Parents saved axed leavers’ ball
Wednesday 10th June 2009, 12:55PM BST.
A county school leavers’ ball which was axed after a number of students threw flour and egg bombs on their last day of school was back on today after parents stepped in.
More than 20 parents were so disappointed with the decision to cancel the ball for students in Year 11 at Bridgnorth Endowed School they have taken on the job of organising it themselves.
Phil Loveday, headteacher at the school, sent letters to parents last week informing them of his decision to cancel the ball due to the “uncivilised” behaviour of a “substantial minority”.
He said he regretted having to make the decision but felt he needed to make a “clear statement about the standards of behaviour”.
The pupils reportedly threw flour and egg bombs on their last day at the school, which was on May 22. But parent Viv Hulme, who had already spent £200 on a dress for her daughter Laura, said to punish all the children over the behaviour of a few was not fair.
Today Mrs Hulme said she was delighted with the response after parents met to discuss the matter last night.
She said: “The event is back up and running now. The parents have taken the decision to organise it themselves so the ball will now go ahead.
“We just need to sell the tickets. We have kept costs very low. The tickets are about £2 more than it was before.”
She explained this was because organisers had had to take out public liability insurance and two youth workers had been employed.
The event is being staged on June 25 at The Punch Bowl near Bridgnorth.
Mr Loveday was unavailable for comment today.
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Well, let’s be honest – it wasn’t exactly a hardline punishment in the first place was it?!
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Good on him – bad news for the ones who had nothing to do with it, but it is good to show that behaviour like that will not be tolerated.
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Typical – School gets tough on bad behaviour and some stupid parents think it right to undermine the decision and pamper to their kids who want to party anyway. What’s the betting they will be the same parents blaming the school for lack of discipline when the children’s bad behaviour affects them.
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lets be fair here!
why should a minority (who lets face the rest of the pupils there prob cant stand!!) spoil a whole leavers ball for the majority of students that have worked very hard!!
why should those pupils be punished in the same way when they have done no wrong!!
surely this is sending the message out that even if you do right and work hard etc you can still be punished – eventually making the pupils who do the right things – think why do we bother!!
if they are going to stop anybody going then why not single out the idiots causing the problems – and make sure they cant go – leave all the other pupils to have a good time and celebrate!
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David i find it hard to believe it was the majority. What use is the punishment anyway they are leaving.Some will go on to uni eggs and this sort of messing around is mild . A bit of put it in to perspective i think.
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Well done to the parents.
The head teachers decision is wrong and he should have the courage to admit it. The “lesson” his message gives is that collective punishment is acceptable. If the offender can’t be identified, or it is too much effort to do so, punish everyone.
Collective punishment was used by the nazis, and is used by oppressive regimes throughout this world. This head ought to teach that collective punishment is not acceptable.
One wonders if a member of staff at this school under performed if all the staff would be punished, bonuses reduced etc. If he wouldn’t collectively punish the staff he shouldn’t do it to the pupils.
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Rpt Barrington-Black: Bonuses reduced? School staff do not receive bonuses.
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The Head should take note
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
“Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it”
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