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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:
Goblinchild · 07/04/2014 13:08

My children have never been on a commercial flight. I despise all of you who allow your children to talk about their holidays abroad.
That sort of thing?
It's unpleasant. Like a reverse snobbery of the worst sort.

HairyPotter · 07/04/2014 13:08

I can't see the problem tbh. You said that achievements in and out of school are celebrated so I can't understand why this is different.

My dds primary does this and it's lovely. Highland dance, ice skating, swimming, ballet, all sorts. I'm really quite Confused by your post. Is it because skiing could be considered an elitist hobby? I don't see the issue with siblings getting their certificates individually either.

WipsGlitter · 07/04/2014 13:09

So, if they had got them for doing something else outside of school, not a nice middle class activity like skiing, it would have been ok?

Sounds like sour grapes.

IamaBreastfeedingTramp · 07/04/2014 13:09

So they didn't take time out of school? It was in the holidays?

Sounds as valid as all the swimming/ballet/football certificates we have.

Or do we have to pretend the ski children weren't as deserving as the ballerinas etc because skiing is more expensive?

bragmatic · 07/04/2014 13:10

Well, heaven forbid little Johnny misses out on getting an award for mastering the snow plough.

marcopront · 07/04/2014 13:10

I am confused. What you are saying is that if the child gets a certificate for Brownies that is Ok but if the child gets one for skiing it is wrong.

Marcipex · 07/04/2014 13:10

Ours does this. For example, one child danced with the Birmingham Royal Ballet (I think it was) last term and this was mentioned in assembly and he got a round of applause.
I don't see the problem .

AWimbaWay · 07/04/2014 13:10

I've kind of done this with my own Dc. Dd1 won a drawing competition, completely unrelated to school. She was very proud and took her drawing and certificate in to show in the school assembly. Children also regularly show the swimming certificates they achieved out of school, I'n not convinced the skiing is any different really.

Sparklingbrook · 07/04/2014 13:11

I think you need to state the case for skiing being any different to all the other sports children get awards for.

5Foot5 · 07/04/2014 13:11

I don't see a problem with this I don't think. If children have taken part on some activity out of achool and then received an award for it - be it a sport, music, drama or whatever then it seems OK to me that it should be acknowledged.

I believe that they do this at DDs school and I can certainly remember occasions when I was at school when this happened.

Or is it just the case that certificates awarded on a skiing holiday are seen as somehow too middle-class and showy-offy so they have to be kept quiet?

OwlCapone · 07/04/2014 13:13

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

What other activities have certificates handed out?

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

Thanks again for all the latest responses.

I wasn't sure, that is why I wanted lots of you to put me straight.

It just popped it to my head again this morning!

Oh, the children going up twice was annoying as there isn't much time to hand out the regular school ones. I think

It isn't just my opinion, I'm basing this on a few parents that were not all that happy! I said didn't think it fair IRL, but wanted to see if I was wrong?

OP posts:
Goblinchild · 07/04/2014 13:14

Trust me, I get very bored by all the endless football crap medallions and the tacky printed certificates.
But the children don't. They love it, it makes them feel proud of themselves, and everyone claps and they smile.

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:14

owl mainly swimming and martial arts!

lots of those ....Wink

I suppose it made a change!

OP posts:
Longtalljosie · 07/04/2014 13:14

Sorry - you're being ridiculous. Ski-ing is a sport. It's not like getting a sticker saying I [heart] New York. They have achieved in a sport (OK, one you generally have to leave the country to do) and their achievement is being recognised in assembly. Like it would be in football, swimming, hockey, you name it.

Why the hell shouldn't little Johnny get recognition for mastering the snow plough? Next you'll be saying little Jessica shouldn't get her 10m swimming certificate recognised because not everyone can afford swimming lessons. I haven't been ski-ing since having children but hopefully we'll go again one day and I hope my children will take pride in mastering it.

cosikitty · 07/04/2014 13:14

I don't see the problem TBH.

In our school children bring in sports trophies etc that they get out of school. What's the difference if it's skiing?

You would look like a nut if you complained to the head about such trivia.

SATSmadness · 07/04/2014 13:15

Eh ?

I've attended such "rewards assemblies" which to be frank consist of a normal assembly with the rewards bit tacked on the end. IMHO, most kids seem to love them.

Children have been acknowledged for football achievement (sometimes as simple as weekly "man of the match"), ballet certificates, swimming certificates, summer reading challenge certificates, ice skating competition certificates, horse riding rosettes, pet show rosettes, cross country, bmx, trampolining, fun runs, gymnastics, various music certificates etc etc etc.

I don't mind one bit, and I wouldn't care less about acknowledging a ski-ing achievement certificate but I suspect it may have been just an "I attended 5 days of ski-school" type of certificate which would be given to any child however poor their ski-ing prowess after one week on the slopes. Some kids do take that kind of certificate in however, one turned up with a raft of certificates saying that she had done this, that and the other whilst on holiday at Centre Parcs one summer. None were major achievements, just a memento type of certificate but some kids don't know the difference and sadly their parents do not dissuade them from wanting to have it acknowledged in assembly.

I think the head teacher should have final say in what constitutes an achievement for each child in the school. They can surely tell the difference.

Wanting it banned because we can't all afford a ski-ing holiday smacks of pure jealousy though so on balance I do think YABU.

We can't afford ponies/horses but I'll applaud any kid who has achieved something skill based in that field (no pun intended).

OwlCapone · 07/04/2014 13:16

owl mainly swimming and martial arts!

Is that fair on the children who can't afford to do those activities...?

Sparklingbrook · 07/04/2014 13:16

Aww Goblin they work hard to get those footy medallions. Sad

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 07/04/2014 13:16

I have never experienced a school where anything other than school-related certificates are given out/presented during school time.

Although, if a child wanted to tell people about their extra-curricular achievements, it was done as a sort of "show & tell" in front of their own class rather than the whole school.

Same system for both DSs, who went to different primary schools.

dixiechick1975 · 07/04/2014 13:16

Quite normal to bring in certificates from outside activities to be presented at Friday assembly.

I like seeing the range of activities the children have done.

How can you dictate what external certificates are acceptable?

OwlCapone · 07/04/2014 13:17

I don't understand the "called twice" complaint - surely each child was only called up once?

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:17

sparking Yes, I guess because most families can't afford it. That is why skiing is standing out here.

Plus they had already had them a week, they were just re-given them.

To let the whole school know... When I say that, it is my mean spirited nature talking. During this thread, I have realized it is not all that different from swimming a length!

OP posts:
candycoatedwaterdrops · 07/04/2014 13:19

I find it odd that certificates awarded out of school are re-awarded at school. Am I the only one? Never heard of this before!

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 07/04/2014 13:19

It all sounds a bit sour grapes to me.

I have to say, I find it odd that they get certificates for achievements out of school but if they do then everything should count.

So what if some people think their kids will never go ski-ing so it's not fair. My DS will never get a certificate for being the fastest runner but I wouldn't begrudge anyone that did.

Ski-ing achievements should be the same as running, martial arts, gymnastics etc etc - either celebrate all the achievements or none of them.