What do you think about school finishing early for the football?

[RequestInUse]

That really. This letter comes home Monday saying this;

*"Football is like marmite..... From time to time.... Very Important matches involving the England team are held in school time and this can cause big problems for families who value football highly...... Therefor for this match only we have made these 3 options....;

1. Collect child at 1:20pm onwards so can settle as a family to watch kick off.
2. Collect at half time, between 2:30-3:00 so adults can watch the while of the match and still collect children.
3. Collect at normal time.

All children in school that afternoon will have a choice of activities, either ther watch the while match or arts and crafts."

*somewhat shortened

I'm a bit stunned by it personally.

I'm not overly against them putting the match on in school, if they really want to, but collecting early seems a bit harsh on those who can't be. If attendance / one rule for one etc but put to one side. I'd say It's quite obvious an amount of kids picked up early won't be going home to watch the match.

*be put

I just find it a bit of a piss take when the school are constantly banging on about lessons ergo "vital education" missed when DCs miss 3 days at school due to family holiday, but it's okay for a game.

FFS - how bloody ridiculous - I'd be livid

I don't like it. It doesn't sit right with me. I think this kind of "can't live without football" attitude we have in the UK contributes to the hero worshipping of footballers, many of whom turn out to be racist, wife beaters, misogynists, child abusers and rapists. Then people tie themselves In knots to victim blame or think of any reason to excuse their precious hero's terrible behaviour.

I know this seems like an extreme view, but I say this as there was a thread about Adam Johnson a while ago and it was discussed in depth how the hero worshipping of footballers has no doubt contributed to his child victim's traumatic experience, she has been outed, approached in public and ostracised by thousands. For being a victim of child sex abuse. It's almost like, because someone scores goals for England, they should be able to do what the hell they like. It made me view football from a whole new perspective, and I've realised that there is a pathetic clingy attitude to it - a sport which just seems to be enthralled in violence, and full of criminals - and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see how this damages society as a whole.

I don't think this kind of thing promotes a healthy attitude towards hobbies, saying "it's so important, you don't need to be in school" is all kinds of fucked up. Considering schools go ape shit if you take your kids out for a days holiday, and penalise children who have not had 100% attendance, I think this sends a terrible message.

My scholars a school have made it a treat for the year 6s to watch. My sons fuming, he hates football. It's a long term and there's no reason why an hour or so not doing school work will harm them, unless you are pathologically averse like my kids

My sons school....no idea what happened there

For a group match? Way over the top. If it was the final or even semi final (given England's record in semi finals) I could understand. As it is, I agree with pp saying it makes a mockery of the If You Miss A Day, Your Child Will Be A Loser In Life approach taken to other attendance issues. It isn't a good message.

Pinky there is something to all that. And "doesn't sit right" fits.

When the school charge parents a fine for taking their DCs to Archeological or artistic sites on family holidays, but think it's fair or "good fun" to drop education for an afternoon of TV, then that is double standards.
My DD has no interest in football whatsoever but has no choice but to sit through a whole afternoon of sport. Yet if I told the school I was going to pick her up after lunch and take her to the local park to excercise and get some fresh air I would be the one in trouble, not them.

You only live once, i have one sons school whos sending them home early, the other has completely ignored the football and its a shame because the school, that have completely ignored it is the one whom my son is at and he adores football. Its a one off.

And it doesn't make any difference whether it's the final or not. Are schools going to do this if it's a Brit in the finals at Wimbledon, or the Grand Prix? Missed lessons are equally important whether initiated by the parents or by the school.

You could always sky+ the match then they can watch after normal lessons at school.

DH's work have told them all they can leave early to watch the match if they wish and trust that they will make the time up over the working month.
DH is club not country and said he's stopping where he is

Just out of interest since it's a 2 o'clock kick off are schools that normally finish pre 3:30 gonna let out late so that pupils get to watch the whole match?

Shall we take bets on this being a discussion on Matthew Wright in the morning???

hate football myself but if i was a kid I would be so happy

So bring in school is more important than being home ill,family time etc but not football? Really?
And what allowances will schools be putting in place to ensure families who dob't care about football can have time off to do the stuff they like to do?
It's a game, people - if you are at work it in school the leisure/ hobby stuff has to wait till you get home.

Match is supposed to finish at 3.45pm, but have to take into account any extra time. So I have to pick up DS3 at 3.20pm then sit around twiddling thumbs till God knows when.

Extra time will only be a few mins, inabizzlefam. It's just time added on so you won't have long to wait.

I would be well chuffed if my dc were still young enough to need collecting from school.
Great to hear school leadership being flexible

Muddlingalong lets see, you may well be right.

I think it's outrageous. For a football match?! How is that important enough to miss school? If the teachers took an afternoon off to watch Andy Murray play in a tennis match and asked for students to be collected early there would be outrage. Rightly so. It's a game

I would love it if a school on the Isle of Wight were doing this. So would Jon Platt no doubt.

So much for 'a single day of education missed is the end of the world'.

Children who dislike football are not adversely affected, and children who enjoy it, get to see it. Win win.

As I said on the other thread this teaches children that men's sport is important and that football played by men is very important. I think that does affect children and the view of themselves.

this can cause big problems for families who value football highly.....

Is the head a fanatical footie fan? Or are they being lily-livered in the face of football-related truancy?