To send back that Jubilee book?

[YahBooFucks]

My DS came back with the Jubilee book this week. I didn't know anything about it (the Jubilee wasn't something that I was remotely bothered by) but apparently every family with a primary aged child is getting one. I'm massively annoyed by this book... It strikes me as an enormous waste of money, especially at a time when so many people/organisations/schools etc are struggling. I also hate having patriotism shoved down my (and my kids') throat. But it's mainly the money...

WIBU to send the book back (haven't figured out to whom yet. I'm guessing not the queen) with a note saying 'no, thank you'?

They cost £12 million

Sending it to the education minister might pose a problem, the last but one only lasted for 24 hours before she resigned! You might need to address it To Whom It May Concern.

I would compost the book, compost is a good thing and we could use more of it.

Sell the book on eBay and send the proceeds to the campaign group Republic

Also email your MP.

A quick point about how else the money could have been spent - there is a scheme run by the Book Trust called Bookbuzz that schools can sign up for yearly in which students get a free (to them - the school pays £3 per student) book. They choose the book (from a carefully curated list of 17 titles) and it's theirs to keep forever. My experience of the scheme is that lots of the children love it, and really treasure their chosen free book. This makes much more sense to me.

I have primary aged DC and DS loved everything about the Jubilee so would love a book but we weren't given one.

@Dita73 glad you are so behind the idea! Want to join me?

To those in England (no clue about the other countries in the UK) who are saying they haven't received a book... We literally got ours yesterday so I'm guessing the roll out has been slow in places.

@YahBooFucks sadly my children are no longer of school age but i would go one step further with a public bonfire and make sure the press were informed. That’ll tell them. They’ll think twice in future before messing with you

@Dita73 book burning isn't my bag, unfortunately, but thanks for the kind suggestion.

It’s a lovely book and I’m keeping it for future generations to look at. Each to their own.

They'll all end up in skips anyway. All your cool stuff does, when you die. No benefit to future generations, just more landfill.

Donate to a charity shop. I'm sure you won't be the only one that feels that way. The money could have been better spent to support people struggling with the cost of living.

Of all the debatable 'wastes of taxpayers money' this is a tiny drop in the ocean. I think you just want to make an anti royalist point.

Let’s face it, they have had their fair share of huge shocks lately, they should be used to them.

I agree with you OP and felt the same when DD brought hers home. At a point when many families are having to cut out entirely fun things like clubs and days out, if not needed shoes and extra uniform etc, if they'd given each child the cost of the book it would have enabled them to get something they really wanted. Many of those kids won't have had a treat for ages. It's a kick in the teeth to get something new which really isn't what they want.

It symbolised for me the way UK society is going - spaff 12 million away on something no-one really wants or needs because it's something to do with rich people (the Queen, who I respect herself, but her as a symbol of a rich elite monarchy), whilst kids are literally going hungry and families struggling to pay petrol costs and for food.

They're not even very good books. Far too much text per page and DD got quite bored.

I understand where you are coming from op. When so many people are struggling to feed their dc and then a book which would have cost a lot of money is given to every primary aged child.
Maybe keep it as a mark of history but still write and complain to whoever had it made.

I think from a child's perspective - they'd wonder why they're getting a shiny and expensive looking new book from the school when they don't have enough equipment, can't afford to go on a school trip and can't get new school uniform or - for those struggling the most - can't get enough to eat.

I bet they'd wish they could have had something new they really needed instead.

When you're in a school that desperately needs investment and where the buildings are falling down it really does feel like a kick in the teeth that they're not willing to invest in schools but they are willing to spend money on this.

It's the juxtaposition of the day to day grinding lack of investment which is obvious despite the best efforts of teachers and TAs and children being told and getting accustomed to not having stuff. Then suddenly money - that we've been told ISN'T there for school buildings or SEN or CAMHS support for children or all the many many other things that are needed - is found for a book about the Queen. Really?

The CAMHS waiting list around here is 3 years. 3 YEARS children who desperately need help are waiting. But let's spend millions on a book.

My dd and l thoroughly enjoyed reading this together
Pretty sure no-one will care if you just charity shop it op.

Did anyone else get given the silver engraved Jubilee medal? All the kids in our school got one, they were beautiful

I don't know about the book, my daughter is secondary school. But don't you think in the future your child may look back and celebrate that they lived through lockdowns, wars and the jubilee, it's a bit of history. I know I look back at mugs and coins I received in the 70's not really knowing the significance at the time, but I do now.

Wars?

This is the steel medal we got, as well as the book

Well Ukraine is ongoing, there's bound to be another by time our kids grow up no?

The school name is also engraved on the back which I thought was lovely