Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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 10:41

My definition of controversial and yours may differ. Hence wishing to know the sport to give an opinion which may agree with yours.

WandaWonder · 09/07/2023 10:41

Timfy · 09/07/2023 10:39

A sport… Not drug taking..

YOU ARE TALKING IN CODE

IDontLoveTheWayYouLie · 09/07/2023 10:41

Timfy · 09/07/2023 10:35

I think that, whatever the sport, if it’s known to be a controversial one, shouldn’t children be enabled to hear both sides and not just the one side promoting it?

You don't have to agree with something just because you've only heard one side of it though?

Original poster
Timfy · 09/07/2023 10:42

Ok… I think some of you are missing the point. I said the sport is controversial so I would want my child to hear both sides. Anyone heard of Rebecca Perkins?

OP posts:
Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 09/07/2023 10:45

I think an assembly on greyhound racing is bizarre.

Are you sure it’s not a greyhound rescue?

CurlewKate · 09/07/2023 10:45

Why the f is a school having a talk about greyhound racing????

IDontLoveTheWayYouLie · 09/07/2023 10:46

So it's Greyhound racing?

Elmo230885 · 09/07/2023 10:46

Right, so you could have just said Greyhound racing in the first place.

calimali · 09/07/2023 10:47

Boxing? Showjumping? Greyhound racing? It is very hard to comment without knowing the theme of the assembly.

Elmo230885 · 09/07/2023 10:49

Is that particular case local? Maybe the school have addressed it as pupils have brought it up.
I can't imagine the school set up betting stations and watched races. Was it a talk about the welfare of the dogs?

BlackberrySky · 09/07/2023 10:50

OK, so sticking to the ridiculous cloak and dagger generality of the OP, most primary schools just have someone to come in and speak about X. If there is a local club for this mystery sport then I think it's just you don't like it and you need to accept that others do. If they're coming in to tell the kids how jolly shooting giraffes in Africa is, then that's a different matter.

Whaleandsnail6 · 09/07/2023 10:51

I think you are being unreasonable. As the parent, surely its up to you what sports yoy sign them up for and if you have opposing views on this sport, explain that to your child why this is your view and tell them they cant do it.

CurlewKate · 09/07/2023 10:52

It's greyhound racing. HTH

RampantIvy · 09/07/2023 10:54

I had to Google Rebecca Perkins.

Why on earth didn't you just say greyhound racing in your OP instead of being so cloak and dagger about it?

You will now get some proper replies to your OP instead of posters questioning what sport it is.

For what it's worth I don't agree with greyhound racing either.

Capitulatingpanda · 09/07/2023 10:55

I'm not sure it's even a sport, maybe for the dogs I guess. I would expect balance, a rescue and maybe some gambling danger awareness as it basically only exists because of gambling but if not provided I would try and do those things before the assembly as it would allow the kids to ask more informed questions.

PeskyRooks · 09/07/2023 10:56

I had to give up greyhound racing. It's pointless they always bloody win.

ARareKindaBear · 09/07/2023 10:56

PeskyRooks · 09/07/2023 10:56

I had to give up greyhound racing. It's pointless they always bloody win.

😂

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 09/07/2023 10:56

I'm struggling to comprehend why a school would have an assembly about greyhound racing or for that matter what supporters of it would get out of a school assembly tbh.
Fwiw had never heard of Rebecca Perkins and I don't think school assemblies are a court of law or Oxford debating society where everything has to be balanced 100% all the time.
What did the school say when you asked about it?

Original poster
Timfy · 09/07/2023 10:57

Yes it was an assembly about greyhound racing. A trainer and marketing chap presented an assembly promoting this controversial sport. A sport, even those who support it, agree is almost entirely reliant upon gambling. The school, although asked, refuses to agree to the opposing opinion on greyhound racing being presented. Personally, I think it is outrageous and amounts to brainwashing of young minds. I hope the head of the trust, addresses this issue and enables a charity such as the RSPCA, to present an assembly. What do others think, please?

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 09/07/2023 10:58

CurlewKate · 09/07/2023 10:52

It's greyhound racing. HTH

So somebody has brought some Greyhounds into school and talked about racing them?

Why does it take 3 pages to get to the point?

You can't have a sensible discussion about a controversial sport without knowing what it is and why it's controversial.

PriOn1 · 09/07/2023 10:58

Was it merely a political broadcast by the sports people?

If yes, then the other side of the coin should, perhaps be also allowed the time to discuss it.

Though realistically, in that case, neither side should be given time.

If they are offering something such as a club or free activities over the summer, then no, I don’t think the children should “hear the other side” because if someone is offering something generous and the school felt it was worthwhile letting the children know, then it is up to the individual parents to decide whether they’re happy or not. If not, they have the dual options of

  1. not letting their children go
  2. making their feelings clear to the school and asking that it isn’t raised again, based on rational arguments as to why it was inappropriate.
CurlewKate · 09/07/2023 11:01

Personally, I'd be completely outraged if someone came to evangelise about greyhound racing at my children's school. I'd want to be sure it was actually that, not a greyhound rescue before I did anything, though.

Original poster
Timfy · 09/07/2023 11:01

Forgive the clumsiness of my first approach, I am new to this kind of thing and, as a teacher, too, I was horrified. Thank you, everyone, for your comments..

I have ex racing greyhounds, too and I have never aced dogs, because I know I will lose 😂🙈

OP posts:
Quiverer · 09/07/2023 11:06

What reason did the school give for promoting this? I can't really see how knowing more about it contributes to children's education.

zingally · 09/07/2023 11:07

Greyhound racing?!

And how exactly are kids going to get involved with that? Agree though that it's a weird topic for a primary school assembly! Think you're a bit worried about nothing though, as there's literally zero ways a primary school child could get involved with this activity.