school cancelling lessons to watch England World Cup

[Balcanoona]

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

I suspect the others will just skive off then 🤣

Notwithstanding your valid points about the hr issues girls do watch and play football too.

no shit. My point is it's against Iran. Who have sentenced women and girls to death for taking off their scarves. How do you not understand that? (you don't have to know this but i am one of those women who loves footy which is why i am aghast that this match is actually going to happen)

If you're in England then why wouldnt they do this? Encourage kids to get involved in sport etc. Depending on age of kids there's also a few probably really useful lessons on politics of both Iran and Qatar, debates on whether it's right to play in the tournament , while hopefully not ignoring your own country's human rights abuses etc. Surely part of school experience should be to get kids thinking critically about everything that's presented to them on media.

I think my kids would rather do schoolwork than watch football, they can't stand it!! And what about other sports? Why is it just football they're allowed to miss lessons for?? Obviously I think it's ridiculous!

Do you think schools - and parents - are more or less likely to talk about Qatar and Iran if they watch the game, or if they pretend it's not happening? I think the former. I should think schools talking time out the day to talk about those issues then not screening the games are likely to be few and far between.

I don't know why you are so disparaging about it being "football, innit". I detect a level of classism / implied intellectual superiority in that comment.

Thousands of fans are staging protests at games and on social media, sharing their displeasure at their country's participation. Thousands if not millions more won't watch this tournament as a result. Football magazines are pulling no punches in their criticism.

My primary age DC has been really engaged in conversations about FIFA corruption, human rights abuses, Beckham's work for Qatar, LGBTQ+ rights, whether England should participate and what's happening in Iran, thanks to his love of football. I'm not sure if he'll watch it or not.

Last week an Iranian footballer in the sand football finals made a political gesture supporting women in the protests which was a huge and risky globally-seen move - again my son really took that on board. Football can be a positive platform and show kids how individuals can take a stand even when their govts are doing awful things.

While the professional game is deeply flawed, it's popularity and level of engagement means it can be a brilliant platform for children's learning and understanding.

^^This with bells on! Fantastic post, @Tigofigo

Brilliant post @Tigofigo

It's an option at my son's school, but it's a very sports orientated school. My DS is football mad and looking forward to the World Cup, so I'll agree to it.

Not in Iran they don't.

Most of their women's team is trans and actual women are not allowed to watch mens' games.

Disgusting- I would be taking my child out of school rather than have her punished by watching football which she hates.

Do you think schools - and parents - are more or less likely to talk about Qatar and Iran if they watch the game, or if they pretend it's not happening? I think the former. I should think schools talking time out the day to talk about those issues then not screening the games are likely to be few and far between.

I would rather they say: we would have taken this time to watch football but instead we are going to talk about human rights and what happens in other countries that are not like ours and why our rights to protest this is very important.

Maybe followed by all the goals from the last world cup? And again - in Wales i would have a different opinion because it really is a very special occasion for them and i feel very bad that such an exciting event comes now when it is a big scandal.

This ^^

I don't get the reasoning behind some posts at all. Thinking it through.... Isn't it like saying it's good shops sell clothes made by small children in poor countries with horrific human rights abuses because it gets us talking about exploitation... Surely much better to not buy the clothes made by children....?

There are more schools who won't be showing it, than will.

I think you're wrong, yes it gets us talking about those shops, so people actually know who they are and therefore boycott them?

Knowledge is power.

Otherwise people live in blissful ignorance?

I

I'd be annoyed - but then we're in Wales - and they've said they will have the option to watch the Iran match as it's at 10am

I hope our school do this it's the first World Cup DS will really remember. Yes the human rights issues are horrifying and open for debate, but I think it should be celebrated as the first World Cup in a Muslim nation.

As a country we are horrified on some of their views but they are equally horrified by ours, like why football fans insist on being able to get a pint at the match in a Muslim nation 🤦🏻‍♀️

Hopefully it can be used as an opportunity to build respect and tolerance between two polar opposite groups which will make a great talking point for future lessons. Especially coming less than 18 months after we pulled out of Afghanistan.

My only worry is the potential terrorism threat.

I've just found out that my dd2's school is doing this too, and she's in sixth form! I was all set for telling her to have the day off school (she's not a football fan), but she doesn't seem that bothered by it, just a bit bemused.

Cancel for Final or Semi final only.

Football is our national sport.

It does seem to upset many that it is full of working class lads who have excelled and done extremely well due to their talents and work ethic.

To be fair, future generations of footballers will not be working class. Football is now a multi-million pound industry even at grassroots level. Those who can afford private one-to-one training, transport to various fee paying academies etc will be the ones who get offered opportunities. Football, will return to being a sport of the middle classes in the next generation.

Only English, naturally because it never happens ion any other country does it? You need to get out more dear!

I wouldn’t be happy at all. We don’t encourage our kids to have any involvement with football because there’s too much hooliganism. I’m happy to support an interest in basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, various other sports. But not football. I would also question why football is being given this special priority - unless they’re planning similar cancellations so the kids can watch cricket and other sports?