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Original poster

Would you object to Jade Goody being a parent at your school?

233 replies

MummyPenguin · 16/07/2007 16:37

I just read this in The Sun, and it really annoyed me! Parents at posh Oaklands school in Loughton, Essex have strongly objected to Jade being offered a place in Reception for her Son Bobby, 4.

I know Jade isn't everyone's favourite person, but how dare they? Apparently, one Mum has objected so strongly that she's threatened to take her child out. Bye then. That would be my reaction, and I asssume Jade would have a similar one. Other parents are planning a petition. WTF? Bobby is only 4, and shouldn't be subjected to such hostility. What sort of example are they setting their children? No doubt the children will be encouraged not to associate with Bobby, and the poor little chap might be outcasted.

I really hate this sort of snobbery. In every school, even so called 'posh' ones, there's children and parents that you don't mix with for reasons best known to yourself. This just struck me as ridiculous though. If Jade can afford the fees, (which she obviously can) good luck to her.

I don't know if there's already a thread about this btw.

OP posts:
Reallytired · 17/07/2007 10:39

"Wouldn't want my dc going round for a playdate though. "

Would you invite Jade's son to a playdate? Or a birthday party? Poor kid... he might be a really nice and sensitive little boy.

TootyFrooty · 17/07/2007 10:42

Of course I would invite him.

Apologies - I thought that by using the symbol it might have conveyed that I was being tongue in cheek.

Piffle · 17/07/2007 10:42

She should be applauded for making it a priority that her kids have a better education and understanding about the world than she given.

she is just a silly naive and ignorant lass.

Having your kds first day in a pap photo shoot, that is condemnable though
Whoring your kids IMO

SueW · 17/07/2007 10:45

Wot Piffle said.

schneebly · 17/07/2007 11:02

I don't think Jade is a racist either. I think her comments came from naievete and sheer ignorance rather than genuine racism and I think she has learned a valuable lesson! I don't think her child should have to miss out because of public opinion of her. That said I might be a little concerned about the media circus surrounding the school but would not call for her child to be excluded.

Enid · 17/07/2007 11:03

very telling about private schools

not big news that they are like this though

DangerousBeans · 17/07/2007 11:13

The woman is an odious ass.

She has a very inflated idea of her own importance.

But so have lots of people.

Including the ones who are being unwelcoming to a four-year old child, and who think they have the authority to overrule the Headteacher about which pupils are accepted into the school.

I feel sorry for the children of all these people.

McDreamyGonagall · 17/07/2007 11:16

To the op - no I wouldn't object, who on earth do I think I am if I thought it was appropriate to object Her children have as much right to be there as any other children. Wether or not I like her - well that's a whole different thread!!!

pagwatch · 17/07/2007 11:51

I don't actually think it is very telling about private schools. My kid is in one and i would not object to any child because of their parent! It is a sad indictment of this particular school.

SueW · 17/07/2007 12:08

Actually it just says something about a few parents at that school, not about that school or private school at all.

And even, then it's only what the media is reporting about a few parents at that school. Surely after that past couple of weeks we are all well aware of how the media misrepresents.

Pollyanna · 17/07/2007 12:19

I don't think it's about private v state at all. My older 2 go to a private school and there is/was a very annoying ( and erm working class) celeb there and her children and no-one batted an eyelid. Much friendlier and less judgmental than our previous middle class North London state school ime.

islandofsodor · 17/07/2007 12:24

My children are at a private school.

I would think very long and hard about sending my child to a school where they based entrance on the whims of other parents or admitted the child on the basis of who their parent is.

As long as Ms Goody conducts herself appropriately whilst within the school I can not see how anyone can aomplain. the moment any parent, regardless of celebrity status stepped out of line in the prescence of my child eg swearing, abusive to staff, taking unauthorised photos of children I would expect action to be taken against the parent.

cylonbabe · 17/07/2007 13:47

isl, my eldest has been in primary school for six years now. it has turned me into a very very cynical person indeed.
i do not have faith that the head, or the governors will do what is best for the kids in their care. they will do what is best for the business. they run the school, a state school, as a business. as long as they get into the league tables, so what if a minority of the kids cant read properly,etc

MotherFunk · 17/07/2007 15:14

Message withdrawn

Tortington · 17/07/2007 15:15

she's got that horrible southern accent.

