If it is then you need to be aware of exactly what it's about, and it's not what it seems
The Ned Show is an American invention that claims to boost children's "academic achievement and character development". The company targets schools and persuades them to let them come in to do a show to the children that involves "Ned" delivering feel good messages while performing lots of tricks using a yo-yo. The kids love it, my son was thrilled by it.
Sounds good? You might not think so when you know what's behind it. The company perform the show for FREE, on condition the school sell the yo-yos to the children for the following week. There a several types they can choose from, ranging from £5 to £10. The school take a cut of the profits. This is nothing but high pressure sales directed at vulnerable children who are unable to see the whole picture. It is a cynical money making exercise at the expense of our children's welfare. I let my kids watch TV, buy them the odd branded t-shirt but this is something altogether more sinister.
After it was performed at my son's school he cried for 3 days running in an attempt to get me to buy him one. I resolutely said NO, until I took him into school the 4th morning and realised that virtually all the kids had one. I then gave in and purchased 2, one for his little brother as well. I was between a rock and a hard place and very unhappy about it. However, I did not want to exclude my child from his peers on this occasion.
I am absolutely disgusted that our school has participated in this scam. The Ned Show is performed solely as a vehicle to sell yo-yos to the children, by introducing a craze into the playground (which the school encouraged by allowing them to be brought into school). In this case it was astoundingly successful. One friend bought her 2 children a £10 yo-yo each, one lost his and was devastated so she bought another. That's £30 she spent on 3 plastic yo-yos!
So, if you get a leaflet from your school letting you know that The Ned Show is coming to town.... think about this and if you don't like it then OBJECT STRONGLY and make it clear you will not accept your children being used like this.
(Oh yes, if you're in Scotland I expect it might be called something else......)
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WARNING: Is the Ned Show coming to your school?
39 replies
Clarabel22 · 18/07/2009 22:31
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TheProfiteroleThief ·
19/07/2009 21:15
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PixieOnaLeaf ·
25/06/2010 21:41
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