To be angry at photos at Nativity?

[MrsAnamCara]

Just seen DC infant nativity. We were sent out letters, went to the office yo get tickets, had texts to remind people-all fine and well. No mention of needing permission to take photos/videos. Nothing mentioned before the start of the actual nativity performance either. The performance starts and several people whip their phones out and begin taking photos and videos but not of individual children, of all of the children on stage. It goes on throughout the performance and I can see in their view finder they are filming/recording video of 5+ children... A parent the right if the school Hall is stood filming the entire performance.

No one said they weren't allowed to but...neither was the guardian or parent of every single child asked either.

In my D's nursery, they asked for written permission, and if only one parent didn't give permission then no one was allowed to take photos or videos. Even if we were allowed, then it was photos and videos of your child only (zoom in) and if there were other children then you couldn't post it on social media and send to anyone else.

It really ruined the performance for me, as I don't know these people who are taking videos/photos of my child, I don't know where they will post them or send them to, I don't know who will see that photo or video. I did not give anyone permission to take his photo or record him?

I'm I being unreasonable to think the school should have asked for legal written permission for all children's parents or guardian's? And if some parents don't agree or give permission then that's too bad.

It has to be remembered people withdrawing photo permission is usually due to things like avoiding an abusive ex from their past, adoption etc. - real, serious reasons.
...Not ridiculous, hyped up, unrealistic stranger danger fears.

I do think with cameras on phones it has got extreme. You don't need to be continually photographing your child at every precious milestone or those milestones become less precious. I have one photo of my child in their nativity and that will do. You can usually buy a video from the school if you are that keen.

Or all 60 parents are given the chance to take individual photos before or after the play therefore meaning nobody misses out on “memories” but even more importantly no children are put at risk.

YABU - get a life

UANBU.

We are shortly to adopt two school age children, who will not be able to be photographed/videoed whilst at school. In fact neither we, or anyone, will be posting anything online about them!

The primary school they will be attending have a very good policy on this type of thing and having spoken to the parents of other adopted children at the school, they are very good at working around photos being taken without the adopted children in.

When I was at school, none of my plays etc were recorded as the ability to do this wasn't there, we had school photos and that was it!! Doesn't mean that we don't have the memories of doing these things though :)

I would mention it to the school though if its worrying you.

No way will all parents intent on the importance of these memories refrain from sharing on social media.

Taking photos is a big part of school productions for many people - totally normal.

I've only experienced this in the UK. DCs have been to school in 2 other countries, and no-one's minded and everyone's taken pictures (and shared the best ones of other people's children with the parents of those children.)

I do understand the safeguarding, but for the vast majority of children that's not an issue.

I am so delighted that we have a "no pics/no vids" rule anyway throughout school.

It's far nicer to both perform to parents not screens and for the rest of the audience not to watch through someone else's screen.

But ivor the problem there is child x can’t be put on social media because of risk from a relative. Child y’s Mum puts a photo up from the School play and the relative of x sees it, said relative then looks through the pictures for the first day of school photo making x tracable.

Sadly in a world of social media these things do need to be considered.

Question about what constitutes 'social media': does it include WhatsApp. Because my first thought about WhatsApp is that it's private, but unless you specifically change the settings those photos are then saved on your phone which means if I share pics of a child in a private group, then all of those people will then have those photos on their phone?

I don't see the problem with taking photos as long as they're not shared on social. media.

That's our school policy and as far as I'm aware everyone sticks to it.

Just wondering because I have shared stuff on WhatsApp of nativities with my family etc in private groups, although we are told not to share on 'social media'.

At my DCs school we are allowed to take photos but with the proviso that none are shared on social media. If you don't want other parents to take photos of your child then you need to inform the school and your child won't take part in class performances.

Did you mean another poster Sirzy? I’m not sure what i’ve posted that relates to what you’ve just posted?

I understand the risks of social media. I would think that is pretty clear from my point about safe guarding.

No I was replying to your comment about lack of uniform

then you need to inform the school and your child won't take part in class performances

That is absolutely not the case. There will simply be a rule that NO photos including other people's children are taken.

No way will all parents intent on the importance of these memories refrain from sharing on social media.

Most people I know who 'love to share' do generally refrain from being a dick about this stuff and don't share photos of other kids from school on their social media.

If I saw they had done it from DS's school and were refusing to budge I would just grass them up and they would probably be banned from coming to any more events.

So it's now acceptable to exclude vulnerable children from the opportunity to perform?

The one I prefaced as an aside?

That has nothing to do social media. It was in response to the posts about children’s school being identified by their uniform.

I can’t see how you got from my post that I don’t understand how social media works. I didn’t even reference it

*then you need to inform the school and your child won't take part in class performances

That is absolutely not the case. There will simply be a rule that NO photos including other people's children are taken.*

That absolutely is the case. I have the school policy in writing. Are you calling me a liar?

So it's now acceptable to exclude vulnerable children from the opportunity to perform?

No, absolutely not.

I'd be very suprised if you haven't had a form this year about use of photographs in school. If no children in the year have had that permission refused, then the school aren't going to stop photos/videos of the nativity.

If you have not had a form or have actually given permission but now want to change your mind, talk to the school.

I hate this. Safeguarding issues aside it is excessively irritating at any event or performance when people whip out their phones - or worse, iPads-and watch the whole thing through the back of a phone rather than enjoying the actual performance.

I was showing how just because they lack of uniform in a school event doesn’t mean that the photo being published didn’t still put them at risk. Not sure what your arguing about tbh. You pointed out they didn’t have lack of uniform I said that’s irrelevant in the safety side.

That absolutely is the case. I have the school policy in writing. Are you calling me a liar?

If you're suggesting school policy is to withdraw vulnerable children from performances rather than suggesting a ban on photos then yes you're either a liar or your school isn't meeting the need of vulnerable children.