School "Culture Day' - why didn't school see this coming?

[mids2019]

https://www.joe.co.uk/news/school-issues-statement-after-sending-girl-home-for-wearing-union-jack-dress-496690?fbclid=IwY2xjawLkEB9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmXD4szLMfsqNubbE12kCn_Noe5jb2VGlNFVU0_IUIevHxzByCQ-5GXFN8F8_aem_P-q7I_yFCq82TY-Qr8mGdw

A local school state d a huge debate by sending a girl home on school culture day for wearing a union Jack dress. The question is why the school should have naively held an event which actually least a to more division than unity?

My daughter (white British) attended a similar event, for which she paid a pound, and dressed in jeans and t shirt. I asked how she had decided upon the attire and she stated 'well I don't have a culture'. I then had to explain that she did have a culture and even the jeans and t shirt were a product of fashion changes in western liberal society. We had a discussion about all the great products of white British culture, the music,science, results of the industrial revolution, shared experience in great wars, monarchy etc.

There is a white British culture but going into detail about this obviously brings into focus cultural divide and opens up divisive areas whether white British culture benefited from colonialism and past oppression.

Of course culture day probably was meant to highlight minority cultures and act to promote dress etc. from ethnic minorities as a welcoming inclusive gesture but by allowing all pupils to think about their culture we have to define 'white British' culture and by defining 'white British' culture schools have inadvertently started a discussion they didn't intend.

Well no as it’s just baseless speculation. What has the girl done wrong exactly?

And read @hotlegshoolahanpost which sums it up

Because they’re busy. It’s the last week of term most places and people in education have more on their plate than dispelling rumours.

Because schools, rightly, shouldn't get into media squabbles with parents. I'm sure if it is true someone else will pipe up eventually. For now, the only "evidence" is a he said, she said from this girls dad.

Well if the motive was to expose that in a British school, displays of Britishness are punished whilst displays of non-Britishness are celebrated, then the school's reaction proved she was right.

Yes I’ve read @hotlegshoolahan’s reply, but thank you for your… helpful.. direction.

Nothing. Her father has done wrong using his child to make a point.

Sending her home was likely a point to him, not her.

”But TR” is the end of the point that needs making regarding TR. There’s no need to present you with evidence, we all have the internet and critical thought. You either agree with him, or you don’t, and many people who don’t would be inclined to think his beliefs have no place in schools.

He’s a racist thug, and people who associate with him should leave their kids and their kid’s education out of it.

I think there is problem here if a culture day just encourages kids to think they need to be part of a certain group rather than just being happy being themselves.

Non-Britishness? 😂

Why have you looked at his Facebook page? It is completely irrelevant and more to the point, it is none of your business - he can post what he wants. And who are you to judge? Next time you buy a loaf or something and find it's mouldy in the packet, everyone can do a bit of digging on you and say you shouldn't get an apology and refund because you like <insert politician>.

Well yes, the poster I was replying to. She specifically asked to be shown any nation or culture who had produced such literary greatness. Perhaps take your time and actually read what you’re replying to.

But why isn’t a Union Jack British? It is British, she could have dressed for England Scotland or Wales.
But surely the Union Jack is the embodiment of Britishness?

Why on earth do you want 12 year old students used in that way?

Maybe someone won’t like your SM activity. Your dc if you have any still can be part of school events.

How bizarre people are with this.

I think it is all rather sad that the far right have ruined our Union Jack to this extent already. The riots were just a year ago and perhaps the head was just worried. When people appropriate a symbol like the Union Jack that belongs to us all and was something to be proud of originally, for their own political gain and to other people, including minorities who are part of our country, that is what ends up happening.
Hitler stole the Swastika. I think if anything we need laws to make sure certain political parties and rallies do not appropriate our flag. They should make their own symbols, not steal those of the majority. That is what is sad about this whole thing. And a young girl who is 12 is perfectly allowed to celebrate her own culture and Brit Pop, regardless of who her father is or his views. She may have different views, any event, children often do and from an early age such as 12.

So your argument is that a British child should not wear a UK dress on a school day when the school has told pupils to dress to reflect their nationality, as TR may think the child should wear that dress?

Do you also think nothing should have been done about the grooming gangs because TR thought they were bad too? Because 'But TR' thinking caused people to ignore TR and those associated with him who were trying to make people aware of the rape of girls by predominately pakistani gangs of men.

My critical thinking has developed to a point that I no longer dismiss things because of who may agree or not with them, but instead a look at the issue at hand on its own merit.

I don’t want them used that way, her father shouldn’t have used her in such a way.

If that was the case, the girl was punished for her father's perfectly legal political views (and even if they weren't), then any members of staff responsible should be sacked on the spot. Schools do not get to decide what parents can and can't think. It's also part of the girl's education to stand up and speak at events.

Do you think your scenario would be acceptable? If you do, that is extremely worrying.

I was mocking the school's approach when I said that.

As I made clear in my first posts on this thread, I think there is an underlying racism in how the school organised the day as it seems to imply PoC children, dual heritage children, or children with heritage outside of Britain, are somehow not British. They literally told children to dress for their nationality, as if somehow this would not be British. Surely most of the children are British citizens.

Happily. I would expect a top of the class 12 year old to understand the differences between being part of a minority and a minority culture, for a start. And that in a school where 15% are not native English speakers, 85% ARE…..

So the girl should stay wearing the dress then? The school were right to apologise.

And you don’t know what the situation is, it’s madness how much people think they can deduce.

I don’t think parents should use their children to make their political/racial points, no.

I’m not sure who would.

I think something should be done about all sexual abusers. Unless you’d like to claim that white men don’t rape? Thought not.

But her speech is nowhere near Tommy Robinson territory.

Even if the father has strong views on this issue, there is no justification for banning the daughter as a consequence (if indeed it was that).

Students will come from families with a wide range of views on culture and nation. Socialist intentionalists, nation-statists, Hindu (etc) nationalists, Taiwan independencists, Basque separatists, etc.

None of their children should be excluded on those grounds, provided the views they promote in school are within normal democratic bounds. Which this girls were, not even a borderline case.

Some ideas for the pp who was wondering what her child could wear on British culture day: ‘posh aristocrat’ - could wear polo gear or tweed, royal style hat with matching coat dress, tea dress accessorised with teapot and teacups, anything fit for Ascot or Wimbledon; ‘Fashion culture’- mini skirt, mod outfit, anything vivienne westwoodish, punk, or regal gown; ‘street culture’- think Oasis, All Saints kind of look, Britpop or even a track suit with white trainers, ‘literary’ / philosopher / romantics; farmer / agricultural (love this!); suffragette; coal miner; ship builder; royal; national colours… so many really fun ideas to try!

Ooh and a gorgeous suit for a gentleman- Saville Row style!

I think something should be done about all sexual abusers. Unless you’d like to claim that white men don’t rape? Thought not

I don't want to derail but I find the underlying meaning of this extremely offensive. No one has ever said white men don't rape. Grooming gangs are a particular and widespread phenomenon where the perpetrators were protected and the victims blamed due to race. I for one am angry about the way those poor girls are always being deflected with whataboutery. They matter and they deserve justice and a full investigation into why it was allowed to happen. Can we not let them have that without desperately crying racism and trying to change the conversation away from them all the time?

Is this school in one of the new Reform councils?

But school uniform is a British thing, and part of everyday culture. Think Harry Potter. It depends on how you define culture.

weird