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AIBU?

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Original poster

School’s Assembly

100 replies

Timfy · 09/07/2023 09:07

A junior school has allowed for supporters of a controversial sport to present an assembly to children aged 5 to 11, to promote that sport but won’t allow those opposed to present the alternative opinion of the sport. Shouldn’t those children be given both sides thus enabling them to form their own opinions?

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 09/07/2023 09:14

Hard to answer without knowing the sport.

Mumdiva99 · 09/07/2023 09:15

Without knowing the sport - hard to comment.
I would be suprised if they got the local hunt in.....(I wouldn't call that a sport).....

If it's boxing and they are promoting free activities to kids over the summer holiday I would put aside my personal beliefs......I would not let my kids box. However, I know we have strong activists for children in the local boxing community who ensure children all over the city have activities to complete, a place to go, and have fed hundreds and hundreds of families long before the government funded some of the school holiday schemes.

Mumdiva99 · 09/07/2023 09:16

Sorry that last bit should say all for free.

speluncean · 09/07/2023 09:16

What's the sport?

Sirzy · 09/07/2023 09:17

Impossible to say without knowing the sport and how it’s being presented.

Simonjt · 09/07/2023 09:18

Sport? The only really controversial ones I can think of are things like hunting, and dog/horse racing.

backaftera2yearbreak · 09/07/2023 09:19

Assume it’s boxing or something similar. If it’s a professional sport I don’t see the issue.

RampantIvy · 09/07/2023 09:27

In mainland UK fox hunting is illegal, so either you are in Northern Ireland or it is another sport you don't agree with.

Dog fighting? Cock fighting? Bare knuckle fighting? Cage fighting?

I'm not sure why you feel the need to be so cagey about it.

Leah5678 · 09/07/2023 09:28

Pole dancing?

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 09/07/2023 09:29

What sports are controversial?

Hobnobswantshernameback · 09/07/2023 09:29

It's going to be one of these threads isn't it 🙄

HalloVegBot · 09/07/2023 09:30

I'm presuming it's boxing. I wouldn't let my children do it but also wouldn't stop them hearing about it. You provide the other side of the argument when they get home, or you offer an assembly on a different sport that you're passionate about.

Antoninus · 09/07/2023 09:33

darts ? Are they taking them all down the pub ?

Testina · 09/07/2023 09:35

You just lose any credibility with the stupid guessing game 🤷🏻‍♀️

PriamFarrl · 09/07/2023 09:35

I want to know the controversial sport. I can’t imagine we will though as it will be ‘outing’.

Antoninus · 09/07/2023 09:36

It’s bloody cycling isn’t it ?

x2boys · 09/07/2023 09:38

Antoninus · 09/07/2023 09:33

darts ? Are they taking them all down the pub ?

😂😂and giving them.all a pint and a fag.

gogomoto · 09/07/2023 09:40

If it's boxing I do have sympathy but boxing clubs do a lot of good in communities. No child can take part without having parental consent anyway

VisionsOfSplendour · 09/07/2023 09:40

Come on then, otherwise it's a waste of time

MargaretThursday · 09/07/2023 09:42

I don't think that's going to work. If you feel strongly enough, and your dc comes back enthused, then tell them your views when they get home.

For a start off, if you've got some visitors in, then it's going to be pretty rude to say "now you've heard how wonderful they say it is, now I'm going to tell you how dreadful I think it is." They've been asked in for an assembly, not a debate.
Then you have timing. How long's an assembly? 20 minutes? The sport is probably given 5-10 minutes. If you want to promote the opposing view too then that's half that each.
And then if you do that for whatever sport it is that you disagree with, you also should do it for anything people might have two views on, and you'd be surprised how strongly people can feel on the most bland of topics. Or maybe there's more than two views, so you're then opening up to people complaining you didn't promote this little known view etc.

And if it is boxing. Well, it's a sport that leaves me totally cold, but it does do good work with children who otherwise are on the outside. We've got a club near us. They're a pain in the neck in a lot of ways, but they still do a lot for a large number of kids who otherwise would be roaming the streets looking for trouble. The kids are ever so polite too!

Curtains70 · 09/07/2023 09:46

Ridiculous post, cannot possibly answer without knowing the sport. Although I can't imagine it's anything too controversial. If you don't want your kids to do it just don't let them.

RampantIvy · 09/07/2023 09:46

@Timfy what is the sport?

PuttingDownRoots · 09/07/2023 09:46

Its MN... its going to be cycling!

As said above, many community sports clubs do very good work in free/cheap sporting activities fir children. They can be very positive role models.

GoodChat · 09/07/2023 09:46

Presumably it's hunting. Is it a private school in an affluent area? Otherwise you're just teaching kids that guns are fun.

WandaWonder · 09/07/2023 09:47

Marbles? They get a bit controversial when lost