ANYONE with two brain cells to rub together knows that the exclusion of a young girl from her school’s “Culture Celebration Day” for simply wearing a Union Jack Dress is utter madness – and cruel.
But it is also utter madness that schools spend so much time and effort on ridiculous “days” like this, which can so often end up being brutal for both kids and parents.
SWNSCourtney Wright was segregated from other pupils at her school’s ‘Culture Celebration Day’ for wearing a Union Jack dress[/caption]
Roland LeonCourtney in her outfit for the event at her school[/caption]
Roland LeonCourtney was banned from wearing a Union Jack dress at her school[/caption]
Courtney Wright’s school in Rugby, Warwickshire, said the celebration day was “designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds, traditions and heritages”.
But it has backfired. Hugely. It has now had to close early for the summer over “extremist threats”.
Utterly ridiculous
The dress Courtney carefully chose was deemed “unacceptable” and she was segregated from class and unable to read out the speech on British history she had worked hard to prepare.
After the 12-year-old’s dad spoke out the school was forced to issue a grovelling apology and it sparked a political debate, with Downing Street saying the Prime Minister always believed that being British is to be celebrated.
Marvellous. But what I hope this saga really does now is lead to a sensible decision to clamp down on the amount of organised events like this within schools.
Because they are getting out of control and are often utterly ridiculous.
It was once just Red Nose Day but now there is everything from diversity weeks to history days and dinosaur days to recycling week.
I get that some are educational but the ones that involve buying expensive new clothing that only gets worn once, or full-on fancy dress outfits with a theme, are unfair on both parents and kids. Many dread them.
There are schools now having such regular themed events that some parents pretend their kids are ill to avoid sending them in.
Luckily, my son’s primary school only marks the bare minimum.
But when the notifications on my Year 1 WhatsApp group go off before 8am, I get a sinking feeling, knowing I’ve probably forgotten to prepare him for some event or another.
It is usually the same kindly and organised parents who remind the forgetful ones like me that a jazzy sock or specific coloured T-shirt is required at an hour’s notice.
I don’t want to seem like a bah humbug misery here. I am sure all the schools around this country mean well when they arrange activities to bring the kids together and make them happy.
But what can seem like a genuinely brilliant, fun, and inclusive “day” to the school can cause misery for others.
Dressing up means they don’t only have to feel good, but look good too. The wrong outfit can cause mayhem.
The last thing busy parents need is a half-hearted outfit that can be ridiculed, and those battling to manage a weekly food budget can do without coughing up for one-off outfits too.
Obviously schools will say there is the option to opt out but who really wants to be the parent that does that to their kid?
The worst event of the year is surely World Book Day in March.
At some schools it has become an event of the creatively gifted, craft-loving parents versus the panic-stricken ones who are forced to purchase pricey Amazon next-day delivery numbers.
The average cost for an Insta-worthy outfit for the day is now £20 — which could be better spent on buying actual reading books instead.
Sighing with relief
This week, parents went into meltdown after discovering the price of summer holiday camps have soared to more than a grand for six weeks.
But many will be sighing with relief that they have a break from preparing for the next obscure school celebration.
I would imagine Courtney’s school won’t be arranging one any time soon after she said she felt “embarrassed” and “upset”.
But, as dreadful as this episode has been for her, I hope it has given a valuable lesson to other schools around this country.
A reminder they are primarily there to teach our children — and maybe they should just stick to celebrating that.
EMAIL JANE
Yamal’s small hassle
SO, Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal is being accused of “exploiting” dwarves by hiring them from a company to serve drinks and entertain guests at his 18th.
The Barcelona forward could face a court case.
GettyLamine Yamal is being accused of ‘exploiting’ dwarves[/caption]
It’s fair to say that hiring dwarves isn’t for everyone.
But as one of those who was employed for the evening explained to Catalonian radio station RAC1: “No one disrespected us – let us work in peace. I don’t understand why there’s so much hype.
“We’re normal people who do what we want in an absolutely legal way.” He has a point.
If they weren’t for hire, this stupid footballer wouldn’t have been able to book them.
SMURFS star John Goodman looks amazing after dropping 200lb.
But reading how he did it sounded like some kind of history lesson of the future.
GettySmurfs star John Goodman looks amazing after dropping 200lb[/caption]
John says it is thanks to ditching booze, hiring a health coach, eliminating sugar, working out and mindful eating.
We will one day remember this as the “old- fashioned way we once dieted” before we all started shoving needles in our bellies.
Bun of a kind
IT seems baffling that a man who owns a chain of takeaway burger restaurants has now become the face of a . . . takeaway burger restaurant.
But that is exactly what Gordon Ramsay has done.
The chef owns a string of Street Burger outlets and now he’s landed a six-figure deal from Burger King for a new campaign.
Gordon is a burger fan and once even admitted that part of his “final meal” would be a burger from American chain, In-N-Out Burger.
You wonder where his loyalty would lie now.
Ladies on the brink
ENGLAND are through to the semi-finals of Euro 2025 – not a sentence that you can always say with confidence.
But the Lionesses got lucky with penalties, and after battling past Italy they could be in the final a week today.
AlamyMichelle Agyemang celebrates scoring against Sweden in the Quarter-Final at Euros[/caption]
This amazing team of never-say-die women have changed all that and are giving inspiration to a generation of little girls who for years only had female role models in the world of athletics and tennis to look up to.
They are on the brink of brilliance, and with every kick they are changing the future of hundreds of girls around this country.
What’s up doc
SOMEBODY needs to have a word with Ncuti Gatwa, who has quit Doctor Who at just 32 because he says: “I’m getting old and my body was tired.”
Ncuti said it was strenuous and took a lot out of him.
BBCNcuti Gatwa, who has quit Doctor Who at just 32 because he says: ‘I’m getting old and my body was tired’[/caption]
Unless he’s rolling in it he will presumably have to keep acting for another few decades before his pension kicks in.
Let’s hope he doesn’t land anything too strenuous.
SPEAKING of age, the news that over-80s have been applying to become the legal parents of children born through surrogacy is quite shocking.
As Ncuti has shown, some people really don’t feel their age, but there’s just something not quite right about celebrating your 18th when one of your parents is opening their 100th birthday card from the King.
AS family holiday rip-off days go, I don’t think you can beat Weymouth’s Sandworld.
A family of four can spend £36.50 to see sculptures made out of sand, including a life-size Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley.
BNPSA life-size sand sculpture of Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley[/caption]
When it was unveiled on This Morning, Ben asked: “Is that us?” Exactly.
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
