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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

school cancelling lessons to watch England World Cup

173 replies

Balcanoona · 14/11/2022 19:34

Is this right? It’s the match on Monday cancelling lessons from 1pm so the students can watch the Iran vs England game

OP posts:
CopOut27 · 14/11/2022 21:04

MN ranges from:

  • Schools were far too late to shut down during COVID
  • They shouldn’t reopen its not safe
  • Its not fair my kid is home schooling when everyone is a key working
  • AIBU to take my kid out of school on holiday/to see the Xmas lights/because they do nothing the last week of term
  • etc.

Slight rumour they might watch England in the World Cup and we have another teacher bashing thread.

Curta · 14/11/2022 21:05

RampantIvy · 14/11/2022 20:25

A football match is 90 minutes, with 15 half time, it's not a whole afternoon.

It was a "whole afternoon" at DD's secondary school. They had four periods of one hour before lunch and one after lunch. So it would have meant a whole afternoon off.

Yes, so you've pointed out that's it's actually only 1 out of 5, so 20% of lessons, as opposed to 50%.

shabs05 · 14/11/2022 21:08

Our primary normally offer the option but not heard anything this time round. My boys were not really football fans but still enjoyed watching as a school. They serve popcorn, pizza and dilute and it's like a movie night only in school
I think it was only first half then if parents wanted to pick up at end of day or leave kids in school to watch the second half as well

RulesofLiveTV · 14/11/2022 21:09

It's all to do with protecting their attendance record. The same reason some schools close easily for snow. On days they know lots of kids will be absent they need to "do" something or their attendance average takes a big hit.

RampantIvy · 14/11/2022 21:12

I'm assuming the OP is talking about primary school? I can't see any secondary schools round here sending students home early for a first round football match.

The schools round here rely on dedicated school buses and they wouldn't be able to transport all the pupils at the same time. That's why our local schools have staggered start and finish times.

Blueemeraldagain · 14/11/2022 21:13

My school is showing it because our Head knows our attendance will be trashed if we don’t and she’ll get shit from the “higher ups”. I won’t be watching (love international football ordinarily and DP is a professional referee) due to issues with Qatar/Iran and will be running Board Game club in the library for those who don’t want to watch!

RulesofLiveTV · 14/11/2022 21:14

RampantIvy · 14/11/2022 21:12

I'm assuming the OP is talking about primary school? I can't see any secondary schools round here sending students home early for a first round football match.

The schools round here rely on dedicated school buses and they wouldn't be able to transport all the pupils at the same time. That's why our local schools have staggered start and finish times.

They're not sending them home, they plan to show the match in school. It's a way to keep children in school when many would otherwise be absent.

MushMonster · 14/11/2022 21:18

We got the same, but apparently is on a Friday, non-uniform day, as it is Wales.

  1. I hate football as a professional sport due to the ridiculous amounts of money. I have shared this with my DD.
  2. I think missing work or school for a match, including finals, is of very poor working ethics. I cannot believe the school is doing it!
  3. They have told mine that is a historic event ..... well... football!? You have to be kidding me!
  4. People are calling for protests against homophobia by not watching the fixtures. I cannot understand why schools seem to be choosing to precisely watch this one? How are teens going to feel about this? It is going to upset quite a few of them, either for themselves or on behalf of friends. They have never ever watch any other match, football or any other sport. Yet... why particularly these ones? I have to wonder.

Mine will be in school, it is a non-uniform day anyway, so they had no lessons per se, but quite a few have plans of not actually watching it (including bringing some knitting it!)

Tigofigo · 14/11/2022 21:20

NashvilleQueen · 14/11/2022 19:44

We have had a notification today to say they miss a lesson on Monday if they want but work will be supplied if pupils/parents prefer. Also says they will cover some of the issues relating to Qatar in PSE (I think) classes and that they understand there will be strong views

This sounds like a great balance.

I'm sure at our school lots of parents will keep their kids off if they don't watch it.

Sopharsogood · 14/11/2022 21:21

I’m 40 and sometimes we watched films in the hall, didn’t affect my education - loosen up!

