Private school to make children watch World Cup match

[Solo2]

Neither of my sons likes football and one actively hates it. They go to an academically selective school where there is plenty of sport but no over-emphasis on football, although the girls are allowed to play netball and rounders and the boys forced to play football at Games in Winter.

Today, I am shocked to learn they will be compelled to watch the World Cup match on Wednesday afternoon, thus missing lessons. This is a complete surprise and I'm incensed that my hard earned money for two lots of school fees (I'm a single mum with no other financial support and wholly reliant on my self-employed income) is going to be spent on my children watching a football match, especially when they don't even like football and have never watched it or wanted to watch it.

Even if I were a mum of two football loving children, I'd be angry that school time is being used in this way. I suspect that it's really because the staff want to watch the match. I'm even more angry that the girls are probably not going to be compelled to watch it as I absolutely hate sexism.

Has anyone else got a child in a fee-paying school who will be forced to watch the match? Also, how would others feel and should I complain?

I am one of those who has not the slightest interest in a group of overpaid people playing with a round thing on a wide expanse of greenery. I didn't even know there was an important match coming up and actually pride myself on this.

On the other hand, I realise I might be in the minority here and have strongly biased views.

So, if you and your DCs loved football, would you relish paying school fees so they could watch a match at school??

I'd be pleased that ds could have a rest, they normally spend every afternoon for the last term practicing for a play so I really wouldn't mind.

I think you are blowing it out of proportion, sorry. I do know where you are coming from though.

I think they might enjoy it...my ds a few years a go went in early to watch an England game and loved it ...it was a state school though ..is it ok for non private school kids to watch football?

If it's a one off then I'd not be too bothered. Kids (even at senior school) sometimes watch a film or something rather than having a proper lesson, especially at the end of term - this is similar.

However if it happens several times I'd definitely be having a polite word with the school. Maybe politely asking for a pro rata refund

That match doesn't start until 3pm, I'm pretty sure, so they're not going to miss much, but have you spoken to the school and made your views known?

Maybe I am, belledechocolate... I just have this initial gut response, largely based on the assumption the school are making that football is important to everyone and that, particularly, all boys will 'obviously' love football.

I hate the insidious sexism that seems to be creeping into the school since it became co-ed, polarising boys and girls into specific roles (perhaps I should be writing this on the Feminism forum?) but also the complete waste of my money! If there were an alternative 'down-time' activity - like even showing them a movie in another room, then that would be fine.

I've emailed the school to ask if there might be an available alternative but the instigator of the idea is a die-hard football fan, from what I know. So he'll probably be aghast that any parent would think that watching World Cup is a waste of time.

WHy does it make the tiniest difference if it is a fee paying school or not?

Get over it, they are trying to provide a nice treat for the kids. The world cup is only once every 4 years after all.

School isn't all about academics and I have a very non sporty dd at a private school.

We are not a football family, ds has a 'project' to do at school though. I imagine they are just giving them things to keep the children occupied as there's normally not alot to do in the last half term, SATS are all done, secondary school is sorted. We live in a society where (mens) football takes over. I do think it's better then spending every afternoon for half a term practicing for a school play though. The hours wasted sitting around doing nothing, now that's a complete waste of money time

Is it ok for state school educated kids to watch the footy then? Why the emphasis on private. I seem to remember every PE lesson for 2 weeks (many years ago) was spent watching Wimbledon at my private school. I hated tennis so was very happy reading a book. I suggest your sons do the same.

I am enjoying that the children will be forced to watch the world cup.
I have visions of Mel Gibson with his eyelids peeled back in that dross he did with Julia Roberts...

my kids are at a state school. they are not watching the football, they are doing lovely outdoor swimming if the weather stays nice instead in their pool. perhaps you should move your kids to state?

I was compelled to watch the Royal Weddings whilst at a state school. Scarred me for life and was clearly the reason I only got a B in my Art O level.

We were compelled to watch the cricket in our maths lesson at state school (maths teacher a cricket buff) and at 6th form we were compelled to watch the news as the Gulf war broke out.

Even worse at state primary we were compelled to go and line the streets of Stoke to watch Princess Diana's car go past waving flags. Blink and you missed her!

it is only 90 mins, most of it at the very end of the school day.

Mine would love it, football fans or not, it would beat studying!

Shame they are being FORCED, but to be offered the chance is nice. Looks like it might be the last England match for a while anyway!

I am at work and unable to watch it and am , as we only ever watch the England matches, every four years and make an occasion of it (well we try to!) DC don't get to watch it at school either. I am contemplating recording it and forbidding anyone to talk about results so we can watch it two hours later!

i think it would be ok for a state school as any fule kno that , that is as far as their aspirations go

I hope not ! Ds would rather do extra Maths ! It is a sports afternoon anyway.

For my first three years at secondary school, we had to do a 20 mile sponsored walk to raise money to put a roof on the swimming pool. It was on a Saturday morning, we had to get sponsors, and nothing except a broken leg (with a medical note), could get you out of it. I couldn't imagine that happening now!
I also remember sitting for what seemed like hours, in the hall watching some apollo space ship land/dock or something. Apparently we were watching history in the making.

Doesn't matter if you're paying for schooling or not DC should not be watching the WC.

Nope they should have no fun in school at all.....

I think the issue for me is more the sexist assumption that all the boys will WANT to watch the World Cup. My secondary complaint is that I work extremely hard to pay school fees - entirely my choice - but having been up at 4.30am today to get some work done and worked till 11pm last night too, I feel angry that my hard-earned money would be spent enforcing my sons to watch something they don't like on TV. I'd still feel cross if they were at a non-fee paying school and that anger would be more in relation to the first issue above.

You're right - it does start only at 3pm, so it's really not worth bothering about but it just felt annoying that the boys were being 'put into a category' ie 'football loving bloke'. DS2s friends also HATE football. So he's not the only one. DS1 will most likely feel compelled to act as if he loves the match, when he really has no interest, as he'll want to fit in with his peers.

A one-off doesn't really matter as such. I think it's more the underlying principal of the thing for me. For example, if the school said, "Right. Everyone MUST watch a live performance of the Royal Ballet/Horse of the Year Show/Opera from Glyndebourne/Women's semi-fianls at Wimbledon", I'm sure other parents might be equally incensed, if their DCs hated those things.

I just don't like the assumption that everyone/man should be into the World Cup.

I think they should jolly well watch the rugger instead - fancy a private school promoting....football...