Tortington · 17/07/2007 15:15

common

Quattrocento · 17/07/2007 21:06

This may well be snobbery and attention seeking from the parents. But I would feel the same way simply on the grounds of racism - pure and simple. I do not agree with the posts that say that it was blown out of all proportion because what happened was racist bullying. And no, frankly I would not want a family with known racist bullies at my DCs school.

MotherFunk · 17/07/2007 21:25

Message withdrawn

Quattrocento · 17/07/2007 22:11

"It would be lovely if we all lived in a world where all the parents at our childrens schools had perfect morals and views.
We don't"

Well yes okay but racism is where I draw the line. People can drink fruit shoots until they explode as far as I am concerned, but I think (and my DC's school professes to think) that racism is entirely unacceptable.

This discussion reminds me of an elderly grandmother at a wedding drunkenly and belligerently asking "well what the hell is wrong with a bit of adultery?". Was screamingly funny at the time. For some of the people on this thread, the line is in a different place. It was overblown, not the child's fault blah blah.

Am disappearing from this thread before I start getting very angry. And before the fans of that godawful racist comedian who died recently (and whose name entirely and fortunately has escapes me) start making an appearance and baying "What the hell is wrong with a little bit of racism? He was a man of his time he was."

Kathyis6incheshigh · 17/07/2007 22:16

Go on then Quattro, before you go perhaps you could answer two questions:

  1. Why are you so sure that none of the children at your dcs' school have racist parents?

  2. Why would it be right to make the children suffer because of the unpleasant views held by their parents?

Quattrocento · 17/07/2007 22:38

Bernard Manning. How could I forget? K6 am seriously and honestly getting upset by this thread so must disappear, but will answer your questions as completely as possible within the boundaries of trying to preserve some anonymity ...

  1. Why are you so sure that none of the children at your dcs' school have racist parents?

Well it is a private school with a strong multicultural ethos. It's like an international school without actually being one. Or as close as I could find, in any event. Don't want to identify it. White anglo saxon protestants are just about in the majority but it is a close-run thing. Strong racists would simply not go there. Mild racists might go there but it is not especially likely.

  1. Why would it be right to make the children suffer because of the unpleasant views held by their parents?

Oh that's a trickier question and one that does not make me feel especially comfortable. Or especially nice. I don't believe that the sins of the parents SHOULD be visited on the children. In principle at least. But think of this. Say my DCs happen to make friends with the infant Goody, who is surviving his home environment without a hint of racism. Would I want my DC's to go to the Goody house? Absolutely not. I would not allow it. Or the Goody infant to come to mine on a playdate and possibly be picked up by Jade Goody? How am I going to manage to be civil to the woman? All I would feel like doing is spitting in her eye. Would she arrive with a camera crew in tow? The whole scenario is ghastly.

I would feel the same about the children of a BNP activist. Anyhow I won't worry about it because it is absolutely not going to happen. But the whole OP asked us to criticise the mums and I can't. I'd feel the same.

MotherFunk · 17/07/2007 22:45

Message withdrawn

JammyPotter · 17/07/2007 22:49

do you think racists realise they're racist though? i cant imagine a parent thinking "hmm shaln't send my child to that school because they're not racist despite good reputation"

there's a black dad at our primary school who i knew before my ds went to the school. The school is a "nice" school but predominantly white middle class. He has several of the mothers flocking around him and he tells me that it only happened after they realised he had appeared in a tv series a few years ago. he's not a celeb though.

MotherFunk · 17/07/2007 22:51

Message withdrawn

Kathyis6incheshigh · 17/07/2007 22:52

Quattro, that's interesting about the school - I can see now why you are confident about it.
Do you think the mums in the OP are doing it for the same reasons you would be, though?
The thing is, at your school you are confident there wouldn't be racist parents because it's that kind of school. So if Jade did turn up there, wouldn't it make you start to think maybe she really has turned her back on the horrible views she grew up with? I don't know anything about the school in the OP but surely either it is a school with a strong multiracial ethos, in which case that would also apply, or it is not, in which case they can't be confident that none of the other parents have racist views.
It just seems to me that she is being singled out because of what she stands for rather than because of any serious risk of her corrupting anybody's children.