'ello 'ello'ello. What's going on 'ere then?

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I can still remember being in my school nativity play. Second sheep I think I was, or was it a Martian? Anyway, my clearest memory is of flash bulbs blinking from the auditorium, and trying to get to the front to be in as many pictures as possible!

A few years ago, there was a move by schools to ban the taking of photographs at public events- speech days, sports days and of course nativity plays. Thankfully such bans are being lifted, mainly because no one was able to provide a valid reason for introducing them in the first place.

There are of course occasional cases were caution should be exercised such as were kids in care are involved. But generally speaking any pictures taken on such occasions prove no more of a threat to children than any of those images which appear on TV and in the media daily.

A few days ago a Father decided to ignore the ban at his daughters school play. After all, the school was filming the event and taking pictures which were to be offered by sale to the parents. Additionally, the local press photographer was taking pictures for inclusion in the town’s newspaper.

Later in the performance, startled parents and alarmed children witnessed the hapless parent being marched from the theatre by three policemen. Several hours of interrogation followed during which he was questioned about his motives for taking the photographs.

Ive included a photo of such a nativity play in this post. I hope nobody is offended by it's inclusion.

A couple of weeks back, a child was doing his homework when he discovered that he had inadvertently brought home a craft knife which he had been using in an art lesson earlier that day. The parent was understandably concerned. After all, you would expect the teacher taking the class to take extra care in ensuring the knives were all accounted for at the end of the lesson.

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The following day the boy’s father took the knife back to the school.

He placed the implement down on the reception counter and demanded to see the headmaster in the hope of getting some kind of explanation. The head clearly did not feel matter was sufficiently serious to give up any of his valuable time for. However, the parent stood his ground and eventually got to meet the principal in his office.

After an unsatisfactory meeting the father left the school building only to be confronted by a police armed response unit. I would at this point remind any readers from outside the UK that our police do not routinely carry guns. Most people are highly unlikely ever to see a policeman or woman carrying a weapon. It was five hours before the parent was released by the anti-terrorism squad.

What a strange world we live in.

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