Or is school out of order

[mazu]

Dd8 (yr3) while sat at the table spied a box of Nestlé cereal on the table and announced she would not be touching any of it (it wasn't hers and wasn't offered to her). She then goes of to say she would not be buying anything from them as they are horrible people and goes on full blown attack on the brand and palm oil and orangutans. I'm sat there stunned at are very strong beliefs and thought perhaps she's seen an advert on YouTube kids about it.
On the contrary it turns out her at school they were taught about the evil that Nestlé is and that they were told to write letters to the president Mr Schneider to tell him they hate nestle because they damage forests and kill orangutans.

She then spent the entire weekend feeling guilty anytime she has eaten anything with palm oil chocolate, Nutella , bread, crisps I mean everything! She pretty much stopped eating by last night.

While I am up for teaching children about environmental and ethical responsibility at a young age AIBU to feel the school went too far? I made me feel quite angry that they could pretty much teach my child the politics that could shape her entire life and little ones are quite vulnerable and without a balanced view of the facts I do not want this to be the way my child is taught about issues. I want her to read and form her own opinions not spew garbage based on someone else's agenda. Bear in mind the issue here is now the Nestlé as I'm fully aware of the atrocities they have committed in the past.

Excellent post from @Piggywaspushed a thousand times this!

Wonderful job by teacher if you ask me! I would be very proud of my dd.

Parents like you and your wee group are the reason that so many teachers are frightened to do their jobs and are second guessing their abilities and ideas.

Side note, intensely despise the attack on my cereal as some people have their avocado on toast (read what's going on in Mexico) or as you take your second shower using that shampoo or a plastic bottle! @Yura you are very right. I also can't say I buy anything from Nestlé about from this childhood cereal which I can only get a hold of every few years. Bite me :-) 

Well, as you are ignoring it (which you still are!) I invite you to high;ight something which shows me you have responded... I can't highlight something whivh isn't there!

You are being bizarrely obtuse

The TA being on a parents Whatsapp would generally be very discouraged by employers...

As I said , easy peasy.If they are to be posted, contact the school via normal channels and ask that DDs not be posted. It really is that easy.

Then you can explain why and they may take your misgivings on board. Who knew... that's the usual way to air concerns with teachers?

Although, of course, the teacher will already know, because the Whatsapp using TA will have told her.

Also how annoying are threads lie this?

Aibu?

Yeah pretty much.

No I'm not.

There should be a new topic. I'm not being unreasonable I just want to rant. We've all been there.

Don't get me wrong I'm completely an advocate for teachers one of my parents was a professor at a very prestigious institution several of my family teach at high institutions and a few cousins teach secondary schools so it's very much a profession I have a HUGE amount of respect for.
My dad was also in the diplomatic core so I have lived in plenty of 3rd world countries where all the big companies have committed grave less publicised crimes. This is why I feel so strongly that if you are going to discuss the environment don't shame one shame them all. Believe it or not apart from said cereal I tend to boycott Nestlé have done so for years. Such a hypocrite aren't I but aren't we all. So until all of us walk to work, grow outlet own crops don't eat meat grow our own cotton, pritty much live of the grid. Pointing a gunfire at my singular misdemeanour is a bit hypocritical isn't it.

@Piggywaspushed actually it was the teachers way back in reception that encouraged the group to communicate last minute things. I only joined recently as I didnt have WhatsApp.

I think people miss the point seeking thoughts doesn't amount to me saying awww I get it you are right I change my mind. I take on board all opinions but that does not mean they will for my ideal does it? Missing something?

So yes I agree Nestlé have made questionable choices. But I'll still buy my guilty pleasure just as you use your bottle of shampoo:)

I'm heading out now. I love teachers peace and love 

I see your point to an extent but nestle are such an obvious and massive offender. Even in 'prestigious' universities they tend to study topics looking at one or two main examples to make it manageable.

From a teaching point of view it would be very difficult to facilitate a letter writing exercise to potentially thirty different companies.

Although nestle is the focus I wouldn't be getting my knickers in a twist until I had proof that the teacher had claimed no other company abuses the environment for palm oil. I would be amazed if this were the case. I'm sure pupils could research the other companies should they wish in their own time.

Do you know specifically that the introduction to the exercise wasn't 'some big companies do this, we are going to write to one of them'? You can't blame the whole world and list all their demeanours in one 45 minutes lesson, everyone would want to shoot themselves. The seeds of awareness are fine at this point.

Too many mums net posts:

OP: AIBU
Overwhelming majority: yes
OP: well, no I'm not. You are wrong.

