Neil wrote:

"parish" parish_AT_ntlworld.com wrote in message
...
Neil wrote:

"parish" parish_AT_ntlworld.com wrote in message
...
Stuart wrote:

Talking of videoing/filming kids there was a large article in our local
rag this week about a school whose governors had decreed that parents
weren't allowed to film (still or video) their kids at the annual
Sports
Day. The article featured a guy who'd hidden in the bushes to film his
child.

If my kids school every imposes such a ban they had better damn well
have a High Court injunction to back it up.

Sad to say, the school my wife teaches at also has a similar ban - for
all
activities.
Basically, to protect themselves against being sued by (idiot) parents,
they
asked "if anyone objects please tell us".
A couple of parents did. So to be safe the blanket ban was issued.

The same thing in the article in the paper; the guy featured had lots of
parents supporting him but only a few supporting the school.

Don't blame the school, or the head, blame the parents who insist on
this
ruling.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we live in a democracy where the
wishes of the majority prevail? Maybe the definition of democracy has
changed to be "the majority defer to the minority for fear of being sued".

Anyway, wouldn't the few parents of those who don't wish their children
to appear in photos/videos have to sue (or obtain an injunction against)
those taking the pictures?

It causes more trouble for the school than it does for the parents.
As regards High Court injunctions, please don't drag the school to
court.
It just syphons money from the school to the lawyer's pockets, and
nobody
wins.

You are correct, but pictures (still or motion) of things like Sports
Days are a record of your child's life and something that many (most?)
parents would treasure.

When my father died recently I inherited reels and reels of 8mm cine
film (and the videos he'd had them transferred to) of my, and my
sister's, childhood - holidays, Sports Days, village fetes, etc.
Priceless IMO (my kids think they're hilarious). Why should any parent
be denied these memories?

Neil
I agree entirely. We have many treasured photos of our children taken over
the years, including some at school.
As you say, it's the majority deferring to the hysteria of the vocal
minority.
Perhaps parents who want to take pictures should (although I couldn't
possibly suggest ) take the photos / films regardless, and in any parent
objects just say they'll crop any pictures of their child ... or "sue me"

Of course the correct way to address this, assuming the objectors *are*
the minority, is for the school to allow those parents to withdraw their
children from the event(s). Of course I no doubt that these parents
would start bleating about their childrens' right to take part in the
activity.

I am of the firm belief that this country, if not the whole world, is
going bloody mad :-(

...
No doubt the school would step back, say "we said what we wanted" and let
the parents sort it out.
ho hum, such is (sometimes stoopid) life.
Neil