AIBU to say something even though it has nothing to do with me?

[Pleaseletitbenaptime]

I received a notification today via the primary school app stating that children in the year group above my DS need their parents to email in photos of their home and their child's bedroom as they will be doing some creative writing on their homes next week.

Whilst we are fortunate to live in a nice home I know that not all children at the school will and I know that if I had to do this as a child I would have been horrified due to my own home conditions. Not only that but working with families in the area where we live I know that poverty and the effects of it are very real and I would say that there already are noticeable disparities at the school due to the way the catchment boundary works.

As mentioned this has absolutely nothing to do with me, and I am fully aware that I could be projecting my own feelings on to this but WIBU to send an email in just saying that this could potentially cause some children and parents to feel very uncomfortable and maybe they could consider the children finding pictures of homes they like online/ imagining and drawing a dream home etc as another option?

I think I would email in - I find stuff like this really upsetting as it can really make kids feel different

I would feel the same as you. Its nice to think of others, maybe the teacher just didnt think. Im not sure i would email though because i would almost be afraid in case they think im just a trouble maker, im quite shy, but if you hvae the confidence to do it then do.

Yeah I'm the same opinion as you op I don't like this. Our school, in a pretty poor town really, has the habit of expecting parents to buy certain costumes to go to school in quite regularly. These things can be quite expensive and I always feel bad for the people who literally can not spare the money for that. They say make a costume! With what exactly? Materials that you buy? Photos of your home is really weird!

That is such a ridiculous assignment. How is a child living in a really run down house meant to feel?

I’d email the school with your concerns.

Absolutely send an email.

Lovely for those children with a nice house and bedroom to show off but no so great for those children who are living in harder situations.

I can just imagine this resulting in some children being subject to bullying if their home/bedroom doesn't come up to the standards of some of the other children.

Awful idea. Who ever thought of it needs a rethink and to understand how these things can impact on children.

I would. (Mind you, I formerly worked in governor services). I would start by emailing the head, acknowledging that it didn't apply to my own DC but explaining why I thought it was a bad idea. Because it is a terrible idea. You could, if you wish, cite privacy/security concerns as well.

As with anything, some parents will, others won't, regardless of the state of their home. I'd put money on less than half responding. It's really not a big deal - the teacher isn't going to comment on those who don't send anything in. It just helps to turn an abstract idea into something concrete.

Send that email please. Your completely right, I bet most of those parents are fretting about it.

I would for the disparity reasons but also isn't it a huge safeguarding risk having photos of children's houses displayed anywhere?

Yes, I think the school should have thought a lot more carefully about this. Creative writing about their homes is fine, but you're right about emailing in pictures. I remember being told to write about 'where you went on holiday' at primary school and the only kids who hadn't been anywhere were me and one other child. Neither of us were living in any kind of poverty - our parents were just hard-up that year - but we still both felt embarrassed and got quizzed by kids who couldn't comprehend the notion of not having holidays.

I would. That’s insanely tone deaf!

No yanbu and I agree with you. I hope you do email them. Nothing lost if you do! It’s a really thoughtless idea and I hope it gets scrapped.

Send the e-mail.

Agree with you and I’d have felt embarrassed about mine as a child too.

YANBU. I'd say something and suggest using a B&Q catalogue or something.

I'd email. And if it were my kid I'd find a fantasy homes bedroom of my kid's dreams to send in?

Send the email and refuse to send in pictures.

Surely they could find some online or on Instagram.

What tone-deaf, lazy teaching.

Where does this stop? Can we not discuss siblings for fear of upsetting an only child? Can we not discuss pets in case we upset children who haven't got any? It's all about HOW it's handled - differences can't be denied but can be handled sensitively.

@Nanny0gg Children love to talk about themselves. It's not lazy, it's about taking an interest.

I would 100% email in, the school should be aware of this situation themselves and that some children may not want to do this. What are they thinking

We can discuss anything. Providing pictorial evidence of the inside of a child's bedroom has other consequences, beyond those of possible embarrassment.

As you said, HOW it is handled is key. And a couple of catalogues and a glue stick for each kid to re/create a bedroom would have been far more in line with safeguarding principles.

Stupid assignment

Imagine being the poor kid and seeing the better off childrens bedroom

And

Being the better off child and seeing the not so well of child's bedroom and your there saying how wonderful your room is

Poor kids !

I like the idea as designing their own room and using their imagination

Email - awful idea! Bedrooms are a private space.

Interestingly this charity was set up by a teacher - might be worth sharing in your email.

zarach.org/

Dreadful idea on so many levels. Please do email.