to be annoyed that because of other peoples' stupid paranoya, I am not allowed to photograph/video *my* child in his school play?

[wannaBe]

yes, I know this is common place but...

I do not wish to photograph other peoples' children, I wish to photograph my child.

but because "some parents do not wish to have their children photographed, cameras will not be permitted" .

Ffs what are the chances of paedo's coming to watch the christmas play!

How sad that we have come to this. This (overexaggerated IMHO) fear of paedophiles means our kids can't be cuddled if they hurt themselves, means people ignore toddlers wandering off along (too scared to approach child), means kids are no longer allowed to play outside alone and has led to a complete dearth of male teachers in primary schools which means for many boys they have absolutely no role models. All of these things (I'm sure there are many more) are having a negative impact on our children's lives.

Our school has asked all parents to fill in a consent for for thier child to be photographed while at school, we only have to do it once and it lasts for the whole time they are at school.

meant toddlers wandering off alone - sorry!

my nursery asks for consent for any photographic devices used, so consent is an issue

My friend has two adopted children, so they're not allowed to be photographed/ video'd for public use in case their biological parents trace them.

Our school has same policy, but is charging £23 for a professionally produced DVD ! (Problem is, I want a DVD of MY child, not everyone elses!!)

This isn't just about the lonePAedo PArent or whatever- on t hat level I would agree with you, and indeed I did until I started to attend more SN events- a lot of the kids there are under care orders where their whereabout have to be kept a secret from their birth parents (how sad is that?), as its totally impossible to know who will watch any DVD or see any picture, those children are banned from apeparing in any such media. As children in care are probably far more in need of taking an integral part in any curricular activities sucha s the plays than we are of pictures, I now think its a fair thing, even if its a very sad thing (esp. for the child involved)

thats what i was trying to say peachy, dp works for social services in a care home, the kids go to a regular school but NO photos can be taken, just in case as these children are on the at risk register.

which is the same reason the school my children attend wont allow photos, as i said on p1, i am a school governor and the reason is that these children need to be protected.

The infant school where my dds went used to say it breached copyrite to film or take photos but then had "professional" photos taken in various staged poses and charged £7 for them!!!!(WHich of course you felt obliged to buy)

Where I work we allow videos but say- please don't take photos during the performance- you can come at 2pm Tuesday pm when the children will be in costume to take photos. The kids whose parents object just don't go on the stage.

I try to be reasonable here but my kids are adopted and the birth family (as is usual) do not know their new name or where we live. Since they are in the same county, I am pretty strict that the children do not end up pictured in the local paper or named on the internet.

But I've no objections to playgroup display photos or anyone taking personal/family pictures. I think people are a bit too paranoid about paedophiles but in our case it's really a child protection issue. You just don't know what other parents might do as has already been mentioned re: youtube. If people used common sense there would be no problem would there?

sorry but pmsl at 'the poor child who played the donkey had to shout "Beep beep" to get them to move so he could get to Bethlehem'

I'm totally against the event being videoed but feel parents should be allowed to take pictures of their own child at the end.

There have been lots of good reasons posted already about why some children's photos shouldn't be taken, especially given how many will end up on the internet/email in one way or another but....I have to say that at least without parents taking photos/video, everybody will be able to see and the children won't be distracted by parents standing up, cameras flashing etc - surely it will be a more pleasant experience for all concerned?

Unless the production is written by staff it is often a copyright issue. We would have had to pay a lot more money to get a licesnse to allow parents to video and just don't have the money at our school.

it's completely bloody ridiculous and these fears should not be pandered to. Legally you're perfectly entitled to film your child in a public place. I'd go ahead regardless.

I think it's just so unlikely that they would be located in this way, understandably if it was in the local paper perhaps. If it is such an issue then they shouldn't take part.

YANBU it is madness, DS2 is in the local paper this week, no one ask me and I don't mind at all.

Sorry havnt read all this thread and prob. somone has mentioned ....but, it can be very anoying when people keep standing up and taking photos or doing a video through out the whole thing. Especially when the video makes a little pingy noise when they are switched off.
I always forget to charge ours up!

Luckily school have called in a company, who do it professionally and then we all buy a copy and some of it goes to the school. (Not expensive btw)

Rebelmum1, you are actually saying that children who have been through so much in their life that they have to be removed, hidden and their identities protected should be excluded so that other parents can take a few photos?

IF someone came here and posted "for various terrible, reasons we have had to flea our homes, change our names etc, now our school says that DC cannot be in the school play because parents have demanded their right to take a photo whilst the play is going on" - you (I guess), along with everyone else would be up in arms and starting petitions!

TBH, the whole thing is a bit ridiculous - if you want a photo take it before you go - in the kit, or afterwards outside the school building, or afterwards set up a "pose" on the stage... really it is not that hard is it?

'If it is such an issue then they shouldn't take part.
'

what a horrid, horrible nion inclusive opinion! - spd the kids that ahve been through hell, danger, violence, abuse whatever- your kids photo being tkaen is more importanT!!!

Disgust registered.

My DDs school take lots of photos of the kids during final rehersal when they are calm and the school have time. I got some beautiful ones done like this from her nursery too last years and the school were able to 'charge' a donation so people could put in as much or as little as they wanted and the school coffers got a few quid. Stopped the annoying bloody David Baileys who always seem to be standing sitting in front of me. They are usually the knobs who don't turn their mobile phones off either. Twits

Nurseries and schools may choose to cite consent as a reason for banning photography, but it is not a legal requirement. If you want to challenge it, you are free to go ahead. The law says consent is only required for commercial exploitation.

I can completely see that where there is some kind of protection order that the children should not appear in the local paper or on the internet (at least where they are named), but in terms of parents taking photographs is that really so different from the children going about their daily business? Obviously they're not going to be in disguise, so are the chances that much higher of an abusive parent or whoever seeing a photo than seeing the child on their way into school?

I'm not sure that being allowed to take a photo of your child on his/her own at the end helps much either- you could just take one of them in costume at home presumably.

YAB bloody U.

That is only part of the point.
How many parents would be at the play? 100? 200? 500? 50?

Imagine all those parents, snapping happily at their child throughout the play, how many flashes would go off, directed at the stage? Parents walking around looking to get the best shot, oblivious to other parents trying to enjoy the play, oblivious to all those little performers on stage who have a hard time trying to remember their lines, what to do, where to start singing, with merry mayhem of snap happy parents infront of them.