WWYD school Christmas Concert

[ChristmasTidyings]

I say concert loosely! School are putting on a Christmas Concert which will last 30 mins, children singing mostly. It is being held outdoors and originally said would be dependent on the weather and a decision will be made the day before. They said yesterday it will go ahead.

The forecast yesterday was rain, but dry by the time of the concert. The rain came later than expected and radar is showing the next batch will hit 10 mins after the concert starts.

It is currently 1 degree, the paths and grounds are covered in a delightful mix of snow (about 8cm) and ice.

School say attendance is obligatory.

DH says nothing outside of school hours can be obligatory and he doesn't want the DC going if it's raining.

I personally have no desire to stand for 40 mins in freezing rain so I see his point, however school say DC must be there.

YABU : it's obligatory, the DC must go
YANBU : it's crazy to keep children out in the freezing cold just to sing, keep them home.

Nah, fuck that! Just call school and ask if it’s being moved inside? If not say no you can’t come. Nothing is compulsory outside of school hours

Surely a school concert should be fun for the kids and their audience, this sounds like anything but! YANBU.

Urgh this post made me email my DC's school. Its forecast to be -1, feels like -5 tomorrow afternoon when they have theirs, same format (outside, stood still, uniform). That's very cold, they ought to move it into the hall.

They have to visit a sick relative, party with non school friend.

No bloody chance I’d be going to this in this weather and no it’s not obligatory.

Nope. No chance would I demand my children do thet.

Schools get weirdly obsessive and dictatorial about performances. It’s supposed to be fun!!

Schools can't win. In other posts parents are moaning about performances being in the daytime, others are complaining they can only have 1 ticket (I'm guessing by having it outside they can let more people come)

Attendance is not obligatory even if it is bright sunshine in the summer. In these circumstances and weather you could 100% argue it is unreasonable, indeed could probably argue health and safety reasons.

You could even argue it is bullying parents to use the word compulsory, if it has been used. Or indirectly racist as those from certain ethnic minorities are more likely to be in work in the evenings than others.

Or just say no and don't go.

I wouldn't be bothered about the concert being outdoors ;the idea reminds me of carol singing in my child hood .I also think there is sense in doing as much as possible outside to minimise the spreading of infection.Is your husband opposed because he is worried about driving in dangerous conditions? That would be reasonable imo if it is the case. If you don't want to go , I don't think that the DC need to but they may find it awkward at school the next day. Don't lie to anyone or your dc will be complicit.

Ditch it.

Seriously, school concerts are miserable atonal affairs that nobody wants to attend at the best of times. Put them outdoors in the middle of a cold snap, and it's very much not the best of times.

If needs be, tell the school that your family has a prior engagement. Then, the next day, "Sorry, the engagement was cancelled because of poor weather, but it was too late for us to attend the concert".

If late changes to plans are good enough for the school, they're good enough for you too.

If the other has already got commitments to their sport club I wouldn't make them miss it for a couple of songs.

Parking not an issue for us but will be for those who usually drive as they've blocked off the area people usually park in for the concert. There isn't any other parking in the road. They've put a rather sorry looking gazebo up for the piano, so are clearly intending to carry on.

DH's issue is that, even with the best of winter clothing, which lets face it, kids don't usually have, their feet will get cold as they will be expected to stand still for 30 minutes. He think they'll just end up ill. DC2 has only just recovered from the latest bug.

All the work the school and the pupils put in to the concert. But nah - parents would prefer to bin it so they can lard in front of the telly. Why should they get cold for a few minutes so that a nice community event can go ahead.

Hopefully enough families will show up for the 30 minutes so that it won’t be a flop for those who have worked and made the effort to create what is often a very nice and festive memory.

Why don’t your DC have winter clothing?

You should take them, if people don’t go the school will stop putting it on and it will be great for giving children other experiences

The DC won't catch infection from cold feet, they would be much more likely to catch something from singing in close proximity to others in an indoor setting.

It would be a no from me, I just wouldn’t turn up with the kids.
If anything was said the next day, I would feign ignorance that I got the day wrong and thought it was tomorrow or something.
DS is able to trip over a feather in good conditions, walking on ice when it’s not necessary is bloody stupid in my opinion.
Whining cold kids do not sing well.

"sorry, both are feeling a bit under the weather today. I'm sure they'll feel fine after a rest but we won't be able to make tonight".

Just lie. Schools can't do anything about illness (unless persistent). And it's out of hours anyway. I work in a school, even when we don't believe parents there's still nothing we can do.

They're being ridiculous organising an outdoor event this week

@Thereisnolight my Dc do have winter clothing, never said they didn't. However, I'm well aware that my Dc are lucky that we can afford to buy them this and that not all DC will have good quality winter clothes.

@yikesanotherbooboo I never said they would. But if they are too cold they will be more susceptible to catching something. They've been singing indoors for the past I don't know how long, and I would have absolutely no objection if they used the gym/stage. It's the planning to stand still, outside in the freezing rain, for 40 minutes or so that I find absolutely insane.

OP didn't say that at all, you've misunderstood.

Sounds awful. Why would anyone want to stand in the freezing rain for over half an hour. It's mental,

No. You have a prior commitment (his sports club).

Loads won't go.

Or... the school could do an indoor event.