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

[MummyPenguin]

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.

Well said, DC.

You could argue that the comments on this thread and others about Jade Goody's wide, upturned nose and full lips etc are racist, because these appear to be characteristics inherited from her mixed race father.
Ludicrous snobbery from parents at the school, if it is real and not just made up.

I have to admit, I'd be a bit 'oo-er' about her being at the school gates, and I doubt I'd be her best chum (not much in common, I suspect) but mean to take it out on her son, for whom she clearly wants more than she had herself. FWIW I honestly don't think she thought Shilpa was inferior to her because of her race, I think she really knew Shilpa was superior to her in every single way - looks, education, vocabulary, elegance, attractiveness to men - which was precisely what was so frustrating and infuriating to her.

I'm wasn't aware of JGs parentage, but I find it really hard to believe that this is the issue. There are any number of colours of skin at Oaklands.

I don't have much time for those who devalue one's natural contempt for racists, by seeking to find racism in any form of dreg behaviour.

Aloha puts it very well. English racism is mostly not based in the inferiority of other races, but the fag end of the gene pool realising they can't compete.

Only read half of this and i'm finding it unbelievable

snobbery at it's worse.

I abhor racism and come from an east end bigoted (not rascist) family. I have bought my children up in my way and raised them to be tolerant and accepted of all people. However, they are in a state comp and I do hear them make comments I am not comfortable with. They have learnt that some people will use rascism as an excuse to get of of trouble (my kids now say sarcastically when I tell them off 'Iz it cos I is white" It's awful and I wont stand for it but now they are of an age where their own experiences are taking over from my teaching

As for Jade Goody, the other 2 in CBB were much more racist than she was, but she is an easy hate figure (remember the 1st time we saw her, PIG on headlines!) She is ignorant and said things that could be seen as racist and has paid heavily for being dumb. She is mixed race herself so not exactly a paid up member of the national front

No one knows the backgrounds of ALL people in a school but because she is known, these pathetic mothers are making a stand

I hope they are thoroughly ashamed of themselves, hate is hate and that is all racism is

Just to add re my children

They are not racist, their friends resemble a Beneton ad or UN meeting.

RE DominiConnor's post from yesterday. I am the OP of this thread, and I disagree that my 'opinions are wrong' as I was merely repeating what I'd read in the paper, and I think the opinions I gave in my OP are fair and right.

I apologise P if I misinterpreted you. By quoting the Sun article, I got the impression that you agreed with it.

When I said that your "opinions were wrong", it was based upon the fact that your post implied that you genuinely believed that something in the Sun about celebrities is true.

I'm a parent of kid that apparently will be in the same class as JGs.

I have not signed any petition.

I have not even been asked to, and could easily believe it does not exist.

I would not sign it if asked, and if someone did, they would find themselves at the end of a tirade that they would not enjoy one little bit.

I do not drive a 4WD, in fact most days DS2 will be coming by public transport.

You hate "this" type of snobbery. I don't like any kind, and that includes the Guardian reader snobbery that private school kids are dimmer than state school ones.

At the opposite extreme, I know a group of people who were at college with Prince Edward. I am no more a fan of his than JG, but being Guardianista they made great play of how they snubbed the poor little shit.

Made them feel important I suppose, none did much with their lives.

I suspect that is at the root of all this.
The Sun is saying that "Daily Mail" type snobs don't want JGs DS. "Guardian Reader" type snobs like to portray private school parents as DM snobs.
If JG was not famous then I think we all know, no parent of national newspaper would have got sucked in.

I'm relieved to hear, DC that you would let rip at anyone who asked you to sign a petition asking to keep JG and her son out of the school. Oh no, I didn't agree with it at all, it made me feel quite angry to think that such a thing could/might happen in a school. But then again, as you've pointed out, we can't believe everything we read in the press.

I bet she'd be a scream on a Mums night out. At least for a change, it wouldn't be me providing the scandalous behaviour

I don't think all people who send their kids private are snobs, but i don't see the problem with sending them to state schools.
(Unless your local one is really bad)

I guess that a tiny minority of the parents in this school are snobs, have made sure that their school is in the papers now, that hacks will be all over the place, and that the school has now been given a bad rep.

I reckon the school should seek out these rotten apples and expell THEM.

Yes, MummyPenguin, and I know at least one person who's quite keen to chat with her at the school gate.

It's not a "problem" with sending kids to state schools. At it happens the nearest one to us "St. John's Buckhurst Hill" is run by a twat who seems to get off on scaring small kids at the school gate. Seems quite proud of it.
The parents there seem posher, or at least dress up that way. They love him...
I quote him when he said "I don't see the point of maths beyond the age of 13". There's other shit, but he's unfit to be in charge of kids.

But some states ones are good, like Buckhurst Hill County Primary, more working class, but we actually rather liked it. Seems a friendly, happy place, and decent enough academics.
Seems to get less money however because it's a state school.

But we liked Oaklands better, and Ofsted gives it a better report than the two nearest state schools.

It's our money, and we spend it on the education of our kids.
We see that that as a better position than those Guardian readers who ignore any failings of the state system and instead spend the money on a bigger car, more holidays in far off countries, or a new kitchen.

Its not the kids fault who their mother is. if my kids were at the same school i would let them interact with Jades kids even though i dont like the woman. Its Jades mother who gives me the creeps i wouldnt like my kids near her though, she scares me!

Message withdrawn

Firstly, I don't believe I know enough about JG to make any decision. "Reality" TV is scripted and tightly edited so that it tells the story in the way the producers want. It is no more real than an episode of Doctor Who.

What little I know of JG, indicates that she represents no threat to my DS.
I can't imagine any child trying to model their life upon hers.
Indeed one fear I have for her, is being used as an example to warn children in a rather unkind way. "if you do X you'll end up like her over there..."

