Bloody namby pambies
Author
Discussion

schmalex

Original Poster:

13,616 posts

235 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
This evening, at our village school PTA's final preparation meeting for the Xmas fayre on saturday, we were discussing how Santa would work. Due to all the bloody busy-body lentil eating, yoghurt knitters, the kids aren't allowed to sit on Father Christmas' knee to receive their present. In fact, they are not allowed to touch him in any way possible. Absolutely bloody ridiculous when the Santa in question is a well known member of the village (to both kids & parents).

Sometimes, the molly-coddling policies in this country really piss me off

Negative Creep

26,079 posts

256 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
I think that's been going on for quite a while. My Mum's a classroom assistant and cannot touch the kids in any way. Can't even pick them up if they fall over. Tragic really

eharding

14,648 posts

313 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
Negative Creep said:
Can't even pick them up if they fall over. Tragic really
I assume that's because kids nowadays are so obese that 'elf and safety insist that a fork-lift truck or engine-hoist with a proven lift capacity be used for the job - otherwise the staff might do themselves a mischief......

DocJock

8,722 posts

269 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
Can't touch the lads in my son's footy team either.

Not even a pat on the back if they play brilliantly.
Not even with the 'magic sponge' when they hurt themselves, have to hand them the sponge and they apply it.

wobert

5,573 posts

251 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
schmalex said:
This evening, at our village school PTA's final preparation meeting for the Xmas fayre on saturday, we were discussing how Santa would work. Due to all the bloody busy-body lentil eating, yoghurt knitters, the kids aren't allowed to sit on Father Christmas' knee to receive their present. In fact, they are not allowed to touch him in any way possible. Absolutely bloody ridiculous when the Santa in question is a well known member of the village (to both kids & parents).

Sometimes, the molly-coddling policies in this country really piss me off
You'll also find that they have probably had to do a risk assessment for each aspect of the fayre, put signage up near food stuffs to warn of possible nut contamination, roped off "safety critical areas, and provided matting where trip hazards exist.

You may think I jest but we had to do the same when our H.S.A held a Spring Fair a few years back.

Some may site "elf & safetee" but most won't realise it's a condition of the PTA Association insurance.

Simply put, if you don't do these things then you aren't insured for any third part liability - hence if you go ahead, you have to do them or stand to be sued sshould anything befall your day!

Robert

Treasurer of his children's Home/School Association.

BigLepton

5,042 posts

230 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
schmalex said:
This evening, at our village school PTA's final preparation meeting for the Xmas fayre on saturday, we were discussing how Santa would work. Due to all the bloody busy-body lentil eating, yoghurt knitters, the kids aren't allowed to sit on Father Christmas' knee to receive their present. In fact, they are not allowed to touch him in any way possible. Absolutely bloody ridiculous when the Santa in question is a well known member of the village (to both kids & parents).

Sometimes, the molly-coddling policies in this country really piss me off
Refuse to take part then.

Negative Creep

26,079 posts

256 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
Yes, it's done for a reason. We can 'thank' those who sue when they aren't paying attention and fall over for that one

Orb the Impaler

1,881 posts

219 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
A lot of people (eg. me) knock people with kids a lot for various reasons, however when I read stuff like this you have my genuine and heartfelt sympathy.

I had a great childhood, not least cos people could give you a pat on the back (or a smack round the head for that matter). What on earth is going on these days mad

Penny-lope

13,645 posts

222 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
Negative Creep said:
I think that's been going on for quite a while. My Mum's a classroom assistant and cannot touch the kids in any way. Can't even pick them up if they fall over. Tragic really
Yeh but does she actually follow the rules?

I work with primary school aged kids, and sorry, but if a 5 year old is crying because they have skinned their knee, you just give them a bloody hug...End Of!

And how do you stop a kid from running up and hugging you? Even the ones with nits rolleyes

Olf

11,978 posts

247 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
It's all part of the widespread and determined demonisation of the male species as rapists and paedos 'in waiting'.

schmalex

Original Poster:

13,616 posts

235 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
BigLepton said:
schmalex said:
This evening, at our village school PTA's final preparation meeting for the Xmas fayre on saturday, we were discussing how Santa would work. Due to all the bloody busy-body lentil eating, yoghurt knitters, the kids aren't allowed to sit on Father Christmas' knee to receive their present. In fact, they are not allowed to touch him in any way possible. Absolutely bloody ridiculous when the Santa in question is a well known member of the village (to both kids & parents).

Sometimes, the molly-coddling policies in this country really piss me off
Refuse to take part then.
As much as I would like to do that, unfortunately I can't as I am the chairman of the PTA

Edited by schmalex on Thursday 27th November 21:23

Elskeggso

3,100 posts

216 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
DocJock said:
Not even a pat on the back if they play brilliantly
Haha are you serious? That's ridiculous

Deva Link

26,934 posts

274 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
DocJock said:
Can't touch the lads in my son's footy team either.

