Not allowed photography at school play??

dizziblonde

You're being hysterical. At the end of the day - children have rights - and one of those rights is the right to a childhood. You can protect them all you want - but unless you completely remove your child from any association with the general public... there will always be a tiny, hypothetical risk.

Going nuts about stuff like someone possibly talking to a child through the fence in a school playground - what exactly do you want schools to do? They're generally in residential areas (because that's where their pupils live) and they're also generally on streets - while most have already made sure their playgrounds are located to the rear as best they can - what more exactly can they do - put a 20 metre exclusion zone around the perimeter fence?

Other people use supermarkets and might end up catching your child in their field of vision (I tend to look where I'm pushing a trolley - purely because... well otherwise I might run someone over) - what do you want? Supermarkets to ban the general public in case your child is exposed to contact with one of them?

Unless you want to go do The Good Life thing on a remote Scottish island... you live within a society - and within that society there are other people and you are going to come into contact with them. You can either live in utter terror and see all of them as evil you-know-whats and try to lock yourself away, or you can take sensible steps to minimize the risks and get on with living your life.

Schools are still trying to work out the best way to deal with the new safeguarding guidelines. They're getting inconsistent advice from Ofsted, LEAs and Govt Advisors. There's a lot of sensationalist rumour and hearsay going around about what Ofsted will/won't fail schools for - and it's very very inconsistent (we're talking the level of the rumoured school failing because the receptionist greeted the inspection team with "Oh hello would you like a cup of coffee and can you please sign in" rather than "Hello, sign in and would you like a cup of coffee"). Because of that - schools are overreacting somewhat - because of the risks that are out there for them if they get a negative inspection result.

Things have been tightened up collossally - I've carried photo ID and my CRB check as a supply teacher for years - only recently have I begun being asked for them (things used to generally work that the agency called ahead with your name and you were asked your name when you got there as a check the two matched). Now my CRB is faxed to a school when I'm first sent there, along with a sheet with my photograph, name, date of birth and address... personally I don't particularly like all that information buzzing down the fax lines to different schools 3 times a week - but you do what you've got to do really.

Shouting stuff like "I hope your kids aren't getting abused while you're in your ivory towers" is a touch extreme. Most child protection issues are someone known to the family - so the hysteria about any member of the random general public is over the top - and unfair to all the law abiding members of society who have rights to go about their daily business without being falsely accused of being a you-know-what.

A few days ago I was leaving a school I'd been working at - and came across one of the kids from the class who'd become separated from her mum outside the school gates - because I knew I had my CRB check and stuff to hand I walked with her back into the school office to wait (I then managed to find mum outside school and point her in the direction of her kid)... but, being honest, if I hadn't had my work hat on and that stuff to hand - I'd probably have had second thoughts for fear of being accused of something sinister... that's the kind of change of behaviour that this level of unjustified hysteria is instilling in the general public.

aliasojo

Valli wrote: »

Tandraig - Have your children (parents of GDs) NOT been asked to sign a permission slip for PUBLICATION of pictures to the school website?

We have a general consent form. I have to explicitly write at the bottom that I do not wish my daughter's picture to be used on the web.

1sue23

How things have changed over the years ,there have always been perverts and there always will be nothing new there ,when I was at school many years ago it was the norm to just wear vest and and large knickers for sports ,no one ever gave it a thought ,as children we were just told watch that man he is a little strange and we lived a free and happy life and most of us survived and have lived to tell the tale . Does anyone remember the photo that most children had taken of lying naked on a sheep skin rug imagine that today how terrible . The biggest danger now is the limiting of a normal life every thing is to be feared , how on earth are children going to cope if all this carries on . I walked to school from the age of five a good twenty min walk I never came to harm , we were fitter and happier and our parents were more relaxed ,by all means protect a child, but no pictures of your children in the nativity play what a sad and over protected world our children are growing up in .

mikey72

aliasojo wrote: »

It was in our school. We got a letter saying no filming and it turned out one father had objected. What was annoying was that he had offered to keep his daughter off during the play so that other people could film but the head told him she would just ban filming completely.

I called her to discuss it as I was annoyed to say the least but she simply insisted the decision had been made. A quick phone call above her head to to the LEA showed that it wasn't. She was told she had no right to do this and filming was allowed to go ahead.

This was in Scotland btw in case it makes a difference.

She'll have no problem with that. Any issue with privacy, she'll say the decision was made by the LEA, and no refer it to them.

Janepig

tandraig wrote: »

I am NOT saying that parents shouldnt have photographs of their kids or grandkids! when photos are in photo albums at home thats fine! the more the merrier!
just warning of the dangers of putting photos on internet - so why am I and paparika getting vilified? whatever we say we are accused of scaremongering - so - personally - this is my last post on this thread - and i sincerely hope that while you are all esconced in your ivory towers - your kids arent being abused!

In which case you may not answer this - but you say you've spoken to "too many" teenagers who have been abused which is why presumably you have an "insight" into this danger. But who abused these teenagers you spoke to? Strangers? Or members of their own family? I too have experience of many many people who were abused as children, and it was rarely if ever by a stranger.

