One parent rocks the school - Update

My post earlier this week has continued to gain momentum and thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read through and add their opinions in the comments. Whilst out playing taxi driver to my daughters this weekend I've been approached by so many people commending me for speaking out about this situation, that I feel duty bound to bring you all up to date with with what has happened.

Two days after the original letter home, that sparked this whole debate I received a second letter from the school.

I was handed the letter by my eleven year old son (one of the Star Pupil children who should have been on the trip). His response.... 

"Well a blue badge makes it all OK???? NOT."

I have to agree with him.

It has been interesting watching this pan out over the last week. I know that many parents from the school have visited my blog for the first time and left their views and in the school playground it is still the main topic of conversation BUT the dynamic has shifted.

Now everyone wants to know why the school has handled this situation so badly. Letters have been sent to the HT and the governors but as far as I know, they are still waiting for a response.

So in conclusion of the last week...

Year 6 children are bitter at the way they have been treated and younger year 3 children are confused about why their promised reward trip has been cancelled.

Parents are losing faith in the school management and the school management have totally let down no only the parents but the children too.

My view?

A blue badge sucks.

One parent rocks the whole school

Something totally crazy happened at the children's school yesterday. It's so crazy that I'm still struggling to get my head around it and I'd love to hear your thoughts...

We've had a temporary Headteacher for the last year. He came out of retirement to step in until a new permanent head could be found.
He's amazing, a breath of fresh air to a school that had become sad and tired around the edges. He arrived bursting with ideas, passion and experience. He won the children over and he won the parents over too. The school was smitten.

He introduced good behaviour awards, ditched the old 'non competitive' routine, pushed the children to excel, to reach high, to aim high. He made the school a really happy place.

One of the things he had promised come the end of the school year was a special 'Headteachers Trip'. The culmination of the year long reward strategy where children who had achieved 'Star Pupil' status and not received an inappropriate behaviour form would be treated to a day out.

The children were excited, the parents were impressed.

They knuckled down and worked hard to achieve team points and class stars in order to become a 'Star Pupil'. One by one they took their place at the front of assembly to collected their coveted Star.

As good behaviour and hard work is rewarded, so inappropriate behaviour results in a dreaded pink slip and to secure a place on the 'Headteachers Trip, you needed to be a pink slip free zone.

Sonny and Betty managed it and Biba accepts that she deserved her 3 pink slips for chattering when she should have been working (not sure where she gets that from).

Today was supposed to be trip day but Betty arrived home from school last night with the below letter in her hand and tears in her eyes.

Reading it took my breath away. Can you believe that someone would stoop as low as this? Are they in denial about their child's behaviour? What kind of example are they setting by kicking off in this way and threatening legal action? It beggars belief.

Key Stage 2 parents are up in arms. Not only at the way this parent has behaved but also because they don't have the guts to come forward and explain their motives.

And our 'Star Pupils' are left questioning why they worked so hard all year when they have effectively been punished.

UPDATE...
You will see from the comments that this has been accused of being a witch hunt. This is not the case and I would like to offer the parents involved the opportunity to tell their side of the situation by commenting below. You don't need to be registered to do so and you can remain anonymous if you wish.

Back to School Part 2.. STATIONERY 'n' Stuff!

I love stationary, I love art shops, I love Muji and I really really love Paperchase.

It's a family thing.

The children and I could happily spend a whole day perusing the pens, paper and filing options in just about any well stocked store. So why wouldn't I attempt to get over the whole school uniform trauma with a bit of the stuff that really matters?

If you are new to school, changing school or just back to school this is my ultimate non uniform shopping guide.

1. Dodo Acad Pad from Dodo Pad

I'm a Dodo addict anyway and I wouldn't give up my regular yearly Dodo Pad diary or wall planner for anyone or anything but I do appreciate that that there are lots of people out there who are about to embark on their very first year as the parent of a school age child. You can't see it now but organisation and preparation are the only things that are going to see you through till Christmas.
If you have more than one child it goes without saying that you need a Dodo Acad Pad mid year organiser. I've tried it without and it wasn't pretty.
If you have older children with timetable's to get to grips with, the Mini Acad Pad is the perfect back to school companion. Small enough to pop into a school bag - or a handbag for that matter and at £8.75 it's a bargain to boot.
www.dodopad.com
The lovely Lord Dodo is offering my readers a 10% discount on all orders placed on their website by 30/9/11, just use the promo code 11PR at the checkout.


