AIBU to think that this is political and should not be supported by a state school

[FlamingoCroquet]

(I have name-changed as this is very identifiying to any other parents or teachers from the same school. But I've been on here for 8 years)

DC's primary school informed us in the newsletter that the school is supporting a scheme to provide aid - specifically a backpack of items - to unaccompanied boys age 11-17 at the Jungle camp at Calais, in partnership with an organisation called Calais Action. They are asking parents/children to donate. This is to coincide with Refugee Week.

I'm very uneasy about this. I don't want to get into an argument about the whole migrant/refugee debate, but I feel that this is a political action and should not be supported by a state school. I am not against helping refugees in general, and would not complain if they were raising money for the Red Cross or Medicins Sans Frontieres. But I have major misgivings about supporting a group called Calais Action.

I'm thinking about emailing the school governors to raise my complaint, but I'm reluctant to be seen as that person who is anti-charity, when my DD has several years left at this school. What do you think?

So it's not political to support those who are experiencing delays in benefit payments?

Surely this kind of act teaches children compassion, humanity and the importance of not turning our backs on those in need. Exactly what primary school children should be learning about, particularly if they are not learning these things at home.

If the school supported a campaign to urge the French authorities to place those children in foster care in France, would that be political?

Of course they know about it. I've tried to explain to them about the civil war in Syria, but it's quite a complex situation for an 8-yr-old to understand.

And what about those 8 year olds who live in Syria? What do you think THEIR understanding of it is?

Most charities are political because if the country were perfectly run there wouldn't be any need of them.

Children are dying in Calais? Do they not have hospitals in France?

Ok, you really are badly informed.

I think you're not quite on the level OP. You didn't want to turn this into a refugee discussion but every single one of your subsequent posts does exactly that.

Our school's harvest festival donations go to the local food bank - would you see that as political OP?

No

But it supports people who are hungry because of failings in our benefit system, and speaks out to say that's what is happening. It supports people who should be supported by the state (as things are currently supposed to work). Surely that's political.

It also supports people who are hungry because of bad choices they've made - you could say that they have chosen to be in that situation - as you could say that about some of the people in the camps in Calais.

It also supports the children of those people who are hungry because of their bad choices - because meeting children's needs is basic humanity.

I don't understand why you have started thjs thread OP. You must have known the reactions you'd get so there was really no point was there?
The key is in the title Refugee Week and many many people will donate something for the displaced children. If you don't want to that's your perogative but your dc school is trying to help other children
I shall be giving something but I'm not wanting to start a thread to give myself a pat on the back. We are all people with feelings no matter where we come from or what shade our skin is and people are in need of compassion and help, they've already been bombed out of their Country. Can you imagine your dc snuggled up for the night and then the bombs start falling from the sky.

Can you explain, OP, what YOU understand to be the meaning of "political" in this instance?

It sounds as though you actually mean contentious.

you still haven't answered the question as to WHY exactly schools supporting 'political' charities is wrong.

The children in Calais are terrified of the French authorities because they beat and tear gas them.

If you want to blame someone for the children not claiming asylum in France, blame the French authority's treatment of the children.

Did you see this young boy's story on C4 news?

LMAO also at Medcins Sans Frontier being apolitical! One of THE most political charities, and on a global scale too!

The only one I can think of which actively avoids any contentious affiliation is Alcoholics Anonymous.

A state school is itself a political entity operating within a political context. I don't see how you can purge politics from education, and in fact I think it is a crucial element. I don't mean party politics. The Calais camp and wider migration issues seem to me to be perfect subjects for discussion in schools. Or perhaps we are right to be so ashamed of the shitty world we have created that we find it unbearable to discuss it with our children.

And what about those 8 year olds who live in Syria? What do you think THEIR understanding of it is?

Eh? I don't understand your point. Someone had accused me of thinking that my children should not know about it. I was just explaining that they had got that wrong. I talk to my children about suffering in other countries. I'm not the monster some of you seem to want to make me into.

Also many refugees want to come to the UK because they speak English, not French.

Maybe have a think about why that is.

Children are dying in Calais? Do they not have hospitals in France?

Oh my fucking god!

Are you seriously that ill informed? Ignorant? Oblivious or just privileged?

Yeah, they DO have hospitals in France, but NO they can't cope with ALL the refugees because their healthcare system, like any healthcare system, was not designed for that.

Hence the need for aid.

Liz Clegg, who has become very well known as the 'pied piper' of the jungle, becoming a mother figure to these boys, is a very dear friend of mine.

Please watch this
And then maybe you'll understand why these kids need backpacks.

Liz's personal FB page has been highlighting the desperate need for supplies for women and children, as donations are drying up. Just send a bloody backpack to the school ffs. These are CHILDREN, who have lost everything.

How is the bloody food bank not a political issue? Why the frig do you think they exist in the first place?

This is making my head hurt.

The Calais camp and wider migration issues seem to me to be perfect subjects for discussion in schools.

I agree. For discussion, but not for being told what to think/believe.

Yes children are dying in Calais. They die or get badly injured attempting to cross the Channel. They get battered by police during their attempts too.

who is telling the children what to believe? they are saying 'here are some people who have nothing, lets give them some of the surplus we have' thats not telling them what to think. thats being kind to people in need. which i'd bloody hope is something all parents and schools teach!

LMAO also at Medcins Sans Frontier being apolitical! One of THE most political charities, and on a global scale too!

^ Lmao at that bollocks.

you get more for your money from grassroots charities than you do from the big ones, it's generally a better bet to give to them. Have you seen the salaries of some people that work for the big charities? Absolutely sickening. I've worked for charities for most my life.