Jxx

mikey72

tandraig wrote: »

I didnt mean to come across as paranoid!!! but, just to warn parents NOT to be too complacent when it comes to their childs safety.

the reason i said 'dads' who seem very keen for your child to have sleepovers is - even though its sexist - most !!!!!piles are men. yes women have committed this offence but the figures show that this is a rare occurence.

PolishBigSpender - I was thinking more along the lines of someone talking to my granddaughter through the school fence - their grounds are quite large and the play supervisors cant be everywhere at once!

perhaps I am paranoid - or I have talked to too many teens who were abused as children, so my understanding is of course second-hand and from a different perspective to paparikas.

however I would rather be safe than sorry and when under my care my grandchildren are watched very closely. my son and his partner allow them both to go unsupervised to the playground in next street which i wouldnt do but they are the parents and its their decision to make about its safety.

Figures are at least 25% are by women.
The number of claims against women recently have increased dramatically.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/sharp-rise-reported-in-child-abuse-by-women-1817509.html

and if you want a 1997 summary
http://www.menweb.org/panosumm.htm

Paparika

tandraig wrote: »

I am NOT saying that parents shouldnt have photographs of their kids or grandkids! when photos are in photo albums at home thats fine! the more the merrier!
just warning of the dangers of putting photos on internet - so why am I and paparika getting vilified? whatever we say we are accused of scaremongering - so - personally - this is my last post on this thread - and i sincerely hope that while you are all esconced in your ivory towers - your kids arent being abused!

Thanks for your support

But remember, here are armchair experts, who can and will be spiteful in their comments and put you down, and not even think about how hurtful they are, i made a comment about the P word being a reason why photography not being used, although agree that its also the parents that insist on filming on the camcorder in front of everyone else so no one gets a view (of course no one here is ever guilty of that) not pointing fingers at anyone, there will always be someone who knows more that you, because their best mates, sisters cousin knew someone who dated someone who heard.......

I am sick and tired of people who take an instant dislike to a 'forum' user and will slate what they write, just because they get a kick out of it, and there are at least 2 in this thread guilty of that, but will not admit to it, will point the finger back at the one they are bullying to make them feel better.

Oh and no i haven't glorified, I've actually toned it right down, i am not clouded by my judgment with the experience i have had, i no longer work in that environment, there is a lot i would love to say, but i have chosen not to.

So time to back off, no need to reply with a sarky comment, you'll only show yourself for what you really are.

Keep your heads stuck in the sand..... it's warmer there.

My sincere apologies to the OP, on behalf of myself and those who choose to slate me on this thread for taking this way off topic, i am very sorry.

lrr_2

My daughters school is the same in regard to not being able to take pictures or film the plays.

However I think the school should film it and take pictures and be able to only sell them to the parents, that way no freaks can get the pictures, the school can raise funds and the parents are happy too.

I know there are a lot of weirdos out there but we cant live in fear all the time or they win.

aliasojo

lrr wrote: »

However I think the school should film it and take pictures and be able to only sell them to the parents, that way no freaks can get the pictures......

Just playing Devil's Advocate here but perhaps the freaks we seem to fear so much are sitting in the audience as parents happily filming away anyway, or would just sit quietly watching whilst waiting for the 'official version' to be sold?

The stereotypical dirty old loner in a beige mac is not an accurate portrayal, anyone's Mother or Father could be 'it'. Simply getting a school staff member to film, doesn't really safeguard much, imo. If someone wants to manipulate a video they'll do it regardless of who the film maker was.

There was a case locally a while ago where a well respected and well known Dad was exposed as a child abuser. He had attended many a school performance.

It's impossible to cover all angles, we all just have to do whatever we feel the most comfortable with.

Janepig

Paparika wrote: »

Thanks for your support

But remember, here are armchair experts, who can and will be spiteful in their comments and put you down, and not even think about how hurtful they are, i made a comment about the P word being a reason why photography not being used, although agree that its also the parents that insist on filming on the camcorder in front of everyone else so no one gets a view (of course no one here is ever guilty of that) not pointing fingers at anyone, there will always be someone who knows more that you, because their best mates, sisters cousin knew someone who dated someone who heard.......

I am sick and tired of people who take an instant dislike to a 'forum' user and will slate what they write, just because they get a kick out of it, and there are at least 2 in this thread guilty of that, but will not admit to it, will point the finger back at the one they are bullying to make them feel better.

Oh and no i haven't glorified, I've actually toned it right down, i am not clouded by my judgment with the experience i have had, i no longer work in that environment, there is a lot i would love to say, but i have chosen not to.

So time to back off, no need to reply with a sarky comment, you'll only show yourself for what you really are.

Keep your heads stuck in the sand..... it's warmer there.

My sincere apologies to the OP, on behalf of myself and those who choose to slate me on this thread for taking this way off topic, i am very sorry.

Why do you have to take offence that people have disagreed with you. I've disagreed with you - not because I don't like you, I don't know you, but because I don't agree with what you've posted. On another thread, another topic, I'd probably agree with you.

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, and whilst it is indeed wise to be cautious, I believe we've gone too far. I'm no "armchair expert". In 16 years I've seen and heard of some awful, awful stuff, but nothing that's made me reconsider the way I live my life or look after my children.

Jxx