One of my biggest peeves at Primary School was the expectation that children would be dressed up for a event, particularly World Book Day, AND take part in PE (Physical Education).
I had hoped this ridiculousness would be something the kids could be allowed to evolve out of, but no….
Culture Day!
There’s enormous pressure and expectation for the young people to be ambassadors for their ethnic heritage, and it sits alongside a refusal to acknowledge that many of them can’t just slip into and out of cultural clothing for a PE lesson.
There’s something icky and disrespectful about getting young people to compromise and “play at” cultural representation so that boxes can get ticked. It isn’t “inclusive” at all, some will get to reflect their heritage truthfully whilst others, if they do attempt to participate, end up doing it in a half-arsed and embarrassing way.
Somehow I have to square the circle so that my daughter doesn’t feel let down. Makes me so cross!