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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:
LeaveYourSisterBe · 07/04/2014 13:37

And I'm so glad I don't go to your school if this is something you're being asked about "by a few of the Mums". What a tedious, pointless, and not very well hidden bitchy conversation for them to start!

Legologgo · 07/04/2014 13:37

think the sport is irrelevant
where do parents get off showing off?
i know of a mum who posts her TEENAGER SONS commendations on facebook

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:37

Oh, and ages ago I did clarify I've changed my mind a bit anyway,

Light hearted question...to even more light hearted!

OP posts:
givemeaclue · 07/04/2014 13:40

Yabu any school certificates won outside school can be given out or celebrated in school. So what if it is ski ing? Other kids may get them for football, rugby, swimming, gym, karate, kumon maths, etc etc. it is only in your eyes that the skiing cert is somehow different, the kids won't see it like that. Some people can't afford ski ing, but some can't afford football. Unless there is a blanket ban on celebrating successes earned outside school which is ridiculous!

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:40

trixy seriously?

Grin

I can promise you, I really don't!

I'm relieved mine don't have any interest in it. I'd hate to spend half term like that.

You seem a little angry. There is no need.

Yes, small village schools can be petty. I'm asking here because I know I'll get a wider range of opinions.

I like to be educated sometimes...Wink

OP posts:
WipsGlitter · 07/04/2014 13:41

So children who go to a football comp or swimming gala or whatever and get their certs presented there and then again at assembly are ok?

Again, sour grapes!!

DSs school does this, and you can also put something in the newsletter. DS won player of the week at a football thing he goes to. All the kids get it in turn but he was desperate to bring it in to school and get it at Assembly, so I let him.

oscarwilde · 07/04/2014 13:43

If they are doing it for other sports achievements outside of school then I don't see why it's an issue.

Just because it's an expensive hobby (if you don't live in the mountains) doesn't make it any easier to master. Far more likely that as they grow older they will maintain that level rather than gain distinctions in piano or whatever is more accessible locally. Don't begrudge them their little cert and a round of applause.

blueberryupsidedown · 07/04/2014 13:44

We have a one form entry school so quite small, and kids receive anything from swimming certificates, sports medals, karate belts, music exams, competitions, articles in the papers for fundraising, linked or not linked with the school. Skiing is a sport, just like any other sports, and if the children have gone up a grade than that's fab and if the school would start saying 'we won't give little George his horse riding/skiing medal because it's a sport that's too exclusive and expensive' then the school would have to stop distributing all out-of-school achievements and medals and that wouldn't be right. Achievements should be celebrated! YABU.

Legologgo · 07/04/2014 13:45

if mine won stuff outside school (and they do - MASSES,) there is no way I would be vain enough to make them parade it in school and ( I am reassured) no way they would do it

they all know one twat who takes in trophies and they all loathe him

OwlCapone · 07/04/2014 13:47

It's extra weird in this case as the skiing children would have been presented with the awards during the holiday, they would then have brought them home for a bit and then taken them into school and handed them to a teacher to have them re presented in front of everyone.

So just the same as the football awards that were presented to the children at the weekend and then handed into the school to be given again.

I still don't get the "called up twice" though. Do they normally hand out all the awards in bulk then? So "Fred, Kevin, Darren and Ptolemy have got a medal got football. Would they all like to come up and collect them?"

It just smacks of inverse snobbery TBH. As I think you've realised.

givemeaclue · 07/04/2014 13:48

There are secondary children in our city who were in the British Olympic team. Clearly most children will never experience this, does this mean that this should never be mentioned in school??

Op the mums at your school sound jealous and petty minded.

newfavouritething · 07/04/2014 13:48

Certificates I don't have a problem with - even for skiing Shock
However, my jaw hit the floor at the last assembly where children were essentially handed party bags at the end of assembly. About six of them had gone to a pot painting place for one of the girls birthdays - and the pots had been brought into school to be handed out with a round of applause. Hmm, well done for attending a birthday party?

BackforGood · 07/04/2014 13:49

This :
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)

I think it's great. Over many years of attending Friday assemblies occasionally, I remember 1 lad who did sailing and sometimes came in with his certificates
I remember a couple of dc (at diff times, not related - who did ballroom dancing (National competitions - must have taken over the family's weekends entirely)
There was one who did taikwondo (sp?) to quite a high level

Would these be allowed to celebrate their achievements, with your rules, as not everyone has the chance to do them?

