Discussion
Anonova said:
Scary Santa
A Government website warns parents that a visit to see Father Christmas could be "terrifying" for small children.
Pantomimes may also be too scary and traditional party games could have youngsters in tears.
The advice for teachers on teachernet.gov.uk said: "Younger children in particular have a wide range of fears. For very young children, Father Christmas can be terrifying.
"Make sure that fearful children are near an exit. Trips to the pantomime can cause alarm, so the same planning applies."
Margaret Morrisey, from the National Conference of PTAs, said: "It is so sad that we have become so politically correct that we are trying to remove the magic of Christmas."
The advice has been taken off the website and the Department for Education said: "This is not Government policy. It does not reflect our views."
Jaglover said:
Scary Santa
A Government website warns parents that a visit to see Father Christmas could be "terrifying" for small children.
Pantomimes may also be too scary and traditional party games could have youngsters in tears.
The advice for teachers on teachernet.gov.uk said: "Younger children in particular have a wide range of fears. For very young children, Father Christmas can be terrifying.
"Make sure that fearful children are near an exit. Trips to the pantomime can cause alarm, so the same planning applies."
Margaret Morrisey, from the National Conference of PTAs, said: "It is so sad that we have become so politically correct that we are trying to remove the magic of Christmas."
The advice has been taken off the website and the Department for Education said: "This is not Government policy. It does not reflect our views."
You couldn't make it up could you.
To be fair, when i was about 3 years old or so, i lived in holland, over there they have a character called Black Peter, who hangs around With St Nicklaus. Black Peters' job is to take away the toys from those children who have been naughty etc. Anyway, in my nursery St Nicklaus and Balck Peter came to visit. I was fine with Nick, however Peter scared the bejebus out of me so much, that my mum had to take me out of the room!
So i think a certain amount of sense should be used, especially around more sensitive children, but you'd think it more common sense, rather than a given rule.
So i think a certain amount of sense should be used, especially around more sensitive children, but you'd think it more common sense, rather than a given rule.
it doesnt surprise me, nothing like this does anymore.
minicity said:
We've now got to the point where people cannot even try to give friendly advice for fear of being accused of "nannying" or political correctness.
Oh that wasn't all of it, just the funniest part
PC Busybodies said:
The advice, on the Teachernet website developed by the Department of Education as a resource for teachers, covered all aspects of arranging a festive party in school.
It said: "For very young children, Father Christmas can be terrifying, and if you are planning a visit from Santa, you'll need to make sure that fearful children are near an exit. Trips to the pantomime can cause alarm, so the same planning applies."
In separate advice on Christmas giving, teachers are told that children should be discouraged from sending Christmas cards to fellow pupils because they are a waste of paper.
"If you have access to the internet then why not try sending electronic Christmas cards?" the advice read.
Children should give their families "experience" presents, like breakfast in bed, as opposed to wrapped presents. "These gifts can appear much more personal, as they have far more meaning and don't come surrounded by useless packaging," it said.
The advice suggested that head teachers hold school assemblies, called "The aftermath of Christmas", in which children act out opening presents and advent calendars and then throw the packaging on the floor to highlight the waste of paper at Christmas.
The site also suggested a list of non-competitive games to replace traditional games like pass-the-parcel, which it said can cause "anxieties" in the children who do not win.
"If you do have games with winners, make sure that all children are given an opportunity to succeed where possible," the advice read.
Perhaps the above reads like good common sense to you. To me it is PC madness.
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