She has said racist things, but paid a heavy price for that, so again it's hard to see her as much of a bad influence.

"I can't imagine any child trying to model their life upon hers."

LOL DC - would that were true. I think there are probably quite a lot of girls out there who look at Jade Goody's life and hope for something similar - if you know you have no education, no opportunities and do not look like Jordan you might well think being a reality tv star is your best hope of fame and fortune.

I doubt your children would think like that though....

tbh as long as the regular admission criteria were universally applied (he'd have to be on the list by a year at latest to stand a chance at ours with no sibling priority) and had no preferential treatment (as regards holidays in term etc) and they keep a low profile then it would be ahrd to justify any grudge. Noone is forced to associate with the family and it is hardly the child's fault that his mum makes a public fool of herself.

I suppose you're right...
Wish you weren't though.
I should have known better, since I recall seeing that 17% of schoolkids reckon their career is to be a reality celebrity.
Tells you as much about their numeracy skills as the poor quality of careers education.

But is JG the celeb of choice ?

As you say, people like me can't easily put ourselves in the mindset of those who might be the next Jade Goody, but I would have guessed that they'd "choose" to be someone like Jordan.

I agree about preferential treatment, but part company on the "low profile" requirement.

I don't see why any job means that a parent should feel they have to keep their head down.

I went to a state Christian school where the staff were very snobby about my dad being a bankrupted Irish builder. The child of a banker who was their golden child is about to take early retirement from being a train driver.
Yes, and if you're asking I am smug about that.
JGs' life is her job. She works quite hard at it, producing an array of "occasions" that she can sell to the media.

She is a work of her own fiction.

My job involves a bit of self promotion as well. I regard mine as a more pleasant role, dealing with bankers and academkics, but in no way is the work morally superior, indeed the general term used for people like me is "pimp".
JG could be a valuable asset to the school on things like PTA summer fairs.

Well, suppose you are realistic enough to know you haven't got the looks to be the next Jordan. Then you might fix on Jade.

What I meant is that as long as she doens't throw her "profile" (hesitate to use the word status or celebrity )around within the shcool setting to try to secure any advantages for her child(ren) or bring the school's name into disrepute by her antics. Her kids have to be educated somewhere after all.

I suppose I find it mildly hard to imagine a school easily being swayed by JGs "profile".
Would you be ?

I rather think I would not. Apparently she was at the open day for the class, and not only was I not impressed, I managed not to realise she was there at all. Maybe, like Cherie Blair, she looks very different in the flesh ?

I'm also wondering quite why there was so much media interest in this case ?

I'd guess there are a couple thousand people whose "rank" as celebrity is at least equal to hers. Thousands of kids, and many Celebs are far worse on any reasonable scale.
I'd rather have JGs kid in my school than one of the drunken gang of wife beaters we refer to as "professional footballers".

My rough guess is that on average, you'd expect most private schools to have one celebrity parent.

Just to change the subject slightly.. I really don't like what she's done with her hair now, dyed it blonde again with long extensions. Wrong. Wrong. The brunette bob was so much more flattering for her. She looks like Miss Piggy (even more so - and I'm not being nasty, but there is a resemblance..) with that long blonde hair.

DC if you see her at the school gate, tell her Mummypenguin said she must go back to the brunette bob.

People should have a good look at themselves before they start judging others. I don't give any thought to Ms Goody or other slebs but for heaven sake, why are these odious mothers taking their vitriolic snobbery out on her innocent son?

I hope Ms Goody sends her DS to that school and when she drops him off in the mornings, she should hold her head high and not give two figs to what these pompous, arrogrant, priggish, putrid snobs think.

I did not see BB where she made her racist comments but she has apologised and those who constantly attack her for it are themselves bullies.

There are definetly a lot worse people about than Jade Goody, who are parents at every person on this forums schools. I dont like her i used to like her before bb but shes done well for herself and her children have doen nothing wrong. the thing we all forget is we dont know her personally, everyone [including myself] has a habit of disliking celebrities who weve never met. We see them on tv and in newspapers and mags and feel like we know them when were never likely to ever meet them. Or maybe im just feeling in a good mood today and dont feel like moaning about anyone!

OK, I've done some research.
As you might expect, the Sun article Sloppy Journalism
was largely fabricated. As a parent with a DS going to Oaklands, I've asked around and there really doesn't seem to be a petition at all. The Sun seems to have "rephrased" some comments by one parent.
Notice the weasel words "consider a petition". Not "there is a petition".

Simple factual details like the uniform are wrong. How hard do you think that would have been to work out if you were a competent journo ?
I'm not a competent journo, and it took me 7 seconds...
It called the uniform "smart". The "writer" clearly has never dealt with 4 year olds.

The only feedback I've received is that some think it mildly interesting for her to be at the school gate.

Some parents drive 4WDs, a fact that is true of pretty much every school of every kind. Having been there at chucking out time, they didn't seem to be a majority.

We don't drive a 4WD, and most days DS will be coming by public transport.

There is no photo shoot at the school organised by JG. She may sell photos of her DS in his school gear, but that's normal for many celebs, and is both harmless and nothing to do with us.
There may be paparazzi, on day one, but not encouraged by the school.

We've not been asked to sign any sort of release for a shoot, partly because of course it doesn't exist. I got that officially from the school.

The low quality journalism at the Sun seems to have missed the fact that it's largely a girls school, and of course they seem to genuinely believe that 2K per term is somehow hugely posher than the average private school.
It ain't.

The article says Jade lives "near Stanstead Airport". That's just stupid. The Sun itself reports her as living in Ongar, which is basically "near" nowhere at all, except maybe Harlow...
Ongar is pretty countrified. Even basic research would pop up that there aren't many schools near her home.