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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Skiing certificate handed out in assembly?

165 replies

Feminine · 07/04/2014 12:50

Little bit inspired by a thread right now...

Each week the children at our school our given certificates for things done well in school and out.

A couple of weeks back, a couple of children were re-given their skiing ones.

They had obviously already been given them during the holiday.

Anyway...a few parents (myself too Wink a bit) thought it wasn't fair to give them out again. Most families didn't go skiing, nor will they ever!

Personally, I can't think of any thing more horrible to do during half term ...but some parents were upset.

Instead of giving the siblings their certificate together, the children were called up twice ( to get them individually)

this bit has made a few parents extra fed up, as there is precious enough time to hand out all the school achievements!

So...I don't know. I didn't think it was that cool to do it there. The whole school don't need to know about it -do they?

I haven't lost any sleep, nor will I mention to the school ...I'm wondering though and would be grateful for opinions!

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 07/04/2014 12:55

They went on a skiing holiday, totally non school related; and the school allowed them to boast about it on stage via a special performance consisting of the ceremonious handing over of previously won certificates????
That is seriously crap Shock Shock Shock

Goblinchild · 07/04/2014 12:56

Celebrating achievement is a good thing, isn't it? And you may be a sibling, but you are still entitled to a bit of recognition for your individual accomplishment. Yes, the school do need to know that you did something special and did it well.
TBH, the grumbly parents sound envious and I doubt that the other children saw it as anything more special than football, chess, martial arts or music awards.

Floggingmolly · 07/04/2014 12:56

I'd mention it to the school, even if it did make me sound bitter and twisted. It's just so bizarre...

bragmatic · 07/04/2014 12:58

Sounds like a combination of pushy parents and an ineffectual principal. Or whoever approved such a silly charade!

bragmatic · 07/04/2014 12:58

Should that be whomever....? Anyway.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 07/04/2014 12:58

They do it for swimming, beavers, footy, etc, at our school - so I could imagine a skier would one day be celebrated too.

I don't think you could single skiing certificates out, although I don't like skiing much either!

DrankSangriaInThePark · 07/04/2014 12:59

Was it a school organised trip or a private family holiday?

How many children? Your OP is unclear, just these siblings? Or in a group?

Do your children ever get awards for things they do outside school? Do you complain about it when they do?

SuburbanRhonda · 07/04/2014 12:59

DD's school celebrates out of school achievements because they want to foster the idea that child are rounded individuals who have a life outside school (no bad thing, IMO).

These achievements are mentioned in the termly newsletter, which I am fine with. I know not everyone can afford expensive hobbies and that may grate on some people. But refusing to acknowledge a child's hard work and effort does nothing to alleviate this unfairness.

Having said that, I would be Shock if they gave out any awards in school.

Blueandwhitelover · 07/04/2014 13:01

Sometimes children struggle with academia and so the school makes a pointed effort to celebrate a child's outside achievements.
Their family is lucky enough to be able to afford a skiing holiday, they were awarded a certificate for their achievement during that time. Do you personally know if they struggled at all during that week and overcame obstacles to achieve the certificate?
It's nice to celebrate happy things, if a child is struggling socially within school it can provide an 'in' for something to talk about too.

Goblinchild · 07/04/2014 13:01

We've never done it quite like that Molly. Grin
Most schools have an achievement assembly once a week, with house points and sometimes merit certificates per class. Then if you have a child who has brought something in that they've accomplished and would like to share, they tag on at the end. I've sat through skiing certificates, player of the match, charity running, Brownie and Cub badges, circus skills, martial arts, grade 7 of the kazoo...
Why is another child succeeding at something such an acid bath for other parents? Most of the children are curious and complimentary to their peers.

onepieceoflollipop · 07/04/2014 13:02

In our school, there is a weekly assembly, parents invited. Any certificates at all can be given.
Was the skiing holiday during term time? is that your issue? Otherwise I think it would be hard to say to those dcs that skiing certicates aren't allowed but friend x can go up for dancing, and friend y for scouts (or whatever)

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:03

It was from family holiday. Two children retuning from a half term trip!

I was expecting to be told I/we were being a bit unreasonable.

I said I didn't think it fair IRL. Maybe I wasn't so worked up as I'd be rubbish at skiing? Grin

It did seem a bit showy-off.

OP posts:
Goblinchild · 07/04/2014 13:04

Our top swimmer was a child with ADHD. The cups he won were often as large as him.
It just seems nasty to denigrate someone's happiness and pride in facing a challenge and managing it.

LizzieMint · 07/04/2014 13:04

Our school always gives out out-of-school certificates in assembly. For anything, swimming, reading challenges from the library, karate, gymnastics, etc. so it seems completely normal to me. I also wouldn't expect my children to be treated as one entity if they'd both achieved something. I honestly don't really see the problem.

HappyMummyOfOne · 07/04/2014 13:04

I thought celebrating childrens achievements was a good thing and the governmet are pushing physcial exerecise in children more than ever.

Children bring in lots of certificates from external activities from sport to music to self defence. Should they stop simply because another child may not do the activity? No different than the schools football team being praised despite not every child being part of it.

bragmatic · 07/04/2014 13:04

Acid bath?

You get a certificate for turning up to ski school for a week. It's really not that big of an achievement.

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:05

Some parents mentioned that it was unfair as their children would never get to experience it.

I think Brownies etc... is more along the lines of easily obtainable for most families.

OP posts:
Goblinchild · 07/04/2014 13:05

For some children, it might be a big deal. It just seems very mean-spirited.

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:06

However it is a very middle class area Hmm whatever that is, I assume a few families could afford it?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 07/04/2014 13:07

I think it's normal. Every Friday at Fist School they had what we jokingly called 'Boasting Assembly' and all the children took their football trophies/swim certificates in to wave about while standing in a line at the front.

I can see why it could be seen as showy-off though.

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:07

I'm thinking out loud really.

I can see both sides. Thanks!

I can also see why it isn't unfair now.:)

OP posts:
tumbletumble · 07/04/2014 13:07

In my DC's school certificates / awards / badges / trophies for all sorts of outside school activities are re-awarded in assembly. I don't see why skiing is different?

I think YABU.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 07/04/2014 13:07

Our school do this - as they would for swimming awards, karate, sailing, rugby, football, guitar, flute, harp etc etc. most of these awards are earned by the pupils in clubs that they attend out of school time.

Is it because it's skiing that you're bothered OP? If you lived near a dry ski slope and they'd got the same award there would that be ok?

Where do you draw the line?

tumbletumble · 07/04/2014 13:08

x post with lots of people!

BullieMama · 07/04/2014 13:08

We celebrate all children's achievements at our school, swimming a width to rugby or football awards, horse riding rosettes, piano gradings anything. As a previous poster mentioned, children are individuals that exist outside of school and all of their successes are celebrated. How churlish to want to deny that child their moment of glory Confused