we were there was along the lines of what others have said - that I don't agree with some of the things the people in charge of the country are doing, and this is how we let them know.

Yorkpud · 01/12/2011 12:41

YABU - I think you should show children that you need to stick up for yourself if you believe in something strongly.

rockinhippy · 01/12/2011 12:57

YABU!!!

OrmIrian · 01/12/2011 13:00

yes yabu.

Of course children should be aware of such issues.

Haziedoll · 01/12/2011 13:05

Yabu. Ds1 (7) is aware of my political views I try to express my views in a non-biased way but that's quite difficult as obviously I believe that my views are right (left-wing). I think it's important that children are exposed to politics from an early age. I see far too many young adults who haven't got a bloody clue and would struggle to name the prime minister! They claim politics isn't relevant to their lives when they couldn't be any further from the truth. Get them interested young, it is very important to raise children who have at least a basic grasp of political principles.

LeQueen · 01/12/2011 13:09

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nofrikkincarbs · 01/12/2011 13:11

I saw a placcard on the news being held by a child of about 3 saying 'my mummy deserves a payrise'

It made my blood boil

LeQueen · 01/12/2011 13:15

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smallwhitecat · 01/12/2011 13:16

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lecce · 01/12/2011 13:20

But LeQueen, are you saying that children should be kept apart from all aspects of life until they understand the relevant issues? I'm sure there is some truth in the stream of consciousness you have written above but no doubt a similar one could be produced for children sitting in church - or even in school in some cases.

I don't think anyone on the thread has claimed that their young dc fully understand the issues, but their children were taking part in an event important to their family. That is what young dc do all the time, often not fully knowing what is going on.

hardboiledpossum · 01/12/2011 13:20

LeQueen when I was about 7 I saw a video on factory farming and decided from then on to only eat fish or free range meat. So I did stick to my principles.

LeQueen · 01/12/2011 13:24

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unacceptablebehaviour · 01/12/2011 13:25

lequeen that was hilarious! And you are so right.. also who ever said about self agrandizing is also right.

Although I'm not sure what I would have done if I had have passionately felt I wanted to rally myself and I had no childcare. After all, I took my DD to work with me yesterday and that wasn?t an ideal environment for a 5 year old either.

And on the point of preferring to see people striking rather than just Xmas shopping, yes ? agreed!

LeQueen · 01/12/2011 13:28

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Iggly · 01/12/2011 13:39

I don't think the children (the really young ones) will be "spiritually enriched". however there are people on this thread who've said that being exposed to their parents' strong political feelings did make a difference. It makes an impression and for some, that may well be lasting.