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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think school is unreasonable? Torch related....

50 replies

DameHermione · 14/05/2012 19:30

olympic torch is passing through.

School have 'selected' a few pupils to go and watch/wave flags etc. The rest of the 1000 odd pupils aren't allowed to go.

AIBU to agree with dd that its not fair?

Its walking distance from school (secondary). So wouldn't need to bus or herd then
I'm considering a phonecall.

OP posts:
Losingitall · 14/05/2012 19:31

I'm same as you. My DS are in different schools bit the route is about 2 minutes walk from both schools. As of yet they aren't being let out to watch. Let me know how you get on?

WorraLiberty · 14/05/2012 19:32

YABU

It's normal for schools to ask a few pupils to represent the school on occasions

Not ask the entire bloody school to rock up Grin

Sirzy · 14/05/2012 19:32

Im not sure. It seems unrealistic to try to take all 1000 along really.

bigTillyMint · 14/05/2012 19:32

That's a shame - once in a lifetime experience for them. Why don't you call to find out their rationale?

TidyDancer · 14/05/2012 19:33

On the strength of what you've said, it sounds spectacularly unreasonable. And I'm not even that bothered about the torch relay.

Have they said why? I can understand them not wanting to supervise 1000 pupils, but they should have offered a way around it, such as parents volunteering to help, etc.

bigTillyMint · 14/05/2012 19:33

Well it could be a huge bunfight, but it depends on how well the school manages the children's behaviour.

Original poster
DameHermione · 14/05/2012 19:34

I imaging half of them wouldn't want to go. The ones that do haven't been given the chance to.

OP posts:
Sunscorch · 14/05/2012 19:34

You want the school to take all one thousand pupils out on a walk to look at someone run past with a torch, and then walk back again?!

You're not unreasonable, you're insane.

ChopstheScarletduck · 14/05/2012 19:37

I agree it would be insane.

Our senior school is closing early that day so children have the option to go and watch. Not sure what the infants and juniors are doing though, so still not sure if. Will be going!

LaurieFairyCake · 14/05/2012 19:37

I don't think school should take them but I do think if their parents want to then they should.

No matter how much I can't be arsed much with the Olympics it's still an "I was there" experience for a kid.

TidyDancer · 14/05/2012 19:38

Tbf, I bet they all would want to go to get some time off school.

It depends whether you are expecting the school to take them all, or allow them all to go. If it's the latter, YADNBU.

I think if you're going to contact the school, you will need to provide a solution as to how more children can viably go.

I would question how these chosen few children have been picked though, it should be some form of lottery as to who gets to go if they really are only going to take a few.

SquishyCinnamonSwirls · 14/05/2012 19:38

The torch is starting in our town from our school and all of our pupils are welcome to come out to see it. If it had been elsewhere in town we'd have arranged for some way for them to go and see it. I think it's an important opportunity as most people have been unable to get tickets.

sugarice · 14/05/2012 19:42

Yeah Smile we've had that letter today from ds3 who's 12 The letter says 400 places have been allocated Shock. When I asked ds2 [14] if he'd had a letter his response was a withering look and "why would I want to stand and wave a flag at a man carrying a torch?"

Sirzy · 14/05/2012 19:44

So they have to arrange for half the pupils (so still 500) to go and arrange for another 500 to have something to do in school as lessons cant go ahead as normal with half the pupils missing.

What time of day is it happening? If its first thing or last thing then a shorter day may be worth suggesting but otherwise I cant see how it would be logistically possible

mynewpassion · 14/05/2012 19:45

You and which army are going to help maneuver them to and from the location and school?

Epic YABU.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 14/05/2012 19:45

You can't blame the school for not wanting to take 1000 pupils off site to watch it, it would be a logistical nightmare. But they should allow parents who want to to take their children out. I guess they would have to arrange permission slips or something if they were to go on their own, the school wodl be responsible for them otherwise because its school time.

Theglassishalffull · 14/05/2012 19:45

If it's any consolation we as a school will to go see the torch we are leaving by 8, have to be there by half past 8 and wont see it until 10:30.

bigTillyMint · 14/05/2012 19:46

sugarice Grin

PurplePidjin · 14/05/2012 19:46

Getting them there wouldn't be a problem. Getting them all back in? Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!

GetDownNesbitt · 14/05/2012 19:48

Comes past ours on a Saturday, thank God.

accidentalchickenkeeper · 14/05/2012 19:48

Ds's high school has got the afternoon off to watch the torch go past. It will go right past our house which is quite exciting Smile

rosy71 · 14/05/2012 19:50

I would imagine that your dd's school has been allocated a certain number of places at a specific location by the local authority. Therefore, it's not the school's decision at all. You can't just decide to take 1000 children somewhere on an occasion when there'll be loads of people around.

Nanny0gg · 14/05/2012 19:51

Our LA are giving parents permission to take their DCs to see the torch (it's not walking distance from school) but as it's pretty early, children have to come into school after.

needsachange · 14/05/2012 19:57

Ds's school (primary) wanted to take the whole school but the head didn't feel it wasnt feasible and I have to agree, so he has given permission for any pupils that Want to see the torch to arrive late to school'.
It passes at 9 13am so it doesn't affect the school day to much.
I'm all for it!

Chubfuddler · 14/05/2012 19:59

Our school is laying on coaches for the entire school, except year 11. Lessons are cancelled until 11am. But that is only 300 pupils.

I think it's a shame they aren't allowed to go. They'll never see it again.

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