Brownies incident stopped me singing, starting to see how messed up it was.

She was 8 years old

I had a similar experience at school with Art. You are made to do art before you can opt out, and I cant draw. We had to do a still life, and I spent two weeks trying really hard to draw a trainer. In the end I thought I did a really good job, and I was really proud of it. I got 0/10. It made me really sad, and people laughed. Art is something that generally you are good at or not, so why cant you be awarded for effort. Still smart to this day and I am 49.

I didn't get into a choir as a child because I cannot sing. I completely agree with them, I am tone deaf. I am sad that I cannot sing, I can't even sing on my own in the car because it sounds bad to my own ears and ruins the song. I don't for a second think they should've let me join. It's not their fault I cannot sing. I think it's a good life experience to accept that you can't do some things and if we give kids awards and prizes for everything even when they are rubbish at it because we don't want them to feel any disappointment then we are directly adding to the fragility and lack of resilience which impacting the youth of today. Better to learn at an early age what your strengths and weaknesses are. I will never be a good singer just like I will always have terrible balance and vertigo so was never a natural gymnast or rock climber.

Oh that’s awful!!! I’m outraged for you OP

I'm a musical person, member of choirs, etc and I can tell you Autumn Days is a bloody hard song to sing solo and unaccompanied. Well done for trying.

I was told by my 3rd year infant teacher (Yr 2 equivalent nowadays), very loudly, in front of the class and parents, that I couldn’t sing, and she was right, because from that point onwards I actually couldn’t ever bring myself to sing. Not even on my own in the car.
i am so conscious now to be encouraging of everyone, especially children.

Don't worry the Beatles were turned down

You can still make it big

Wow. My teacher put me off drawing forever when I was 8. I used to love it. Now 46 and still hate it.

Yup - this is awful.

I had similar. As a 6 year old I was told by a music teacher to just mouth the words during the annual school play as I couldn't carry a tune. I never sang again (in my 40s now) and have been incredibly self conscious about singing / music ever since.

Of course that was horrible and wicked of them. However let’s not forget you as an adult have just called 4 kids ugly, that’s not a kind thing to do either

Exactly the same.
I was told not to sing the hymns in assembly out loud and I wasn't allowed in the choir age 7. Istill feel the shame and I'm 68.

Brownie badge is a little different because you are supposed to learn the skill. Either the brown owl should have steered you to another kind of performance or the judges should have said to practice a bit more and try again next week.

This makes me grateful for my mum who told me in no uncertain terms from as young as i can remember that I am a terrible singer and never to let anyone hear me sing. I would never have put myself in your situation and I don’t blame the judges - but if I do think your parents let you down a little!

That’s terrible.
Im 57 and when I was a Brownie (and then Guide) we always got badges if we did a bit of work or put some effort in. Didn’t have to be the best result.
It was all about participating/trying something new/learning something; and standing on a stage singing solo is certainly participating!
How awful of those women to “fail” you like that!

Growing up in the 80s/90s was harsh. I was kicked out of ballet aged 5 because I wasn’t good enough and making progress as quickly as the other girls. I really tried but I have a mild physical disability which made aspects of it difficult. I remember being really upset about it and it definitely put me off dancing. In primary school I also used to be made to sit out of recorder and netball lessons as again I wasn’t good enough compared to my peers. Absolutely no thought to children’s self esteem back then!

Bit harsh. The Come and Praise kids weren’t ugly they were just blue!

Sorry you had this experience OP. I was told my legs were ugly by a ballet teacher and I have rarely ever got my legs out again.

I think they were always primarily participation (+ effort) badges (I'm 50). You didn't get the knitting badge because presumably you didn't actually produce anything if you didn't learn to knit. Very different to OP who actually did the thing required.

There's a place for rewarding effort and a place for rewarding achievement. Brownies is the former and always has been, or at least since I was a brownie.

Why on earth did you choose acapella singing if you can't carry a tune- they were honour bound to fail you- your fault for putting yourself up for it.

Yes they could. I was born in 71 so remember it well. An elderly person in the 80s could have been born in Victorian times just about. So not surprising I guess.

It's disgusting, it's a hobby, and it should encourage kids.

Schools need a certain level. Brownie? As long as you have put the work and are doing what is expected. It's important for the child. No one cares in life who has badges and who hasn't.

Showed up, went through the performance, that should be applauded and deserves the badge.

These things really stay with you - I so wanted to be in the school choir. I tried really hard - I had to sing 'Oh my darling Clementine' as a solo in front of the class. I didn't get in but to be fair I am a dreadful singer and tuneless....

Since then I have only ever felt confident singing to my babies as they seemed to like it and are non judgemental.

You're overthinking the importance of a brownie badge for an 8 year old who put the effort in. It's not going to give her an unfair advantage when applying for jobs.

I had a similar experience at school, yr 4 in our class play- I was given the leading role of Joseph (and his technicoloured dream coat) no auditions necessary but looking back I had the tape and knew all the words which probably got me the gig…
rehearsals and a music teacher walks in as I was swinging an bluntly says ‘she’s flat’ and shakes her head at me and walks off. Never got over it, cried out of the play with a fake illness and never sung in public again 😢

Not quite the same, but I was small and had wonky eyesight so PE teachers treated me badly. When there was a team game I was never chosen -- I was told to sit and watch. 'You can't run' etc. Eventually I believed it.
Around 50 years later I completed the Couch25K program. I cried with happiness and vindication when I remembered Miss Rice's shrewish face telling me I was no good and I couldn't run.
PE teachers took away my joy of running until I was mid-50s. Please continue to sing! x

Ha! At the age of 10 I was told to mime at the school Christmas concert because I (allegedly) sang flat. (The same teacher introduced the "junior orchestra" with the words "They're not very good.")

I wasn't particularly bothered but it did ensure that I never sang again. About 50 years later I mentioned this in passing to a friend who is a piano teacher and she was sceptical. So she tested me very thoroughly and I was spot on. Her theory was that at that age almost all children - particularly boys - tend to sing sharp.