Not even a pat on the back if they play brilliantly.
Not even with the 'magic sponge' when they hurt themselves, have to hand them the sponge and they apply it.
Who says "can't"?

There was an item the other day about the music teachers "union" advising teachers not to touch kids when helping them learn but it turns out this is just the cautious advice of the union, there's no legal basis for it.

My grown up kids both work with children (one as a teacher) and they both need to restrain kids on a daily basis.

Chrispy Porker

17,705 posts

257 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
Deva Link said:
DocJock said:
Can't touch the lads in my son's footy team either.

Not even a pat on the back if they play brilliantly.
Not even with the 'magic sponge' when they hurt themselves, have to hand them the sponge and they apply it.
Who says "can't"?

There was an item the other day about the music teachers "union" advising teachers not to touch kids when helping them learn but it turns out this is just the cautious advice of the union, there's no legal basis for it.

My grown up kids both work with children (one as a teacher) and they both need to restrain kids on a daily basis.
I work with athletic coaches who sometimes need to touch the children (appropriately). I have never heard any different.
I also officiated at a pole vault competition where a young athlete fell and badly injured herself and was carried to a first aid room. I suppose that was wrong too?

Hereward

5,105 posts

259 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
At the local all-girls boarding school I wasn't even allowed to wander in to the changing rooms to watch them showering after hockey practice. Disgraceful, what's this country coming to.

A1GOY

1,521 posts

231 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
I still find it ridiculous - if you touch a child you're guaranteed to want to rape it (according to some lentil lovers) in today's society.
I used to be a cub leader and we had to restrain some of them. We also gave them high fives, etc when they did well.
Rather than mollycoddle kids, can they perhaps be exposed to real life for a bit? Or do we all have a generation of ultra sensitive morons to look forward to?

NiceCupOfTea

25,586 posts

280 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
Deva Link said:
DocJock said:
Can't touch the lads in my son's footy team either.

Not even a pat on the back if they play brilliantly.
Not even with the 'magic sponge' when they hurt themselves, have to hand them the sponge and they apply it.
Who says "can't"?

There was an item the other day about the music teachers "union" advising teachers not to touch kids when helping them learn but it turns out this is just the cautious advice of the union, there's no legal basis for it.

My grown up kids both work with children (one as a teacher) and they both need to restrain kids on a daily basis.
yes

Frankly, I avoid touching the kids because, well, they're other people's kids and they're 'orrible yuckwink There are, however, times when you need to demonstrate something (as an instrumental music teacher) and you have to touch them to show them something. The official line is to tell them that you are going to, and ask them if that is OK.

Although it's a total waste of bloody time as you are usually on a 1 to 1 basis with nobody else present. It's an absolute minefield and unfortunately there's not really any way to protect yourself.

I have been on various "child protection" courses which actually have nothing to do with child protection, and everything to do with protecting yourself from wild accusations furious

Chrispy Porker

17,705 posts

257 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
^
Nail/head yes

King Herald

23,501 posts

245 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
schmalex said:
This evening, at our village school PTA's final preparation meeting for the Xmas fayre on saturday, we were discussing how Santa would work. Due to all the bloody busy-body lentil eating, yoghurt knitters, the kids aren't allowed to sit on Father Christmas' knee to receive their present. In fact, they are not allowed to touch him in any way possible. Absolutely bloody ridiculous when the Santa in question is a well known member of the village (to both kids & parents).

Sometimes, the molly-coddling policies in this country really piss me off
My dad used to play santa at the local school many years ago, as he is a portly gentleman, with snow white hair and beard, but he gave it up after PC nambys informed him he would have to go and get a license, and some training, for working with children before he could do it again.

Chrispy Porker

17,705 posts

257 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
King Herald said:
schmalex said:
This evening, at our village school PTA's final preparation meeting for the Xmas fayre on saturday, we were discussing how Santa would work. Due to all the bloody busy-body lentil eating, yoghurt knitters, the kids aren't allowed to sit on Father Christmas' knee to receive their present. In fact, they are not allowed to touch him in any way possible. Absolutely bloody ridiculous when the Santa in question is a well known member of the village (to both kids & parents).

Sometimes, the molly-coddling policies in this country really piss me off
My dad used to play santa at the local school many years ago, as he is a portly gentleman, with snow white hair and beard, but he gave it up after PC nambys informed him he would have to go and get a license, and some training, for working with children before he could do it again.
I did it for my rugby club. I managed the portly bit, whiskers and beard were provided.