Personally, I loved to see people getting out there and achieving, or just taking part in things.
I also found out about the Blue Peter Cards through someone bringing them into assembly - darned glad I did, with the £££ they've saved us over the years.
I remember when my dd took her badge/certificate in when she'd got 1500m swimming. She'd have been about 9/Yr4. There was a Yr3 lad there who had brought in his 5m badge, and the HT asked which was the greatest achievement, and the whole school knew it was the lad who'd done 5m (as it's the hardest step, to first take your feet off the bottom and go for it) - I think all those lessons are really important ones for everyone at school. The nonsense that you shouldn't celebrate anything that everyone can't access would mean that nobody could ever celebrate anything, as not everyone can swim, or sing, or play football or whatever is allowed.
I love the fact that in one assembly, someone gets called out because the've joined Brownies and got their joining in badge, and someone else is up there for winning a national award. That someone has taken part in a spelling competition gets the same kudos as someone who has won a trophy for their sport.
IMO, YABVU (and jealous)

givemeaclue · 07/04/2014 13:52

Back for good, What is the blue peter card?

NigellasDealer · 07/04/2014 13:53

people are just chippy about ski-ing as it is perceived as 'posh' like horse riding.
little do they know that the only reason me and the kids can ski is cos we did it on the cheap in an unnamed ex-communist country......
it is not all apres-ski in gstaad you know OP!

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:57

I have already said I might be being unreasonable. I am fine with it. I have explained like wanted opinions. This is starting to be a good example of posters not reading the original posters responses.

OP posts:
sunshinysummer · 07/04/2014 13:57

out his is normal in our school too.
I don't really get the being presented twice thing?

Children are awarded their brownie badge at brownies then bring it to the celebrations assembly and are presented with it again if you like. No problem-it is nice, we all clap and they smile.
The football clubs don't give the trophies directly to the school! All awards are 're presented' if that is what's bothering you?

I honestly don't think the children see a skiing certificate as any more wonderful that a swimming or guitar one tbh. This is definitely a parents thing.

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 13:58

Now on my rubbish phone, so nothing will make sense!

OP posts:
Goblinchild · 07/04/2014 14:01

Well, I'm pleased you've changed your mind, OP.
Now I want you to be brave enough to make the same change IRL and challenge some of the chippy and envious parents by pointing out the reasons for celebrating things in an achievement assembly.
There may be a certificate in it for challenging prejudice that you could show in assembly. PM me your address and I'll make you one. Grin

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 14:12

Thanks goblin very kind of you (winks)

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 07/04/2014 14:14

Oh I'm not angry about your sour grapes, you're showing yourself up for the type of person you are with this petty little OP.

What I'm angry about is a skiing certificate being described as an "end of the holiday certificate". It's a sport with distinct levels and children have to achieve to gain the certificate and definitely something to be proud of no different from karate etc.

Jinty64 · 07/04/2014 14:18

Only awards won in school are handed out in assembly at the ds's school.

Anything outside school gets a mention in the in the school news letter - well, as long as it is a sporting achievement. Ds1 got a first in the local music festival with a distinction, that wasn't mentioned (and he has his violin lessons in school). Neither was ds3's summer reading challenge. The message is only sporting achievements are important. So yes skiing would be ok.

Original poster
Feminine · 07/04/2014 14:19

trixy give it up. You don't know me, and you are starting to sound unhinged.

OP posts:
whois · 07/04/2014 14:20

You don't get the award in ACLU school for just turning up. You'll get awarded a level, but it's not just for turning up. Especially if it's ESF, a child might have to do many weeks and practice to get the next award.

Nothing wrong with being it being presented in school, nice to celebrate diverse achievements and activities.

Nothing wrong with each child being called up individually either, or that they were being 're-presented'.

Basically sounds like a group of bitchy small minded snobby women have been having a bitch cos about another family and their ski trip.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 07/04/2014 14:24

Aw, that's not fair, Jinty.

DD won a poetry competition (I believe she was the only entrant)

They read the poem out in assembly, with all the swimming/footy/ etc. etc.

It was great!

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