That schools didn't observe the 2 minute silence for VE day today?

[madeofmore]

I've no idea if this is a usual thing or not for schools, but for the 80th anniversary of VE day I thought DS's secondary would take part in the reflections and remembrance of 80 years since the second world war. I don't have a military background or any agenda to want this, more that I am surprised there wasn't any taking part, nothing mentioned in assembly or anything else this week. There was an assembly and special lunch today in Ds2's primary, not sure if they also observed the 2 minute silence at 11.

@PluckyCheeksof course it’s relevant! If no one had fought for this country then it would look nothing like it does today!!!!

Yes, Malta got the George Cross.

I work in a secondary school and we had a 2 minutes silence and having assemblies next week. Our school is multi cultural with many children from families only recently moved to this country, it shouldn’t matter about the geographical area of the school

I don't remember there ever being a silence on VE Day. Street parties and community picnics occasionally, but not every year. Silence and solemnity happens in November. Bigging it up seems in poor taste, trying to find a hook to whip up some xenophobic nationalist sentiment.

I teach in a school where 70% of our children are from immigrant families. We observed the 2 minute silence and every class did a lesson today about VE day.

We had 2 minutes silence in our school today.

Not Japan obviously but Singapore, what is now Malaysia and what is now Indonesia were colonies of the UK and Netherlands (Indonesia was called The Dutch East Indies then).
Hong Kong (and parts of China?) were British.

Bigging it up?
Seriously!
This is one of the most crass and uninformed posts I’ve ever read.

I didn't hear anything about a silence but DS school acknowledged it with a party lunch. To be honest I've never heard of anyone celebrating it at all until this year.

I think the majority of those who sacrificed themselves for the England of 1939 will be turning in their graves at the state of England in 2025.

There never used to be two-minute silences for anything at all other than Armistice Day and/or Remembrance Sunday in November. I don't think it's particularly valuable or useful to have them for everything and I really don't think schools need to observe them.

My school did. And other things as well.

It would make far more sense, and be far more respectful to victims of war, for there to be a focus on the monstrous treatment of Gaza right now.
But I guess it's easier to just keep replaying the past .

Lest we forget is said for a reason though. Well literally millions of reasons really.

Whilst I agree with most that it should be VJ Day more marked, and also that a silence is too maudlin. I do need to challenge your reasons.

They’re in a British School, growing up as a British citizens (unless you exclusively mean international schools which I dont think you do). Therefore it is relevant, whatever is deemed culturally important to Britain IS relevant and what will be taught and provided in the environment.

if you don’t think learning about the country they have chosen to live in, what matters to them or respecting it is relevant - that’s a much wider conversation. And whilst I did not vote for reform - comments and attitudes like this, claiming no interest or relevance - are a huge part of the reason people did.

I teach secondary. We had a 2 minute silence today and were all sent resources to use with our tutor groups.

We did the 2 minutes silence at noon.
Though I am not too sure how well it was known nationally as we only got told about this this morning (other VE day activities were already planned for the day).

My sons secondary school have had the whole day themed around VE Day, as have most of the schools in my area.

The 2 minutes silence was at Midday.

My school did. We also did an assembly about it, talked about it at length with my class and specifically why we remember. The whole school observed the silence and knew what it was for.

I live and work in one of the most multi-cultural parts of the North-West UK. My school is 90% children of immigrant families, mainly South Asia. Some of them told me about family members and their involvement in WW2.

I’m shocked by some of the sweeping and frankly, rather racist comments on here! Liberation from the tyranny of a massive racist was of the main things the Allies were fighting for…

My DCs secondary school had a 2 minute silence at 12 noon. Work did too; many of us wfh but a 2 minute meeting was put in calendars for 12 noon.

Yep. Mind your dog whistling @PluckyCheeks

We did it all 5 yrs ago though. And a funeral, and a coronation. D Day. VJ Day.

Barely get time to wash the bunting between outings.

Exactly.

It’s all so bloody performative, like the BBC making everyone wear poppies for the month running up to Remembrance Sunday.

Those who actually fought and lost loved ones in these conflicts never felt the need to do all of this.

We had a school visit this morning ( historical building) 61, year 5's from a very multicultural school and the kids observed it beautifully.

But it wasn’t the end of the world war.