to be annoyed by school's attitude to Olympic Torch Relay?

[fuckbucket]

The headteacher is known to have been very annoyed when the route was first announced, as it passes directly outside a well-known public school also in this town, but misses our comp. by about a quarter of a mile. He sent a rather petty, spiteful letter to the local press about it at the time. All the local primaries seem to be sending the entire school to cheer as the flame is carried along the High Street. But at big school, apparently only three out of every tutor group of 30 are being sent to represent the school when the torch relay travels through the town. AIBU to think it would not have been impossible to just insist that children sitting exams stayed, and let the rest have an hour off? It's not as though there's going to be another Olympics next year (please god no...)

I think schools are in a tricky situation here, as whatever they do someone won't be happy.

My boys' small village primary decided it was too difficult to get the children to the nearest town to see the torch, so have decided instead to close for the day, so we can take them.

Which would be lovely - if we a) cared about the olympic torch, and perhaps more importantly b) weren't at work.

EvilTwins so sorry you won't see you friend do his proud moment thing.

fuckbucket. Can I take time off teaching your kids to take my kids to see the torch then? (hypothetical - I don't expect I actually teach your kids)

It is coming right past my DD's nursery. No mention of doing anything special/going outside to wave yet but I hope something is arranged.

It won't be an hour either, official advice is to get to the route at least an hour beforehand, and then you've got to fight your way back through the crowds.

x-post.

Yeah - it's a bugger. He has agreed to come and talk to the 6th formers at school about the experience though, and will wear his special outfit and bring his torch, so I will get him to run around the school car park in a re-enactment.

Ahem... See my aibu about this very same subject. Complain to school and get everyone else you know too.

YABU. Most people, particularly those who are supposed to be in work or school, will not get to see the torch.

Can't quite see your school's logic in that one EndoplasmicReticulum! Nobody wins at all. Unless the head/staff fancied a day off

I am going to have to google your nn. Will I regret it?

Posted too soon. Our school has changed their minds and all yrs 7 8 9 and 10 can go. yr 11 is doing exams so can't.

Sorry DameHermione, I've been doing quite a lot of RL recently, I'm not surprised I'm not the first AIBU on the subject though.

x posted. What year is the DameHermione-let?

fuckbucket - I think your suspicions may be correct about head wanting the day off. They've shifted a training day. Which is a pain for those of us who had already arranged stuff around the previous date.

My nickname is completely googleable. Not rude in the least.

DD2 is yr 9. DD1 yr 11. I didn't get round to actually phoning school (work got in the way) but apparently lots did.

Unlike mine... might change it back now that the Support for Sweary Nicknames thread is well established.

Good luck to dd1 DameH.

Thanks. Much appreciated.

we have problem here too,primary can have time off secondary can't, but some roads shut so buses are in a mess.

Hands up who wishes the French had got the bloody thing to organise instead?

Update if anyone's interested Head has backed down, whole school can go if they want.

Cool.

Whole of DCs school are going to see it...up close.

I suspect they will be sadly disappointed.

The whole thing is a load of crap. Your kids have better things to do in school.

Our head's gone in the opposite direction - we are taking the entire school (400ish kids) on a 2 mile cross country hike to the nearest place the torch passes. Really looking forward to that piece of logistics!!