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British School Bans Valentine's Day Cards
Filed under: In The News, Weird But True
Aryan Takyar, 5, is a student at a U.K. school that banned Valentine's cards. Credit: Noah Goodrich, Caters News / ZUMA Press
Don't expect to see Cupid's arrows flying at one U.K. school: This year, Valentine's Day cards are a big no-no.
Peter Turner, the headmaster at Ashcombe Primary School in Somerset, England, sent a letter to parents this week advising them that valentines in school are verboten, according to a report in London's Daily Mail.
"Some children and parents encourage a lot of talk about boyfriends and girlfriends [which] often leads to children being upset when they are 'dumped' and other fuss which interrupts their learning," Turner writes in the letter.
"The school believes that such ideas should wait until children are mature enough emotionally and socially to understand the commitment involved in having or being a boyfriend or girlfriend," he adds, and that "any cards found in school will be confiscated."
Parents interviewed by Daily Mail reporter Ryan Kisiel were less than thrilled, calling the decision "heavyhanded" and "sad."
Outspoken British politician and author Ann Widdecombe also weighs in.
"Valentine's day is just a bit of fun," she tells the Mail, also calling the ban "stupid."
Other schools have engaged in similar wars on the chocolate- and paper heart -centric holiday. In 2008, two Catholic girls' schools in Australia banned flower deliveries "because of fears some students could feel left out," according to The Herald Sun. Earlier this year, the Lawrence County School Board in Tennessee also considered banning flower deliveries because it was too "distracting" for students and staff.
Related: I May Be in a Relationship, But I Hate Valentine's Day
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-13-2010 @ 12:02AM
Messed Up Mama said...My son's birthday is Valentines Day so he doesn't really think of hearts, flowers and chocolate when he thinks of that day. He will be 7 this year, and had his first broken heart earlier this year. He told a girl he liked her and she told him she didn't like him. "She broke my heart, Mom" he told me when he came home. He wanted a hug and kiss, I had to tell him he couldn't be mean to her the next time he saw her, and now after their class Valentines Day party, he's found another girl to like. He hasn't told her yet, he wants to keep his heart "unbroken" for a while more.
Getting those silly little cards with candy or pencils attached didn't encourage my son to think about having a girlfriend, the other kids talking about older siblings and their boyfriends/girlfriends did. Too bad this school had to take another fun thing out of the school year. My kids always liked their VDay parties, because they got treats, and maybe some little trinkets with the little cards kids give each other.
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2-13-2010 @ 11:31AM
LS said...God forbid we let our kids get a tiny taste of what real life is, when they're small, and we can be there to help pick up the pieces... like Messed Up Mama did with her son.
So that girl doesn't want to be your Valentine? Well, that's her choice, isn't it? And yeah, it hurts. But look, you lived through it. And that boy "dumped" you for the other girl. Yeah, that's pretty stinky. But look you lived through it.
We keep trying to "shelter" our kids by taking away their pain. But the truth of the matter is, by taking away these little pains now, it makes the bigger pains that much more devastating.
It takes away the chance to learn empathy. Yeah, it hurt when that girl told you she doesn't like you. So remember that when a different girl comes and tells you that she likes you. You may not like her, but remember how that hurt you, and let her down gently - be nice, not mean.
Childhood is for learning more than just how to add, subtract and read. It's about learning how to deal with each other, for better and for worse. Taking away an opportunity like valentines day, even with it's downfalls, like a kid not getting as many cards as her neighbor, does a very real disservice to our kids.
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