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Subject: Another good one from UK...
Seriously UK, you guys are cracking me up today. :D
This is a true "gem"...Now parents aren't allowed to attend school field day to "spare" the embarassement of their kids if they don't win. ::)
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From News.telegraph.co.uk:
Sports day ban on parents 'to spare the losers'
A primary school has banned parents from attending its annual sports day, with egg and spoon and obstacle races, to spare the children from embarrassment if they do not win.
Instead, a non-competitive sports day will be held behind closed doors.
Judith Wressel, the head, said in a letter to parents: "Taking part in traditional races can be difficult and often embarrassing for many children, which is why we envisage a different outdoor activity event that will suit all children."
The move has infuriated many parents.
Rob Busst, 43, who has two sons at the school, said: "It is political correctness gone mad. They are trying to solve a problem that does not exist.
"Children do not become scarred for life if they lose the egg and spoon race. They all love being in the races and they love the fact that their parents are there to cheer them on."
Mr Busst, who runs an export company, said that he and other parents had written to the school in protest, but he had yet to receive a reply.
Mrs Wressel said she had made her decision after talks with parents, children, teachers and governors.
"We want to ensure that all our children take part and enjoy the experience. We expect to be able to involve parents next year."
Birmingham education authority said: "Each school decides the most appropriate way to arrange activities in consultation with staff and governors and looking at the needs of all the pupils."
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/05/19/negg19.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/05/19/ixnewstop.html/news/2003/05/19/negg19.xml
Subject: Re: Another
Having never lost in Field Day before, I don't know what it feels like... ridiculous story, though, it's been everywhere...
Quoting:
Seriously UK, you guys are cracking me up today. :D
This is a true "gem"...Now parents aren't allowed to attend school field day to "spare" the embarassement of their kids if they don't win. ::)
------------------------------------------------------------
From News.telegraph.co.uk:
Sports day ban on parents 'to spare the losers'
A primary school has banned parents from attending its annual sports day, with egg and spoon and obstacle races, to spare the children from embarrassment if they do not win.
Instead, a non-competitive sports day will be held behind closed doors.
Judith Wressel, the head, said in a letter to parents: "Taking part in traditional races can be difficult and often embarrassing for many children, which is why we envisage a different outdoor activity event that will suit all children."
The move has infuriated many parents.
Rob Busst, 43, who has two sons at the school, said: "It is political correctness gone mad. They are trying to solve a problem that does not exist.
"Children do not become scarred for life if they lose the egg and spoon race. They all love being in the races and they love the fact that their parents are there to cheer them on."
Mr Busst, who runs an export company, said that he and other parents had written to the school in protest, but he had yet to receive a reply.
Mrs Wressel said she had made her decision after talks with parents, children, teachers and governors.
"We want to ensure that all our children take part and enjoy the experience. We expect to be able to involve parents next year."
Birmingham education authority said: "Each school decides the most appropriate way to arrange activities in consultation with staff and governors and looking at the needs of all the pupils."
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/05/19/negg19.xml&
sSheet=/news/2003/05/19/ixnewstop.html/news/2003/05/19/negg19.xml
End Quote
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
from the view point of a whiny teenager, the parental ban seems like a good idea to me! ;D ;)
but seriously, the embarassment from losing a field day race is questionable. everyone else looks like a fool doing them, so what's the big deal? i found it rather funny when the egg rolled off the spoon and hit the sidewalk... :D
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
Quoting:
but seriously, the embarassment from losing a field day race is questionable. End Quote
Exactly.
If the kids are "embarassed" at dropping an egg on the ground, whats next? No parents allowed at little league games anymore to spare the child's "embarassement" when he strikes out or misses a fly-ball?
I'm sorry but this whole story is a bit over the edge. Sorry UK, get a grip. ::)
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
I think they banned the parents because some (just some) are so involved that they put a lot of pressure on their kids while they cheer. The embarrassment may not necessarily be because the kids lost, but because they feel that their parents were "counting on them" to win, and they let them down. The embarrassment of not having done something that you feel like everyone wanted you to be able to do (and that you yourself wanted to do) is horrible...trust me, I've been there. That being said, though, not all parents are like that.