Don't ask questions if you don't want answers. Your daughter is learning about where food comes from and the dangers of corporate greed.

You feel that it isn't that big of a deal and many corporations do bad things.

Maybe actually take some time and discuss this with your daughter. You can't be angry when you abdicate responsibility on these topics, and then be angry when someone else teaches her things.

You are angry that you actually have to have these conversations, when you just want to eat your cereal produced by a really horrible corporation in peace. If you support these corporations, you have to be able to stand by your actions.

Don't be mad that your daughter called you out on supporting a really terrible corporation.

I can't comment on Nestle, but I know Mr Schneider personally (not through Nestle) and he is the nicest man.
The idea of him being sent hate mail is really upsetting.

Is this actually for real?!

OP: AIBU
Overwhelming majority: yes
OP: well, no I'm not. You are wrong.

And I'm sick of posts like this, what's the point??? It's a free country, an OP is allowed to not change her mind. Although I do agree with the majority position, I'm not looking for the OP to eat humble pie.

RabbityMcRabbit she just wanted to drop in that she ‘knows’ Mr Schneider ‘personally’

Informing parents especially on hot topics prepares them for said discussions do you not think?
Do parents need 'preparing' to talk to children about their day?
I also do have older children and the schools have always informed and prepared parents via newsletters and various communications
That's interesting as no secondary school I've worked in or am aware of sends parents a list of topics which will be discussed so parents can prepare themselves to have conversations.

Gosh, some lessons we go off on tangents when students make links from literature to world events. How dare we discuss them without parental approval and giving parents time to make the required preparations in case a conversation happens at home.
I'm sure you teach to hopefully inspire young minds to be curious and hopefully do further research and develop broader views on the topics?
Yes.. and that links into parents feeling the need to be informed of topics in advance how?
Surely it's primitive to have a teacher knows it all attitude and children thrive when then learn both at school and home with parents supporting the hard work that you do.
Now you're stretching the point if you're seriously implying that not being aware of lesson topics means parents can't support learning.

What it comes down to is you're not happy with a topic and don't like the fact your child's come home and challenged something you do.

I'd get your facts straight before you went to the school op.

Great of her school. I'd be happy if my children were taught things like that at school

Writing letters expressing disappointment at a company's ethics is not hate mail. Asking them to justify their practises and what they will do.to change them is also valid.
If nobody did this companies would never get feedback on anything.

Its up to people to challenge crap immoral practices not support them.

There really isnt any defence for nestles conduct over many years. They are a morally reprehensible company profiting from the poor and uneducated, from animals and the environment. What's to defend ?

Mr S cannot be a nice guy as long as he condones immoral practices. He will get the feedback.he deserves.

This has made Mumsnet Madness on Twitter

I do see your point. Palm oil is a wider debate and I'm not sure children in primary always see past cuddly orangutans to the sustainable palm oil side or the alternatives. It depends how it's taught but I'm not a big fan of politicizing primary education to this degree. Children tend to cling to one point and run with that. General eco education is great but specifically targeting companies isn't theirs to do, really. Hmmm.

I agree. I read this article and thought it was relevant.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/the-reason-i-wont-boycott-palm-oil_uk_5bed8b99e4b07f6a97f8deef/

I’d be oober proud if that was my daughter.
Perhaps it’s not the school but your guilt for using these products.

Surely she can make her mind up with the info given. This was why some big business interests wanted to ban the advert. Trust her judgment and moral fibre.
Nestle also deliberately give new mums free powdered milk knowing that they will have to pay for it once their breast milk dries up.
Wherever possible I avoid their products!

lostinlondon yes. The bits the MD of Iceland and Greenpeace decided didn't make a good ad. It's a much wider socio economic debate too. But cuddly animals are headline grabbers. (He also sells other people's products containing palm oil)

Peter Brabek - Chairman of Nestle - is on video declaring that access to water should not be a human right. He said it's a resource, like oil, and should be marketed as such. I've boycotted their products since I saw it.

Kudos to the school and that teacher.
But have a gentle chat with your daughter to explain that there are masses of alternatives to Nestle. And a gentle word with the teacher to highlight the misconceptions.

Sooner kids understand what is actually in processed food the better. Maybe the next generation won't eat so much crap and be healthier.

Good on the school

I strongly suspect the letters won't be sent anywhere.

So the school has introduced her to the idea that you can make ethical choices as a consumer. They have introduced her to the idea that she has a voice, and can make herself heard in the "highest circles".

Well done them.