To think the school have got this very wrong?

[anerki101]

Had an email from my child's school this week regarding the World Cup. The council have decided that they want to celebrate the World Cup so will be allowing the first game to be shown in school for every one to watch. They added that because of the human rights concerns with the host nation they would ask the kids to wear their football kits or team colours and bring in a donation for amnesty International.

AIBU to think this is wrong? If they are concerned about the human rights issues then surely boycotting the World Cup and NOT showing the game is the the best thing to do? Very happy to donate to amnesty but I still think allowing the game to be shown is a mistake.

I say this as a football fan who looks forward and watches the world Cup but won't be this time.

Sounds like the school are wanting to have their cake and eat it. Very poor form

Its all too bloody complicated isn't it 😕

Yes ,boycotting it completley and explaining to the children why would make more of a.point

The school should not be trying to make a human rights statement.

They should just let kids be kids and enjoy watching the football with their friends.

Do you not think that letting them watch the football is sending them a very poor message? These are the children of the future and I'd quite like them to give a shit about their fellow human beings.

There's absolutely no need for schools to be doing anything for the world Cup.

Regardless of which country hosts

I think it's ok to watch it. I mean the king took millions of Qatari money in a bag so ...

Nope. It’s just football for the kids.

Out school is doing something similar - the kids had to go in dressed in the colours of the team they have been allocated to support, they are watching football games in school time and all the homework in the next few weeks is based around "celebrating the world cup".

I think it is absolutely disgusting. Luckily my dc are old enough (9 and 11) that I can put the situation in context for them with conversations at home.

I was really shocked that a school would make a choice like this tbh.

If it was a final I get schools watching, otherwise no. My sons school are watching it on Monday, so he won’t be attending the afternoon at school.

Schools will know that children will bunk off to watch it otherwise so it makes more sense to have the children in school.

as long as it’s not compulsory to watch it then as much as I have no intention of watching I won’t stop others doing so

i think if we make the final a lot of football fans will forget their dislike of it all.

These are the children of the future and I'd quite like them to give a shit about their fellow human beings.

Where do you draw the line though?

No flying because that causes drought in Africa?

But it isn't just football, is it? I'm not sure I want my kids taught to look the other way in order to enjoy entertainment built on the back of the deaths of thousands of migrant workers kept as slaves.

Playing devils advocate here, but couldn't it be seen as a good thing as it's raising money for a good cause, and opening up avenues of conversations about the human rights affected, and why this is?

It's one game, as far as I understand, that they will collapse lessons for. It's one afternoon, where there could actually be much better conversations about global issues, than if it were an assembly presentation.

Completely agree

@Stompythedinosaur Britain is full of Qatari money. How do you separate it from the regime?

Translated;

The school staff want to watch the match at work.

I'd keep my kids at home and tell the school it was my personal protest against Qatar human rights.

Yes, yes it is. Don’t be so sanctimonious and ruin your kids childhood over your own beliefs.

You can’t change anything like that in the world. Boycott all you want as an adult, it’s your right to do pointless activities.

But kids have their whole lives ahead of them to put up with this kind of bullshit. Now isn’t the time. Now is the time to sit down with your mates, have a laugh and watch some football.

Well, of course. We can't do everything. But we can do our best. As a family we try. I mean, I can't afford to buy our clothes from sustainable sources hand made by someone in the UK commanding a fair wage. I try to use charity shops for clothing where possible but I still need to buy pants, socks, and other items in primark and tesco. What I can do and what I can afford to do is stuff like boycotting the World Cup, not flying, etc.

What if they don't want to watch football?

Then the kids can go in another room with a teacher and do some colouring or whatever they wish to do.

This isn’t new. Schools have been doing this for decades.

I really don't think not allowing them to watch the World Cup is going to ruin their childhood.

Or ya know, the teachers could educate them as they are paid to and keep their leisure pursuits for their own time

I think its a terrible message to send to children that the world stops for stupid football?

Amnesty International says that sex is a human right and therefore prostitution is fine

Amnesty Ireland called for people who understand biological sex to be denied the right to vote

i would not be sending any money to AI, they are a misogynist organisation