England world cup at school

[AddingUp]

DC is in primary school and they do not care much for football anyway. As a family, we are boycotting the World Cup as a boycott due to their human right abuses.

We received this email late on Friday from the head:

"I am aware that a number of children will want to watch the England world cup game on Monday. Therefore we will be screening the game in one classroom per year group for those who wish to watch the game and those who do not wish to watch it will undertake alternative activities in the other year group classroom."

So basically they are stopping all teaching for the football.

AIBU to email the head and inform him that I will be picking up DC early if school is not going to teach him anyway?

You want to make a stand against the World Cup, or the School? If they didn't show it, parents would complain that they want their DC to watch it. If they show it, some parents will complain that the don't want their DC to watch it. So they've tried to keep everyone happy by showing it for those that want to watch and offering an alternative for those that don't, and you're still going to complain. This sums up why working in a school nowadays is so stressful.

My DH got Poland 🇵🇱, I reckon he'll win.

My office had only 3 staff, so no sweepstakes 😞

@Conkersareback My post started with 'I think showing the football in place of lessons is ridiculous in any circumstance' which I stand by.

I wasn't actually suggesting they show every sport. Do you take everything so literally?

My dc school are letting the year 11s watch it if they want to or have extra social time. They have a mock exam in the morning so a nice reward for them.

They show football because it is the most popular sport in this country, by far, and the World Cup is by far the biggest tournament. It's one game. The next World Cup isn't for another 4 years after that.

A lot of people didn't seem to care about school being disrupted when they were shouting for them to be shut during Covid.

As I said, some people revel in misery.

I got Germany, Poland and South Korea in the sweepstakes. So I basically have one chance to win.

@Florenz DH got Poland, he'll defo win

The TV coverage of that was all in the evening and at weekend. Does she go to school at unusual times?

I think the school has made a reasonable suggestion , the school my son works at ( secondary ) isn’t showing it at all .

Would have been a bit weird to have schools open in evenings and weekends when all the Rugby League World Cup games were just to show them, but do go on.

Yes, people would do themselves a favour if they didn't keep coming up with sporting events that were held in the UK at a convenient time for us and/or on days school is shut anyway.

You think Poland are going to win? No chance.

@Beezknees they must! DH got them in the sweepstake! It'll be a phenomenon!

My Ds school are showing it for those that want to watch the football and for those that don't they can complete some on line work on Seneca (secondary school)

My DS doesn't really like football but really hates Seneca, so will be watching the football! I've just found an England shirt we had for the Commonwealth Games so he's shows willing!!

It’s lessons as usual at the local secondary school. Is that unusual?

I’m a Teacher, we won’t be showing ANY of the matches at the School I’m at. We don’t show the cricket, athletics, rugby, etc, etc, so why would we show the football? Thankfully our school has seen sense.

I think it's ridiculous that schools are doing this. My daughter's is as well.

They've all missed loads of schools already these past couple of years and are well behind on class hours. They shouldn't be doing this. For the final, should England make it, sure, maybe. But a group match? Completely unnecessary.

It's two hours and the final is not in school hours, so it's non issue.

Completely with you on this one. Would they do the same for the Women's world Cup, the Rugby World Cup or the Ashes? Are they going to let those children supporting Poland or Wales or USA watch all their group games? It's plain nonsense to stop all teaching for what is only a group game that England should win easily. My own school, which prides itself on being an 'academic' secondary has also decided this now constitutes promoting British values and ticks a box for Ofsted. To be honest, I've never heard such twaddle and am hugely disappointed that the headteacher has been sucked in by a few overzealous staff who predict an attendance apocalypse should we not all down tools.

As for the "I'm sure there are other nice activities planned", think again. It will be colouring sheets in primary and maybe homework catch up or a documentary at secondary level. It's a joke and most of the kids will just drift in to watch the football as it's frankly more appealing. It's things like this that give teaching such a terrible name as a profession. Can you imagine the uproar if hospitals cancelled operations or train drivers decided to put their feet up for two hours to watch the match?

I would imagine schools in Wales will give their children the opportunity to watch the Wales vs Iran game which is on Friday at 1pm.

I'd be amazed if they don't.

Only the schools still open at 8pm.

I can confirm they are and everyone has to wear red 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