2. Sharpies Laundry Pen

If you're one of the smug early uniform purchasers you can simply move on. This is for us hardcore, live by the seat of our pants, forgot to shop types because actually considering that name labels were needed never even entered our heads. 

This is the simple, easy fix solution. One pen fits all - no need for fiddly threading or hours of sewing. Don't sweat it - the kids will loose everything anyway named or not.

£2.48 from Amazon

3. A Pencil Case Set

No matter how many pencil cases or pen sets you have in the house, everyone knows that the new school year = new start. This is your one opportunity to ditch last years tepid property in favour of this term's hot new thing and The Disney Store has some Back To School Offers that are too good to be missed.

This Tangled set is packed full of multi coloured goodies and is on offer at £7 or for the boys take a look at the cool Cars 2 set, also £7. Both items can be personalised to keep your little chimps happy!

4. A New Lunchbox

I like boxes, especially plastic food containers and when I saw these fab Toy Story Lunch boxes from Asda I did get a little over excited. They're so cute and only £9, not sure I'd be able to choose between them!

The girls love, love, love this Retro Doll Lunchbox £4.95 from dotcomgiftshop. It's a good size if you're only packing a mini lunch but not roomy enough for my lunch monsters!

5. Pens, pens and more pens!

Who doesn't need a rainbow flash of colour in the form of Sharpies Limited Edition 80's Glam pen set? 

Twenty four fine point, quick drying permanent markers to brighten up any project.

£16.66 from I Love Pens!

We're doing our final school shopping trip tomorrow and i'm sure we'll come back with some more ideas. 

Shocked to the core

A couple of weeks ago, when we were out as a family something happened that I fear has changed my children's view of the world forever and as this chain of events unfolds I become more shocked and sickened by the attitudes of the people around us who have been masquerading as our friends.

It started out as a regular Sunday but as soon as we arrived at the boot sale my husband was being trailed by a gang of teenagers who were hurling racial abuse and insults at him. Being Chinese, this is something that he has had to deal with since he was a child. He is 'expected' to take it on the chin, rise above it, laugh it off. For him, this is a fact of life.

In the car on the way home came shock number two as six year old FunnyGirl said....

"Mummy, I've just realised that when my friends at school sing those horrible songs about me being Chinese and pull their eyes, that they are being really mean to me - just like those boys were being to daddy - and I don't like it."

It transpires that the main culprits are two of her 'best' friends and as I would class their mums as my good friends I saw no issue in speaking to them about it.

Mum 1. Perfect response. We spoke about it, she spoke to her daughter. She explained to her that things you say can be hurtful to people, even if you aren't trying to be mean and she asked me to let her know straight away if it happened again.

She handled the situation respectfully.

Mum 2. Took what I said to her as a personal attack - which was far from the truth. I explained that I didn't want my children to be ashamed of their Chinese heritage.

"But they are beautiful, stunning children - why would they be?" she replied.

Beauty it seems is only skin deep as I was then told that it is perhaps a good thing that they get used to this now...... if they are going to have to deal with it for the rest of their lives.

WHAT???????

Children are not born racists. They take on the attitudes and views of the people close to them who mold and shape them. And it was at that moment that I realised how little you actually know the people you call friends.

For the first time, I have questioned if having mixed race children was a selfish decision and that makes me really angry with myself. Our family was created out of love and race or colour was never once mentioned yet it seems that my beautiful children will be defined by it forever.

I know that the six year old girls involved didn't say those things in the same deliberate manner as the teenage boys but it all starts somewhere.

"We can't change the world.." the mum said.

Tell that to Nelson Mandella.

Update...
After reading all of the comments to this post I would like to thank every one of you for your support. I needed it today. FACT.
I have an appointment with the teachers at school in the morning - and I will update you to their reaction..... because did you know??? Our school has a zero tolerance to bullying policy.

In addition to this please read this amazing, sad, angry, thought provoking post from my husband.