School’s Assembly

[Timfy]

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?

That is definitely odd. Its not a childrens sport.

Why were they trying to market greyhound racing to such a young audience?

Well, not many people I know support greyhound racing and I don't like it either...but I guess the school thought it was ok for an assembly.

All you can do, is, if your children wax lyrical about it, is tell them some of the bad parts of greyhound racing etc. and let them make their own minds up.

(Also, ex police and armed forces dogs are also treated appallingly after they retire or leave due to injury, but nobody seems to care about them).

I'm struggling to understand why the presenters wanted to come in and do an assembly in the first place. It's all very odd. Does anyone on the staff have a connection to the sport? It really isn't something under 11s would be involved in is it?

Apary from this being well odd unless you live in the 1950s I wouldn't worry about children rushing to the track

I don’t understand what they was even trying to promote to kids? A night out at the dog track, few pints and a free bet?

What an odd thing to give an assembly about. I was thinking it was some sport for the children to join in with.

Speak to SLT about it and see if you can bring in your greyhounds and give an assembly about them.

Yes. It sounds bonkers.

Could you get someone in from a greyhound rescue organisation to give a talk?

I would be very angry about this.

Dog and horse racing is known for its cruelty and I can’t believe they are actually promoting it (let alone that it’s literally gambling).

What next, are they going to do an assembly on poker and how to get rich quick. Or dog fighting or horse fighting.

I work in a school and I’m shocked none of the staff had issue with this (or if they did their concerns weren’t listened to).

I’m not one for complaining but this I 100% would.

Assemblies are there to be educational or for a purpose. How does this benefit the students in any way.

That's appalling. Greyhound racing is a cruel sport with greyhounds treated as a commodity to be disposed of when they are no longer making money for their trainer. In my mind it's the equivalent of promoting coursing or fox hunting. Please contact the school and ask what their justification is for allowing this to happy. I would hope that a local anti-racing greyhound charity would have a chance to provide the opposing viewpoint to that promoted by the trainers. Whereabouts roughly are you OP?

What has greyhound racing got to do with little kids?!? What a bizarre thing to have an assembly on. I was thinking it was rugby or something, but it might as well been sky diving for all the relevance to the audience.

That's a very odd thing to have a talk on in a primary school.

Greyhound racing?! Why promote an industry in which many of those dogs are treated appallingly then just tossed away once they no longer serve a purpose to their greedy and cruel trainers? Totally inappropriate for any audience never mind primary school children.

I have a greyhound, not an ex-racer and I adore the breed. Despite this, I'd sooner have a world with no greyhounds than to allow this barbaric 'sport' to continue.

Just one example of the cruelty inflicted on these beautiful souls...

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/greyhound-trainer-rebecca-perkins-jailed-8575964

Thank you, for all your helpful comments. I have been in touch with the school and they have refused to answer my request for an opposing speaker. Those who went to that school, were aiming to gain more family support for this controversial sport.. When children attend, they are exposed to gambling and greyhounds being injured.. But, all that said, I am appalled that the school isn’t prepared to allow the children to be provided with an alternative opinion and that would apply to any controversial subject being presented to children. Children must be given both sides… It would be just as bad, if anti greyhound supporters went in and gave their opinions on greyhound racing and the school refused to allow a trainer and promoter of the sport to present their views.

😂

Ok. Why on earth is anyone promoting this at a junior school? I'm guessing kids need to learn how to gamble safely?

@Timfy I don't know if it falls under their remit but would it be worth reporting to Ofsted?

Was the talk about raising money / looking after retired greyhounds? Were they definitely promoting it? We're you told in advance what the talk was?

I don't think GHR is a sport though? Sports are for humans?

If the head of the trust doesn’t respond, I will definitely take things further and report to Ofted.. The school could resolve this, so easily, just can’t understand what the problem is..

The aim of the assembly was to promote the Derby… Not aware of any fund raising for charity; nothing mentioned. Was all about marketing greyhound racing.. It beggars belief that the school even allowed it..

Thank you for advising us it is greyhound racing and I agree with your decision to go to Ofsted if it is not resolved by the Trust head.

It seems an odd topic for an assembly. Did you attend the assembly as a teacher or was it at your DC's school.

Ofsted will probably not be interested unless you've gone through the school complaints procedures by the way so if it's something you have the facts on and want to deal with it formally you'll need the complaints procedure.

This. I wouldn’t be happy at this either.

Way back when I was at Primary School, mid sixties, we had various people and outfits come and talk to us as either a class or whole school. Sometimes in the classroom or hall, others out on the playing fields.

Don't think greyhounds featured but before concluding the OP is not unreasonable and riding their own hobby horse on the subject I'd want to know in much more detail what actually happened. If somebody just comes in with a dog or few and tells a group of primary children that they race, a bit like horses, and may be the kids see the dogs run then no problem IMHO. Same if there's some video of dogs running at a track. Could the kids ask questions about whether it's cruel or not?

So far I'd have been completely relaxed.

If there are freebies like tickets for the track, or betting offers for M&D then I agree alarm bells start to ring.