AIBU to be annoyed my DS will be getting "Beatboxing" music lessons at primary school

[OhLori]

Had a letter from son's school today. Apparently they will be getting "beatboxing" lessons from a specialist "beatboxing" teacher coming into teach his class. DS is 10.

For the uninitiated, beatboxing is that sort of spitting into cupped hands over a microphone thing, found in some rap/hip hop.

I just don't want my son to learn this rubbish at school, it does my head in when he occasionally does it in the house so the last thing I want is for it to be encouraged further by a 'professional' at school.

I am amazed that the school is financing this, but we live in a London inner city area, so I guess its seen as "cool" to waste taxpayers money on this crap.

Would I be unreasonable to have other appointments on that day e.g. doctors, or be sick? I don't think there is much point in giving my opinion to the school. They are not interested in parents' opinions.

This is a genuine AIBU post, I don't know what to do.

I think it's a brilliant idea. So many boys especially become disengaged from school and learning because they don't see it has any relevance or point.

Anything, anything they can do to keep some of those children engaged with education is A-ok with me.

YANBU.Load of chavvy crao if you ask me.

I've seen people beatbox live although that was a few years ago now, and yes, I paid to see it. It's a real skill. Saying it's not proper music is snobbery. It's great to offer children more modern and engaing ways of learning subjects.

There are things my son likes that I don't understand, we just have to accept that we are sad old farts who use to be 'it', but now we don't even know what 'it' is anymore.

snowy your opinion can be instantly dismissed, on account of using the word chavvy

If a kid is considering a career in music, there's more money to be found in hip hop than in more traditional genres.

OP! Where are you!? Come back and see if we've changed your mind?

Please don't keep him off school. He will get so much more out of it than you think. Sessions like these can help build confidence, raise confidence in one area and you raise it across the board. If he enjoys it and gains new skills it will enhance his life. Might open up a new love for music or help to form or deepen friendships and it will be fun for him. Life should be fun, let him do it. He will be richer for it and so will you.

I agree with the OP.

To my no doubt middle-aged ears it's not that far from making fart noises with your armpits.

My kids love it, both play mainstream instruments and sing for their school, so I don't think it will do any lasting damage.

Apparently Will Smith is brilliant at it. He could sway me..

UPDATE: Beatbox has been cancelled!

But I am sure if "Mumsnet Staines Massif" want to pay for their children privateley to experience this (as opposed to taxpayers' cash) there is now more availability ...

Why so smug OhLori? Weirdo.

I'm not a weirddo Fake, just saying there is now more availability for MN Stains" Massif" to pay for privately for what they are so enthusiastic about ! lol!!!!!

And agree with SilverBaubles "armpit farts" summary! Just my opinion. As worthwhile as anyone elses BTW, though you wouldn't think it from MN Massif response to my original post. Just sayin'. Anyway feel free to pay for these private musical lessons for your children, good luck.

Why was it cancelled?

And ... ignoring the personal remarks once again ... I admit I am Sooo glad the Taxpayer in my local borough (thats the single CheckOut Supermarket Girl living in a Hostel) is not paying for such.

Well, it's nice that you reduced our reasoned arguments to us being a "massif"

Good luck with secondary school in inner London. Distressingly multi-cultural.

There wasn't much reasoned arguments and alot of personal nastiness directed at me, so I make no apology there.

MN Massif is alive and kicking on several subjects, and if you don't "comply" well you have to take the personal shit.

ITs NOTHING to do with reasonableness IME, and I am talkind about threads in general.

But if you wanna pay for your child to learn BBoxing, and take private lessons which you are prepared to pay for, good luck, I would never pass comment. But I would eat my hat if any of the vociferous and angry posters did ... just sayin'...

I agree with the OP. "Beatboxing" requires no musical talent. They wouldn't teach it in a posh private school, or probably even a normal school out in the sticks, so why teach inner city kids this rubbish?

Not from me, mate. I was nice.

You seem a bit wound up about the school, and the borough.

Just saying

How did I miss this little gem of a thread.?
There really are a couple of rather narrowminded snobs on MN aren't there?

Man this thread is amazing.

It's a good thing checkout girl living in hostel tax payer is not paying for bboxing lessons. IMAGINE THE OUTRAGE

She is paying for it, already.

Inverse snobbery and accusations of racism via multiculturasm, not really anything to do with my original post, but people like to do that anyway, has good personal insult value.

OP

There were really very very few personal insult. Rather more of what you interpreted as such. No deletions, even though you obviously reported the thread to MNHQ. Reread it and you'll see.

Checkout girl probably doesn't reach tax threshold.

Maybe it's time to take a break from the thread OP, if it's causing you this much angst.

She's still paying for it, tax threshold or not, because obviously its through the public purse (e.g. council tax). Who else is paying for it?

But you are right Absy I am going to take a break from rest of thread. But OTOH I did not want to take it lying down so to speak. I wanted to let people know that this is a democracy, and we all have a right to our views, without being personally insulted (and that includes on MN).