School Forcing Kids to Write Letters of Condolence for Queen Sparks Debate

A parent has reacted with anger after learning their child's school had set them "compulsory homework" to write a letter of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II.

The disgruntled parent shared their unhappiness at this development in an online forum post. But although many users echoed those sentiments, plenty spoke up in favor of the homework assignment as a fitting tribute and valuable life lesson.

While millions have taken to social media and the streets of London to express their sorrow at the death of the 96-year-old British monarch, there have been some dissenting voices among the mourners.

John Oliver's joke about the queen's death was cut from U.K. broadcasts of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, while the monarch's children have also drawn criticism with her son Prince Edward's military attire earning unwanted attention and King Charles III's tax affairs also drawing a vociferous response.

The backlash looked set to continue on Mumsnet, where an unhappy parent voiced anger at learning that pupils at the elementary school their child attends were being tasked with paying tribute to the monarch.

"I can see how this would be helpful to children who feel upset or who want to," they wrote. "But the school have made it a compulsory homework."

The poster said they felt it was a bit "off" to have a young child "forced to write a letter about someone who died" even if they don't want to. "In our house, we think it's sad the queen died, the same as when any person dies, but we're not grieving as we didn't know her."

Branding much of what was currently unfolding in the U.K. as "performative grief" the poster was not alone in expressing disdain at the school's demands. MyLovelyPen said: "I think it's totally wrong," adding, "There should be a choice," while Decidualcast called it "Utterly ridiculous."

LaurenM87 was of a similar mindset, commenting: "I respect everyone's right to grieve if they feel they had some sort of connection to her but this forced mourning is getting outrageous. Children really should not be getting roped into all of this."

However, while some voiced anger, plenty of others felt that the homework task was entirely suitably in the circumstances and would be of wider benefit in the future.

"I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill," Oppsupsside said. "It's essentially a form of letter writing. Whatever a persons feelings about the monarchy may be, it is still a national and historical event which you would expect schools to acknowledge in some way."

"It is sad that someone has died - whether or not you agree with the royal family is beside the point" Eeksilon commented. "The school teaching your child the manners to know it's appropriate to say something is definitely not a bad thing."

FinallyHere added: "Seems like a good writing exercise and a useful life skill. There is never going to be a good time to write a letter of condolence."

Newsweek was not able to verify the details of the case.