RampantIvy · 14/11/2022 21:22

Mine will be in school, it is a non-uniform day anyway, so they had no lessons per se,

Why no lessons? When DD had non uniform days they still had normal lessons. Is this for Children in Need?

I can't see DD's old school stopping lessons for a first round international football match. Pupils can't just leave the school during the day without permission or without anyone seeing them leave, so if a load of them mysteriously don't turn up they will just get a detention.

Tigofigo · 14/11/2022 21:25

ilovesooty · 14/11/2022 20:55

Rather a lot of controversy about Iran at the moment too.

Show quote history

I know. The whole thing is marred for everyone. This is the first world cup my kids are (or should be) excited about and I just feel shit about it rather than sharing the excitement with them. I hope FIFA learn from this. Not to mention the likes of Beckham.

LargeglassofRosePlease · 14/11/2022 21:28

I think it’s brilliant. They’re doing it at our primary school and giving us the option to let our children watch it.

Mine will, absolutely.

Sherrystrull · 14/11/2022 21:36

I wonder how many offices and workplaces will allow their staff to watch the match?

MushMonster · 14/11/2022 21:38

@RampantIvy it is Children in Need.
Email says they will take part in several cultural activities during the week, and Friday raise money and watch the match.
They do have lessons, sorry, but they always take some time of the day for fund raising, organising, talking and so on.
This time is football...

user1487194234 · 14/11/2022 21:39

Of course it’s ok
Its a National event,and hopefully England will do well

Sirzy · 14/11/2022 21:41

Providing the opportunity means children only miss one lesson rather than bunking off all day

Flowersinspringgrowwild · 14/11/2022 21:45

alotoftutus · 14/11/2022 19:59

Our school did this for one of the world cups or Euros and it was brilliant. 20/25 odd years later and it's one of my favourite memories of school. Hundreds of us in the sports hall all together watching, coming together and cheering on our national team. It's was great.
Not all learning needs to include a textbook.

Me too. Still remember it now.

superram · 14/11/2022 21:46

i happen to have an a level group on Monday, they asked if they could watch it, I said yes. I’ll do usual stuff for 39 mins then put the football on. They can continue to work or catch up the work at home but all must remain in the classroom. I’ll be looking out for my friends who will be there. I don’t think they’ll fail their a levels…

MrsHamlet · 14/11/2022 21:59

I can't stand football. But my school will not be suspending lessons for it, and I'd be in a lot of trouble if I decided to put it on.

twelly · 14/11/2022 22:05

superram · 14/11/2022 21:46

i happen to have an a level group on Monday, they asked if they could watch it, I said yes. I’ll do usual stuff for 39 mins then put the football on. They can continue to work or catch up the work at home but all must remain in the classroom. I’ll be looking out for my friends who will be there. I don’t think they’ll fail their a levels…

I don't think that is professional behaviour for a teacher and I think it sends out the wrong message to students. Next week Children in Need - why not miss lessons over that, then the odd lesson for a Christmas function etc etc. Its the casual attitude that does not set a good example

Ericaequites · 14/11/2022 22:05

It’s a flat no from me, but understand this may be harm reduction so children don’t truant the whole day.

DrCoconut · 14/11/2022 22:08

The problem with this is that if a parent wants to take their child to something that they will enjoy either individually or as a family and it's in school time they will be told no, every minute matters etc. But it's OK to cancel classes for football? There's no logic to it. I wasn't happy when my DS's school gave them half a day off for the last lot for the above reason.

LolaSmiles · 14/11/2022 22:10

YANBU because it somewhat contradicts the attendance messages telling parents they should find a way to get their children's orthodontics appointments or hospital appointments outside the school day, or on the holidays on the grounds that every lesson matters.

But I suspect some schools are predicting that their attendance that day will drop if the match isn't shown because some parents would genuinely keep their child off school to watch 90 minutes of football in the afternoon.

SlippingIntoTheTwilightZone · 14/11/2022 22:14

When my Dad was a boy one of the lads would bring in a transistor radio which would be installed in the loo and all the boys would take shifts manning it. Of course lots of loo breaks were requested during that time and when my Dad returned from one such break the teacher said "What's the score?" with a wink.