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Original poster

selling poppies in primary school

54 replies

Mercedes · 09/11/2009 19:13

I was really surprised today when my dd asked me for money to buy a poppy at school. The school has never done this before and it wasn't done at my or my dp school.

Is this normal practice? What happens in other schools? Does anyone get the opportunity to present an opposite view or even buy a white poppy?

OP posts:
Surfermum · 09/11/2009 20:07

Seems to be the norm in dd's school too.

And they're not just about WW1, they're in remembrance of those who died in all sorts of wars.

elliott · 09/11/2009 20:12

They weren't sold in my school xxxx years ago. And I'm not aware of them being sold in either of the primary schools my children have attended.

ellielou02 · 09/11/2009 20:13

Normal In my DD's school and I remember buying them when I was at school and being told why they were selling them.

clam · 09/11/2009 20:17

Normal round here, too.

And if poppies are only about the 1st World War, how come there are so many veterans from WW2, the Falklands, Iraq, Afghanistan etc at the Cenotaph each year?

lockets · 09/11/2009 20:21

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RustyBear · 09/11/2009 20:23

trickerg - the box of poppies we got to sell at the junior school I work at didn't include any pins....

herbietea · 09/11/2009 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

abra1d · 09/11/2009 21:02

'However I will say poppies are about the 1st world war and not about fighting nazis. I wouldn't buy a white poppy cos I'm not a pacifist but I do know my history and reading about the decisions to waste 1000s of lives in pointless attacks by General Haig and his ilk is not something I think we should forget.

When you buy a poppy you don't hear about this.'

No, because it's not a history lesson, it's a charity. Besides the money goes to wounded soldiers, not to General Haig (who'd be about 150 by now if he was still alive).

Lapsedrunner · 09/11/2009 21:04

I would be offended if there were no poppies for sale

AtheneNoctua · 09/11/2009 21:26

White poppies???? Are we not done with this insult????

I didn't think to buy poppies for my children this year. I should have. Shame on me.

lardprao · 09/11/2009 23:02

I teach in a Quaker school; white poppies are sold each year. We don't consider this an insult.

midnightexpress · 09/11/2009 23:30

If only they were about just WW1. My DB is currently working as an army nurse in Afghanistan, and I can assure you that in addition to the hundreds of lives that are being lost, there are horrific numbers of young soldiers returning daily without limbs and with other serious injuries. Whatever you think of the war (and I am about as sceptical about it as it is possible to be), those people are going to need care, and the poppy appeal is designed to help them.

It's not about glorifying war. On the contrary. I think that this year there are probably large numbers of people who feel that it's almost anti-war, as it highlights the real cost of a war that many of them don't agree with.

Linnet · 09/11/2009 23:48

Poppies were always sold at my schools and are still sold at my dd's schools. I thought all schools sold them?

My dd got a stick on poppy rather than one with a stem which she was rather upset about. So we bought one with a stem in town on Saturday. I need to find a little safety pin now so I can pin it on to wear to work on Wednesday since they don't come with real pins anymore.

scaryteacher · 10/11/2009 07:30

No health and safety in Belgium. They were sold in my ds's school main reception with pins.

OP, if you look in chat and Forces Sweethearts, this topic has been done over the past week - red versus white poppies and what they stand for.

Hulababy · 10/11/2009 09:53

Linnet - I bought a poppy in Waitrose and it came with the pin. DH bought a poppy for himself and 7y DD from her school, and they both came with pins too.

Ixia · 10/11/2009 10:05

They were sold in my school, 35yrs ago (eek, I'm that old) and are sold in DD's school today.

They have stick on poppies (the poppy head with no stem) at DD's school, or actual stickers with a pic of a poppy. DD strangely (like the pp's daughter) insisted on a proper one with a stem, we're having to sellotape it to her uniform.

I've been very vague about the reasoning behind them, as I know she isn't ready to cope with war etc (she's 4). I'm a bit that some schools are giving reception children a little more info than is necessary as I feel it should be up to a parent to decide when a child is ready.

smee · 10/11/2009 12:17

mercedes, poppies don't glorify war or the thousands who've died. Surely few people believe that, as it's the opposite; a poppy is a sad symbol of remembrance - something to simply ensure nobody forgets the truth. I think that's pretty useful and something easily explained to small children. And yes they should be in schools.

  • you mention the slaughter caused by Haig, well that is remembered by many and that's why Poppies are good - a lot of people remember or know of the incompetence that caused so many to die. If they don't, well it's possible a Poppy might make them read and find out. Poppies are vital so we don't forget the truth of war.
islandofsodor · 10/11/2009 12:49

Can I ask what are white poppies sold in aid of?

Red poppies may be a sympbol of the first workd war which I think should never be forgotten for the countless young lives often needlessly lost but they are primarily sold to help servicemen and women and ex ones in need surely.

Actually I've just answeed my own question by googling.

According to the whoite poppy website they symbolise peace which is all very well but the money raised goes back into their "education work" not into helping real people who have lived through horrendous expeeiences on some cases.

piscesmoon · 10/11/2009 17:05

I have never seen a white poppy. I think that I would want a rundown on exactly what 'education work' means. I much prefer it to go to the British Legion and know that it helping those in need.Surely helping an ex serviceman with no legs is preferable to 'education work', whatever that might mean?

mrz · 10/11/2009 19:04

I remember buying a poppy at school in the 70s and my school sells poppies every year this year our poppies are self adhesive rather than the pin on kid (much better - but they stop being sticky is the child takes them on and off) mine has lasted a whole week with careful removal each night
The red poppy is a sign of remembrance and a celebration of the end of a war. Tomorrow our FSU (nursery & reception ) will hold 2 minutes silence outdoors as the Union flag is lowered to half mast at 11am.

piscesmoon · 10/11/2009 19:10

I am teaching year 1 tomorrow and we will be having 2 minutes silence, with the rest of the school at 11am.

trickerg · 10/11/2009 19:22

Have we been fobbed off with last year's stock then? Ours came with pins AGAIN this year....grrrrrr!

piscesmoon · 10/11/2009 19:24

All with pins here.

thegrammerpolicesic · 10/11/2009 22:36

Ds got one with a pin today at school and now has a nice scratch on his chin as a consequence of catching the sharp end on his chin.
Not that happy about that tbh. I will be fixing it on with a safety pin tomorrow. He's only 4 so a bit young to have a proper pin on him imho.

Clare123 · 11/11/2009 10:27

I can't believe that you questioned it. Its our history and it's happening now.

Shame on you to question it. It's not political it's remembering those young men.