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Original poster

Is this fair? School reading competition

101 replies

RosieLemonade · 07/03/2021 20:11

There has been an extreme reading competition at school Basically children had to take pictures of themselves reading in extreme situations. One child posted themselves reading on a horse. Is it fair they win as not many children would have had the opportunity to take a picture like that?

OP posts:
Redsquirrel5 · 07/03/2021 23:17

Goodness it is meant to be a bit of fun. We did this a few years ago and staff joined in too I had a picture taken with one of my chickens. If I had won would you say it wasn’t fair to the other staff who didn’t have chickens? I don’t have a horse now or I might have had one taken with her but she died.

The kids photos were amazing upside down on tyre swings, inside the understairs cupboard. Inside a washing basket, on the bus, in the park next to one of the statues the were so inventive and such a laugh. It created a lot of discussion about reading which was the point. I don’t even remember who won a book token but I am sure the children would have congratulated the person.
You seem very competitive. It is the taking part that is fun and a big display was made so everyone could enjoy them.

Coulddowithanap · 07/03/2021 23:26

Our school did this one year, it was just a bit of fun. I can't even remember who won, it wasn't really a big thing, just a mention in the newsletter. I remember pictures of children in trees, at the park, top of a slide, on the beach etc.

FlatCheese · 07/03/2021 23:29

DD's school did this a few years ago. The winner was reading in the Burj Khalifa. How's that for accessible?

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 07/03/2021 23:33

@parrotonmyshoulder

It’s just to promote reading, and to show it can be done anywhere (dangerous on a horse though - a bit like reading while driving!)
No more like reading in a parked car
Moelwynbach · 07/03/2021 23:36

OP does your child attend a primary school in a town beginning with R. I might know this situation and the person took a picture of her daughter on a horse.😁

BackforGood · 07/03/2021 23:44

what Taxevasionpredicament said.

Quite apart from the fact this is a bit of fun, and the horse rider hasn't actually won, and the competition isn't about the 'most expensive' place, but about the 'oddest', you'd really be better putting your energy into teaching your dc that life is about 'having a go' and 'enjoying what you have' rather than being bitter that someone might have more than you. You (and your dc) are going to have very miserable lives if that is the way you look at every little thing.

Wanderlust20 · 08/03/2021 00:05

Agree with others, RE: the whole "not fair" culture. Not just damaging to kids, I think a lot of adults could do with a thicker skin - if someone has more than me, for example, I just think "good for them!" and carry on with my day (but then again, I'm fairly confident and I don't have FB!). I don't give a toss what others are doing.

FortunesFave · 08/03/2021 00:31

I'd see it as an opportunity to think creatively. I'd just be looking at things which beat the horse...there are things you can do. Hang upside down like a bat from a tree....lie in a freshly dug grave (kidding but you get my drift)

CustardyCreams · 08/03/2021 00:42

Put them in a Zoom call . Download an awesome photo from the internet and use as background eg reading a book about space on the Moon, or reading Harry Potter sitting in Hogwarts,take a snapshot of the Zoom call.

You can have the, reading with a dinosaur , or a famous personality... anything

Original poster
RosieLemonade · 08/03/2021 06:49

LOL I am the teacher and have to pick a winner. I work in one of the poorest areas of the country so no horse riding isn't like walking a dog. I didn't want my class thinking it was unfair. As I can't afford to buy all the entrants a prize I will pick a name out a hat.

OP posts:
UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 08/03/2021 06:53

No way should the horse picture win, though it could be one of the ones chosen to display. The winner needs to be something everyone could have done but only one child thought of...
Its an absolutely stupid competition though, as none of the children will actually have been reading - it promotes posing for photos, not reading!

RainRainGoAway12 · 08/03/2021 07:05

You’d hate our school then. One of our winners was riding a broom across the night sky!

PyjamaFan · 08/03/2021 07:08

It's supposed to be fun. You are taking it far too seriously!

trappedsincesundaymorn · 08/03/2021 07:32

The DC of my daughter's colleague read their book in the sea-lion section where DD works. The family live on site so, in the spirit of lockdown, stayed local.

CecilyP · 08/03/2021 07:41

I thought it was extreme books, like a 7 year old reading Proust

That would make more sense! Surely no reading takes place in these extreme situations; it is just posing with a book.

Carolina24 · 08/03/2021 07:43

If you’re in charge of the competition why didn’t you specify that the purpose wasn’t to be creative or have fun, but rather to pick an activity that absolutely everyone could have done?

RETIREDandHAPPY · 08/03/2021 07:45

i have caught my grandchildren reading in strange places: riding a bike, in the shower, while jumping on the trampoline ...Not for a photo shoot, but just because they could....until I caught them!
Never heard of this competition before. I would be worried about the children putting themselves in danger needlessly.

WinterRobin · 08/03/2021 07:54

If the child reading on the horse is the photo that you are finding most interesting and are thinking about, then that picture should win! Shouldn’t matter that not everyone has access to a horse.

Racoonworld · 08/03/2021 08:03

It’s not the olympics, don’t overthink it. There’s many boxes hints a child could do for this, doesn’t matter if they have a horse or not it’s not a horse competition. Pick the one that’s the best, if that’s the horse then fine.

Symbion · 08/03/2021 08:46

Ours do a big display of "the best" submissions (which I imagine means all of them!) and I'm not sure if the prize goes to the funniest, or to someone who isn't normally the biggest reader who's made the effort and joined in.

RaidersoftheLostAardvark · 08/03/2021 08:49

Just send in a picture of your child reading War & Peace in the original Russian, that'll learn em

Sapho47 · 08/03/2021 09:35

@parrotonmyshoulder

It’s just to promote reading, and to show it can be done anywhere (dangerous on a horse though - a bit like reading while driving!)
Well its a picture so its more holding a book while doing something Grin
Whythesadface · 08/03/2021 13:25

Why don't you give the children a vote as well.
That way you could do poundland prizes.
Children may view something as exciting that you don't.

Sawyersfishbiscuits · 08/03/2021 19:03

OP our teacher just made the whole lot into a video and it was lovely. No competition.
If you wanted, you could choose a few different categories like "most unusual location" or "weirdest pose". They'll all just be happy to see each other's funny pictures.

Bimblybomeyelash · 08/03/2021 19:09

I’d have felt very annoyed as a child if the horse picture had won. It’s quite low effort for the child involved.

It’s a fun activity to do, and I’m sure the kids enjoyed it, but no need to make it into a competition.