to copy in the other parents on an email about Operation Christmas Child

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

DD and DS1's school have decided to do Operation Christmas Child this year for the first time, and have sent a long, gushy letter home with a slip which we have to sign to acknowledge we have read, and return to the class teacher.

I am putting together an email response which I will send to the head and my children's teachers, explaining that it is not as innocent as it appears, pointing out the racist, Islamaphobic elements and the evangelism, and also pointing out that it is a very inefficient way of giving that does not support the communities receiving the boxes. I am asking that they re-consider and perhaps direct the children towards a more ethical and useful way of giving to people in poorer countries. I will include a link to an online article.

WIBU to cc the other parents in on an email like this, given they have all had a letter home from school gushing about the chance for the children to to think about those less fortunate and making it almost compulsory to take part? I am pretty sure most people will take the letter, and the project, at face value and fill the boxes with a warm cosy feeling, (or slightly grudgingly but feeling they sort of have to) not knowing how they are used etc.

I would keep the response between yourself and the school. Other parents can make up their own minds

God no. Totally inappropriate use oofthe email addresses.

But be loud in your disapproval in the playground if you want to. Talk to anyone who'll listen.

FWIW I sent a similar email to our head (no CC) when he proposed OCC and the idea was swiftly dropped. I was objecting on strictly "community school shouldn't get involved in an evangelical projecr" grounds so the harsher accusations weren't mentioned.

Fyi, SP who organise OCC are being shall we say vigilant about criticism on MN and there is some possible legal action brewing, so don't be surprised if this thread gets pulled.

Ah, didn't know that, thank you MrsHathoway !

We are actually abroad, and although schools are not officially Catholic, they are in practice. However the local equivalent of a Catholic diocese have actually asked local schools and Kindergartens not to take part and (although I am an atheist) I have put a link to their advice on the email to the school, because it will be the most influential voice locally I think!

OK no cc, but will spread the word!

Good that you hoghlighted your concerns, and i agree that you should not copy in other patents.
There are alternatives:
linktohope.co.uk/shoebox-appeal
and

Oops
And www.rotaryshoebox.org/?page_id=20
They both seem acceptable.

Sorry to be very lazy but I need to draft an email to my ds's school and with 3 month old ds2 I haven't had chance yet. I dont object to the Christian nature of the charity as a general point but was going to point them in the direction of linktohope.co.uk/about-us#do as an alternative. I don't suppose you might pm me a copy of your email so I can plaguerise it and send it to our head? This baby won't be put down and getting round to it myself is proving very difficult!

I meant I don't object to shoeboxes and a Christian charity but am concerned about some points I have read about sp in particular - for clarity!

If you know the parents I would Cc them in. The OP isn't stopping them from making up their own minds she is giving them information that they can use to make up their own mind. The school offering only one side is doing a good job of making people's minds up for them

I think sending a seperate e-mail to known parents is fine. It's just cc-ing that's a bit off.

How rude am I - didn't even say please! sorry can I blame the tiredness?!

Suspect Op's letter will be in german

Scheisse!

Always wondered how that was spelt!

I printed off some information I'd found online, popped in to see the head and the teacher who was organising it and very politely voiced my concerns. They were horrified and shortly afterwards all the parents received a text along the lines of 'It has been brought to our attention that OCC is not an organisation we may wish to support, therefore the shoebox appeal will not be going ahead'.
Which was a shame as I had provided details of several viable local alternatives.

Email I've sent is in German yep, but my written German is pretty flawed, so I have an English version which I got DH to translate and adapt; will get back on the laptop as soon as I can and PM the English version to you ch1a :o

If you know the parents I would Cc them in.

I would forward the mail to them, or bcc it.

Cc-ing, so the head can see, makes it look like they are part of the complaint, not just being told about the complaint. I think if I were cc'd in on something like that I'd be a bit annoyed about being co-opted into the complainer's posse.

I actually know at least 80% of the parents in my own children's classes - small community and the kids have been together since they were 3... There is no playground gossip situation to exploit at school as the kids here all make there own way home - I can catch the parents who have younger kids at Kindergarten though.

DS's school were doing shoebox appeals for OCC. I emailed the head and linked to a couple of articles and requested they reconsider and they haven't done OCC since.

• their own way home

Good point dhg - I have sent it without cc.

Holy moly I've just looked into Franklin Graham, the leader of Samaritan's Purse. Have also read the book they hand out to every child - which tells them 'you are shit, you will never be not-shit, your only hope is to admit it, go on admit how shit you are then god can forgive you. SAY IT'

He is v v v anti homosexuality, abortion etc. Very supportive of AIDS sufferers, organising volunteer workers to Africa etc, to spread the word of God and comfort AIDS sufferers, but never, never, EVER will he give out condoms to try to stop the spread of AIDS oh no because sex outside of marriage is a sin. Just stop sinning, sinners, you've brought this on yourselves.

MrsHathaway I've reported my post in light of having read your comment properly. Just in case...

You can only get done libel rumbelina if what you said wasn't true.

I think you're safe!

Here are the details.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs, not everyone can afford (financially, professionally or mentally) to defend a lawsuit. I just thought it was worth mentioning so that people were making an informed choice.