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.

It's to keep absences low. Schools don't have the powers to fine for one off absences and know that some parents will keep their kids home to watch the match. It's either a few missed lessons for the afternoon or loads of absences across the whole school so they've taken this approach.
I'm sure head teachers would rather lessons carried on as normal, and also wish they could take matters into their own hands and deal with absences but they can't.

And let's be realistic, England's record in the world cup hasn't always been great, we've no guarantee of how far they'll get or how soon they'll get knocked out so...

our primary are letting children go home at lunch to watch the game. Or they can stay in school and watch it. I’m not interested at all. But I will be collecting DD6. We can have a hot chocolate and snuggle and watch something better like the grinch 😊

What about all the kids who actively dislike/are disinterested in football?

why should they have to put up with this nonsense?

what benefit is it to their education?

Seriously when has this been a thing? Watching the world Cup at school?

I don't think a school should be asking any money from parents at this time.

I don’t think they should be showing it at all.

They should be learning in school, not watching football!!

Schools ask for money all the time though. Just today all our local schools have asked for £1 donations for Children in Need in exchange for own clothes day.

At my DDs school they are voting today to see if they are going to watch Mondays match think that’s a good compromise

I have never heard of a primary school showing a football match? Is this common in England? And team colours were never allowed in my DCs schools - so this seems strange to me. Why pick this particular world cup to start doing this?

The things you learn on mumsnet!

Qatar should never have been given the World Cup - it's hugely problematic. But then I don't think Russia should have been given the World Cup in 2018 either

Most countries have human rights issues or aspects where they fall far below decent international standards, such as environmentally or foreign policy. Main problem with Qatar was the rampant corruption in the bidding process - though hardly a new issue for FIFA.

Not screening the world cup will only punish the football fans- it will have no impact whatsoever Quatar or FIFA

So kids can't be off sick if they are unwell, but suddenly school stops for football? WTAF is this shit? They should be in lessons not watching TV - convenient for teachers? Talk about shoehorning it in.

This.

Its a personal choice.

I would also be annoyed at this, I don’t want to support AI.

I’m not sure I agree op,banning the World Cup is like blaming FIFA for the issues in Qatar. Now I agree it was ludicrous to hold it there and FIFA are clearly paying the price for that, but I don’t quite see they are responsible for the Qatari culture

In terms of what is happening to women at the moment in the UK, I think our human rights record is totally shit. We should not be sitting on some high horse in judgement over others. We need to sort ourselves out first. Personally, I would pay a lot of money to not watch football. Hideously boring. But I think there are some arguments for having it in Qatar as this is probably more likely to bring about change towards a more equal and democratic society than a ban. Ultimately it's progress that matters most and that usually happens more by having conversations rather than stand offs.

I don't get it. Scools kick off at parents pulling kids out of lessons even if you have to leave early for medical appointments as it disrupts the childs education but they down tools for a fuckihg football match??

And don't get me started on amnesty. Perhaps the head/teachers need to educate themselves better with certain charities as many aren't what they seem anymore.

I remember when I was in middle school they opened the school early and made the kids bacon sandwiches. But my parents refused to take me early so I missed out. I cant even remember what year it was or what the other team were and I wasn't at all bothered with football so I don't think it needs to be shown tbh.

GS's school have rearranged times of lessons and breaks so they can watch half at lunch time and half will be on screen during a lesson, not ideal but as GS said lots of the boys were planning on leaving school at break time to watch it elsewhere so it is a pragmatic decision.

Shocking that watching a football match in a country with a horrible human rights record is a priority for schools.
They shouldn’t be doing anything about the World Cup at any time!
Disgraceful.

Quite apart from the obvious Human Rights issue, if school have decided it's OK to have a couple of hours out of lessons for the Men's World Cup, did they do the same for the Women's World Cup? I would be asking. I know some people will say it seem trivial but if not aren't we giving girls the message about their place in sports? When we know how important sport is for health etc and that girls drop out of sport as they reach their teens shouldn't schools be doing at least as much to promote sport played by women as sport played by men?

Hopefully England and Wales will be knocked out quickly!

I am just sick and tired of all this talk of the Host nation's human rights bla bla bla ! The whole world knows this part of the world for who they are , and should NOT have taken the world cup there in the first place! The only reason is money. Besides IT'S THEIR HOUSE THEIR RULES!!!

WTF.

So millionaires go and provide probably billions of revenue and income to a country that literally kills gay people and openly hates women, and parents of unknown income are expected to make a donation to a human rights charity right before Christmas?

That’s absolutely fucking scandalous