School Bars Parents on Sports Day
And there's no egg and spoon race either …
because its too stressful for the children!

By Beth Hale

To children and parents alike, school sports day can be an unforgettable experience as the winners triumphantly cross the finishing line.

But to headmistress Judith Wressel, traditional events such as the sack race and the egg and spoon are merely an embarrassment to those pupils who fail to achieve victory. She has announced that such events are to be replaced next month with a new 'activity-based' concept.

And parents are not invited.

The decision has upset many families whose children attend Maney Hill Primary in Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham.

They learned of it in a letter from Mrs Wressel. She wrote: "Taking part in traditional races can be difficult and often embarrassing for many children, which is why we now envisage a different outdoor activity event which will suit all children. We want to make some ambitious organisational changes in the type and range of activity that children do. It is necessary to trial this initial pilot without parents present."

One of those parents, Rob Busst, yesterday described the decision as 'political correctness gone mad'.

The 43 year old, who has an eight year old son and a five year old son in his first year at the school said: "They are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. I have been going to the sports day for the past four years and it is a wonderful day for parents, teachers and most importantly, the kids. All the children have a brilliant time, they all love being in the races and they love the fact the parents are there to cheer them on. Nobody takes it too seriously."

Mr Busst, who runs an export company, said other parents were also baffled by the decision. "Normally my wife and I take the day off work and go and watch the children compete in the events. But this year they have hinted even the traditional events will be changed. It is quite barmy. Children don't become scarred for life if they lose the egg and spoon race."

Mrs Wressel said the school had chosen to ban parents from the sports day after meetings with parents, children, teachers and governors. She declined to give details of the revised sports day, but said it would be a new 'activity-based' event. "We have done this to ensure all our children take part and enjoy the experience. This will be reviewed again and we expect to be able to involve parents next year when staff and pupils will be more experienced with the arrangements."

A spokesman for Birmingham education authority said: "Many schools enjoy sports day with a variety of different activities and games. Each school decides the most appropriate way to arrange this in consultation with staff and governors and looking at the needs of all the pupils in the school."

Only last year the Government revealed plans to replace traditional school sports days with activities such as group problem solving exercises. A 'sports day tool kit' compiled by Sport England was unveiled providing suggestions of alternative activities for schools.

A Sport England spokesman described the approach as inclusive without being anti-competitive.
Daily Mail 19th May 2003

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Yet another example of psychiatric foolishness pervading our new therapeutic society today. Don't, for heaven's sake, allow the children to compete, or the losers may feel inadequate and develop a mental condition.

Sports Day, now 'cruel and unusual punishment', will join the other worthy activities on the scrap heap of political correctness which used to teach our kids the skills they would later need to confront the harsh realities of life. But psychiatry doesn't want our children fending for themselves when there is a whole armada of social workers and child care 'specialists' on hand to soften the blows.

What's the message here?

Don't rely on yourselves. Rely on the state.

RESOURCES:
The Mind Game

Available through www.credence.org