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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think nurseries should appear neutral when it comes to politics

65 replies

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 01/07/2024 21:05

I get the bus to and from work most days and the bus stop is in front of a nursery. The nursery is currently displaying two large posters of a candidate running in the general election. One is directly on their front door and the other is in their front window.

I think nurseries should appear impartial, don't you?

OP posts:
Skybluepinky · 02/07/2024 09:43

some of the parties policies mean they won’t be able to afford to stay open without massive fee increases.

CollyBobble · 02/07/2024 09:46

I think it's good the people that run the place let everyone know their political stance.

If they support Labour for example, I would not want my child under the care of leftist ideology so would remove them.

Cornettoninja · 02/07/2024 09:53

It’s a private space and they’re entitled to do what they like. It’s a risky strategy as politics is divisive (its old advice is never to talk politics at social gatherings!) but I can absolutely see why a nursery that has been particularly affected by policies might feel the need to nail their colours to the mast.

It comes with repercussions though they may feel similarly to parents ie maybe they don’t really want the families who are directly opposed to their views. I think nursery places are in demand so they probably don’t need families as much as they need them 🤷‍♀️

PrincessTeaSet · 02/07/2024 09:55

PelicanPopcorn · 02/07/2024 09:38

Nursery closures are up 50% in the last year.
Government has increased the ratios for two year olds from 1:4 to 1:5.
Uk has the most expensive childcare in Europe.
Pay is low it at starts at 14k and average is 19k.
Nurseries should absolutely be able to express a view rather than sit quietly while children are put in danger, parents are ripped off, staff are underpaid and the companies themselves are folding.
OP surely you have noticed the impact of conservative policies on nursery costs, staff ratios, nursery places? Is it something you want to change?

Some Nursery owners are making huge profits under the current system (see recent guardian article) which is clearly why the nursery owner supports the Tories.

cardibach · 02/07/2024 10:05

saraclara · 02/07/2024 01:41

I'm obviously in the minority.

I think it's absolutely fair for a nursery to tell parents about the problems they have and what they need from the next government. So a more subtle approach to getting support via parents' votes. But I don't think they should be displaying posters that canvas for a particular candidate or party.

If I was a parent who was opposed to that candidate or party, I'd feel that the nursery was anti-me, and I'd no longer feel welcome there.

I don't like any workplace that takes a particular party political stance, even if I agree with it. Presumably not all those nursery workers have the same political views, yet the nursery is giving the impression that it's the whole nursery's stance.

Edited

I don't generally feel someone with different political views from me is 'anti me'. We just disagree. Why the extreme polarisation?

PelicanPopcorn · 02/07/2024 10:07

PelicanPopcorn · 02/07/2024 09:38

Nursery closures are up 50% in the last year.
Government has increased the ratios for two year olds from 1:4 to 1:5.
Uk has the most expensive childcare in Europe.
Pay is low it at starts at 14k and average is 19k.
Nurseries should absolutely be able to express a view rather than sit quietly while children are put in danger, parents are ripped off, staff are underpaid and the companies themselves are folding.
OP surely you have noticed the impact of conservative policies on nursery costs, staff ratios, nursery places? Is it something you want to change?

Haha see they are supporting the conservative candidate - odd!! Apologies OP

cardibach · 02/07/2024 10:11

CollyBobble · 02/07/2024 09:46

I think it's good the people that run the place let everyone know their political stance.

If they support Labour for example, I would not want my child under the care of leftist ideology so would remove them.

Well that would be your right, but I think it's odd that you believe someone can't support a party without indoctrinating small children about it. What would that even look like with a 2 year old?
I'm a teacher. I'm left wing. Even though I teach secondary I've never shown my political views - at election times I often get students asking who I support. I don't tell them, but this shows I don't give it away. Nobody is indoctrinating anyone.

TemuSpecialBuy · 02/07/2024 10:17

YANBU.
not the same thing but I was looking at nurseries and at one 3 members of staff were wearing flag pin badges (Palestinian)

i don’t understand why.
its completely unnecessary in a childcare setting.

we are in north London and I can see it as nothing other than a quiet signal that Jewish children aren’t welcome on that basis I had to discount them.

Magnastorm · 02/07/2024 12:48

CollyBobble · 02/07/2024 09:46

I think it's good the people that run the place let everyone know their political stance.

If they support Labour for example, I would not want my child under the care of leftist ideology so would remove them.

"Leftist ideology"

😂

Original poster
VeterinaryCareAssistant · 02/07/2024 15:17

SuperSharpShooter · 02/07/2024 09:22

Private Business Supports the Tories Shocker! 🥴
Of course they can display whatever posters they like.
You can take your kid out if it's that important to you. You won't though 🤷

I don't have nursery aged children, so it will not affect me in the slightest.

OP posts:
Original poster
VeterinaryCareAssistant · 02/07/2024 15:21

PelicanPopcorn · 02/07/2024 09:38

Nursery closures are up 50% in the last year.
Government has increased the ratios for two year olds from 1:4 to 1:5.
Uk has the most expensive childcare in Europe.
Pay is low it at starts at 14k and average is 19k.
Nurseries should absolutely be able to express a view rather than sit quietly while children are put in danger, parents are ripped off, staff are underpaid and the companies themselves are folding.
OP surely you have noticed the impact of conservative policies on nursery costs, staff ratios, nursery places? Is it something you want to change?

To be honest, no, I haven't as my youngest child is 16 so I haven't had any involvement in childcare for years.

OP posts:
JamSandle · 02/07/2024 15:21

I dont think its appropriate.

pizzaHeart · 02/07/2024 15:24

Chickenuggetsticks · 01/07/2024 21:10

Yeah DD’s nursery is strictly neutral about EVERYTHING. Some parents complained about kids not being able to wear Gaza badges etc. but tbh most of them are too young to understand whats going on and you have no idea if anyone is Jewish.

I don’t want politics or anything at my child’s nursery. I just don’t think it’s appropriate.

Wearing Gaza badges to a nursery???? I probably could guess that such badges exist but that people send children wearing them to a nursery…
Where is this if you don’t mind me asking?

pizzaHeart · 02/07/2024 15:27

KrisAkabusi · 01/07/2024 21:52

So far today we've had threads complaining about doctors, teachers and now nurseries endorsing candidates. Anyone want to place bets on which occupation is next? Or is this a bizarre bot campaign to stop anyone being political?

Funeral directors?

TemuSpecialBuy · 02/07/2024 18:19

pizzaHeart · 02/07/2024 15:24

Wearing Gaza badges to a nursery???? I probably could guess that such badges exist but that people send children wearing them to a nursery…
Where is this if you don’t mind me asking?

Show quote history

I am guessing pin badges that have prop Palestinian slogans on or as in my case at the nursery I went to visit pin badges of the Palestinian flag….

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