To think that secondary sports day should be optional?

[Peggy0907]

DS is year 10, his whole school have sports day today at an athletics track nearby. He hasn't been picked for anything, they do tryouts during P.E and he isn't sporty at all so he's fine with that. My issue is that it's compulsory for the whole school to go and watch from 8.30-3pm regardless of if they're doing an event or not. So DS's day will involve sitting in the stands (no roaming allowed), eating and chatting. They can bring a small bag with packed lunch and a reading book so it's not like he can even bring all his revision material.
I'm sure a lot of the kids will love this but DS hates it and is begging me to let him stay home and revise for his mocks that start on Monday.
Aibu to think that either every kid should be involved in some way or that it should be optional to attend if that isn't an option? I understand they're there to "cheer on" their classmates but in reality the kids in the stands aren't even watching what's going on anyway and it just really seems like a big waste of time for them.
Just to say, I think that it's brilliant that the sports department organise this day and for those children who love sports, whether taking part or spectating, it's a wonderful day for them. But for those like my son, it's a day away from learning.

Completely agree-it’s (like so much of what happens in school) an outdated routine that school leaders don’t have the imagination to change. I work on a school and there will be lots of absences on Sports Day -I would definitely keep him at home.

Totally agree, I kept mine off as their secondary school runs theirs exactly the same and it’s a pointless day for those not involved. Honestly OP, I’d let him stay off.

I thought you were going to say he had to join in.....i agree with you - a day just observing is a waste of time. A compulsory sports day for all I understand.

Is it a competition - so do they have Houses or whatever that are competing against each other? If so, I don't think team camaraderie is a bad thing.

I do think everyone should have to take on one event, though.

I let my dd stay home - glad I did as so did every one of her friends so she'd have had a pretty crap day. Was only a half day as on a Friday and schools here close at 12 on Fridays

I’d let him stay off. Mine find sports day torture as not sporty. Let him revise for his mocks!

Yes, it's a house competition so I've been trying to encourage the team support aspect.

If attending sports day was optional they wouldn’t have enough staff to man sports day.

My dd asked to be off last year. She's now in y8 but wants to be off again. School will definitely know why. I don't want to lie. I don't know what to do.

Agree! It’s pointless for the non-sporty kids to attend!

If the school allowed kids to stay off, no one would attend.

Your child is part of the school community. He should be encouraged to take an active part in that wider community by supporting those who are taking part. Maybe recognise whilst he sees value in books, others find that value in sport.

HINBU that it is an absolute waste of time. PE teachers are the pits, they bloody ruin sport/exercise for so many kids, they make it so boring.

He surely could have a bad headache that day? And not be able to go in?

If you have a good, hard-working kid I think one reward from parents can be a little leeway about the stuff that really doesn't matter.

I think it's time for you to get ready for school isn't it?

Our school have events all day but the restbof the school only come out to watch the sprints after lunch which seems a better compromise. All day is a bit much. Let him stay home and revise.

How will the OPs child be "supported" by the school community?

The idea that anyone should care about watching others run around a field after a ball or run around a track is ludicrous.

Sports day should happen after school or on the weekend for those who want to go.

If it's that important, they will. If not, it will die out.

Being healthy and playing competitive sport are not the same thing. If this event were celebrating community it would encourage participation. This does not.

I guess they are trying to ensure the kids all do their best to get into the final races rather than slacking so they get a day off instead of competing on Sports day.

I think it would be reasonable to say kids can either attend sports day or attend school and be supervised in free study there, if that is something they could cover staff wise.

Keep him off. It's a boring waste of a day to sit around watching other kids do stuff. Plus it's going to be really hot

It doesn’t really set a good precedent for life being able to miss stuff that is boring.

My kid loves sports but hates academics. He does not take part in lessons or ask questions. He just sits looking out the window waiting for it to end. I do still make him go though. He does that day in day out all school year. A big waste of time for seemingly him and his teachers.

Having said that if he was 6th form I would let him skip it as A’level mocks are important for university application grades.

If he is year 10 though it must be GCSE mocks which are not really relevant.

On balance I would probably tell him to put his big girl pants on and suck it up. Maybe volunteer to do the water rounds or something.

Whilst I agree with this in some sense, I can't imagine them clearing a school day and making the whole school watch the "academic" kids compete all day in a competition so I do understand where he's coming from. My main issue is that it's compulsory to watch but only the top performers get to take part. He took part in the tryouts but wasn't "good enough".

How is doing schoolwork and revising - y'know, actual education - being a pussy compared with sitting in a stand and mucking around for 5 hours?

If people are that unmotivated, it's an indication that it's not worth doing.

My son isn’t academic at all, and every school day is basically him watching people compete academically 🤣 I would make him go, it’s good practice for doing boring meeting days at work one day.

He's in Year 11, he's presumably been supporting the wider community for the last 4 years. What value is there in sitting reading in a sports stand for 6.5 hours?

But that isn't what every school day is, is it? He's being taught, he's actively working; if you envisage him sitting in offices in meetings, boring or otherwise, that sounds as If he is working towards qualifications that will help him get those jobs. It simply isn't the same thing at all.