And for those who are, why do they have to start banning them now? After having them come for years, it does seem a little silly. And besides, it doesn't say who complained about it first; the kids or the head of the school. This is one of those rare (for me) issues where I can see good points on both sides.
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
They are lucky to still have a sports day most schools in the U.K have sold off their playing fields to developers !
Actually I agree that this is maybe aimed at those horredous 'pushy'parents that you can get.
Personally Sports day and sport in general when I was primary school age did scar me for life because I was usless at running so I always ended up in the obstacle race having the p*ss taken out of me by the other kids for being crap or being left til the end because noone would pick me for their team.Believe me that is soul destroying when you are a painfully shy child so I am all for less competative and more fun games for young children.
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
Quoting:
Sorry UK, get a grip. ::)
End Quote
...don't you think that's a bit of an overgeneralisation? I mean, the report talks about one school: certainly the schools my children are at are nothing like that, though my daughter would definitely prefer having a reason to miss sports day - she's dyspraxic, and will never have a hope of competing at any of the sporty games - last year, she practiced pretty hard for the skipping race and managed to come about half-way down the field, which we were really pleased about (it was the first time in three years of sports days that she hadn't come last in everything - think what that does to a child's confidence). Personally, I think it's unfair to force her to take part - banning sports day completely is an asinine response to some children being bad at sport; I really don't see why it has to be compulsory to take part, though.
I'm sure most schools have some parents they'd love to ban from sports day... there are some dreadful examples of poor sportsmanship to be seen at the side of the field, rather than on it: the "to spare the children" reason could just be an subterfuge to try and ensure that certain parents don't make it ;-)
Phil
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
I agree that this is a bit over the edge, but on the other hand, when my son was young I coached little league. One player "caught" a line drive right in the solar plexes, doubled over and was crying. His father started yelling at him to take the pain, be a man, etc. The poor kid could hardly breath for a few seconds, and this baboon was screaming at him. Its not losing that can be embarassing, but that kind of BS.
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
Phil: I agree, not everyone should have to take part. I am a junior in high school right now, and I have cerebral palsy, so your daughter and I are kind of in the same boat. I was never very good at sports either, except for tug of war and the balloon toss. Unfortunately, we had to participate in everything.In high school, I have found they don't put as much emphasis on it, but it's still pretty big. Which is why I left school early today. (we have our awards day and field day on the same day) It gets harder to have events that I can participate in every year. In fact, I know one boy who has muscular dystrophy and can't play sports at all. It's no fun for either of us, so I just came home. Better to do that and spend time on this site (or others that I enjoy) than to sit around bored to death and embarrassed because you can't play with the other kids.
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
I reckon the best solution would be to have an egg and spoon fight.
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
Competition affects many aspects of all our lives and I don't agree with the principle of removing competition from all aspects of the school curriculum. Neither do I suggest that forcing everyone to compete is a good thing.
So I'd say keep the competitive aspect to school sports for those kids that want to compete and arrange non-competitive games & activities in parallel for those that don't.
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
Are egg and spoon races really that competitive?
Seriously though, I agree with banning parents from these types of events, unless they are helping run it. At my son's school, however, everyone gets a ribbon, whether they win or not. This year, they also gave out "awards" for things such as "shortest jump", as a surprise. The kids also have the option of participating in (events that they get to choose) or being on the "cheering team", which basically just encourages all the participants. I think they encourage them to participate in at least 1, but not more than 4, however I could be wrong.
Subject: Re: Another good one from UK...
Quoting:
Are egg and spoon races really that competitive?
Seriously though, I agree with banning parents from these types of events, unless they are helping run it. At my son's school, however, everyone gets a ribbon, whether they win or not. This year, they also gave out "awards" for things such as "shortest jump", as a surprise. The kids also have the option of participating in (events that they get to choose) or being on the "cheering team", which basically just encourages all the participants. I think they encourage them to participate in at least 1, but not more than 4, however I could be wrong.
End Quote
A far more sensible idea than forcing all kids to enter races regardless of their ability.