Playing along to delusions - costumes and PE

[GreenAndSpringy]

One of my biggest peeves at Primary School was the expectation that children would be dressed up for a event, particularly World Book Day, AND take part in PE (Physical Education).

I had hoped this ridiculousness would be something the kids could be allowed to evolve out of, but no….

Culture Day!

There’s enormous pressure and expectation for the young people to be ambassadors for their ethnic heritage, and it sits alongside a refusal to acknowledge that many of them can’t just slip into and out of cultural clothing for a PE lesson.

There’s something icky and disrespectful about getting young people to compromise and “play at” cultural representation so that boxes can get ticked. It isn’t “inclusive” at all, some will get to reflect their heritage truthfully whilst others, if they do attempt to participate, end up doing it in a half-arsed and embarrassing way.

Somehow I have to square the circle so that my daughter doesn’t feel let down. Makes me so cross!

@Camdenish

That’s a fantastic costume Green, beautiful. She could wear trainers with that and go skateboarding surely?

😆😆🤣

@Whatwouldscullydo

I agree about the mixture, my kids would have 4 cultures to pick from, I'm not sure if that would make it easier or harder

It kinda seems a bit like celebrating diversity whilst assuming everyone " sticks to their own" which doesn't that kinda miss what diversity has lead to and that's friendships amd families with all sorts of mixtures/combinations of backgrounds.

I was born in this country , and my dad is half Eastern European. My grandfather married an English woman. I have distant Eastern European relatives.

I wonder what kids with mixtures of backgrounds would do.

If my kids were at the age where I had to sort out the costume they'd have whichever one I found easiest to provide.

@GreenAndSpringy that's a lovely costume. I bet she was really proud of it.

[quote ancientgran]@GreenAndSpringy that's a lovely costume. I bet she was really proud of it.[/quote]
Thank you! The photo shows her reacting to seeing herself in it for the first time, she loved it (just as well, because if she hadn’t there is no way she would have agreed to keep wearing it for the day!)
She has been involved with events and ceremonies growing up that have involved her dressing up, and I have had to learn and re-learn quite a few skills from both sides of the family.

Bringing these experiences to a school and sharing those of others is a real highlight, something that I believe enriches everybody. That’s why it is such a shame when schools don’t really take in what is actually involved and just pay lip service to the concept of a culture sharing day.

An occasion to reflect and celebrate the cultures of a school community deserves more than a casually highlighted date on a calendar.

Maybe the PE lesson could be a dance, linked to one or more cultures. I think you can dance in most clothes.

It would link with the day in a way a game of rounders wouldn't.

BTW that is a stunning dress / outfit.

Have you mentioned this to the PE department?

DD's school does it and some girls dress in very beautiful clothes from the country they come from. They are proud of it but it's a style of dress you wear normally, not dressing up to stereotypes.

We are Germans and DD was asked by friends if she would wear a Dirndel. Well, we come from the north and a Dirndel is worn in Bavaria, 700km away from DH's hometown. So that was a no as it's not something she identifies with.

Not sure about PE but I would think as you don't have to dress differently you could just skip it and wear your normal uniform like everyone else.

Teachers also participated btw.