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I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:37 pm
by Gob
TEACHERS are banning schoolkids from having best pals — so they don't get upset by fall-outs.
Instead, the primary pupils are being encouraged to play in large groups.
Educational psychologist Gaynor Sbuttoni said the policy has been used at schools in Kingston, South West London, and Surrey.
She added: "I have noticed that teachers tell children they shouldn't have a best friend and that everyone should play together.
"They are doing it because they want to save the child the pain of splitting up from their best friend. But it is natural for some children to want a best friend. If they break up, they have to feel the pain because they're learning to deal with it."
Russell Hobby, of the National Association of Head Teachers, confirmed some schools were adopting best-friend bans.
He said: "I don't think it is widespread but it is clearly happening. It seems bizarre.
"I don't see how you can stop people from forming close friendships. We make and lose friends throughout our lives."
The Campaign for Real Education, which wants more parental choice in state education, said the "ridiculous" policy was robbing children of their childhood.
Spokesman Chris McGovern added: "Children take things very seriously and if you tell them they can't have a best friend it can be seriously damaging to them. They need to learn about relationships."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... iends.html
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:39 pm
by BoSoxGal
When did it become mandated that children should exist in a vacuum apart from all the painful realities of life? How does this benefit them?
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:42 pm
by dales
The idiocy continues.
With a grandson in kindergarten and another one on the way....this does not bode well.
eta:
Educational psychologist Gaynor Sbuttoni said the policy has been used at schools in Kingston, South West London, and Surrey.
Yo, Gaynor....the UK provides free mental health evaluations, hop on it, you clearly have issues.
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:20 pm
by Lord Jim
Russell Hobby, of the National Association of Head Teachers, confirmed some schools were adopting best-friend bans.
He said: "I don't think it is widespread but it is clearly happening. It seems bizarre.
"I don't see how you can stop people from forming close friendships. We make and lose friends throughout our lives."
Okay, somehow another one managed to slip through The Commonsense Barrier....
It's the chop for Mr. Hobby!
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:01 am
by rubato
Removing all of the stresses and difficulties of young life is a form of abuse.
yrs,
rubato
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:36 am
by BoSoxGal
Bingo, rubato!!
These kids are growing up so emotionally underdeveloped that mental health issues in adulthood are inevitable.
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:18 am
by Rick
This would have been extremely hard on me growing up. We moved about every 2 years (military brat) so I didn't make but 1 or 2 "good" friends any where we went till high school...
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:51 am
by Long Run
Give them all A's, make sure the track straight-aways are downhill both sides, and cream at the top yogurt for healthy snack for all kids!
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:17 pm
by rubato
It is a strange dichotomy though. The most important lessons of life are most often learned from the kind of painful experience which a loving parent would instinctively want to shield their child from.
yrs,
rubato
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:06 pm
by dales
A parent which spares their off spring from life's ups and downs has no business being a good parent.
The 21st century is rife with the over protection of children from birth to 25 years plus.
From "helicopter parents" villigantly watching over their ADULT children (my sis is one of those and it fcuking absolutely drives me up the wall) to parents of younger children who believe in "positive esteem" at any cost.
I grew up in the 1950's when such bullsh-t would've been unheard of and likely would've resulted in a forced stay at a psychiatric facilty.
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:17 pm
by Joe Guy
dales wrote:A parent which spares their off spring from life's ups and downs has no business being a good parent.
Right! Nobody has any business being a good parent...
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:58 pm
by dales
How are your children doing, Joe?
Oh that's right, you don't have any.
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:11 pm
by Joe Guy
dales wrote:How are your children doing, Joe?
Oh that's right, you don't have any.
Oh, really?
Maybe it's because I don't have any business being a good parent.
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:24 pm
by BoSoxGal
There are some interesting studies out there showing that as the financial value of children has declined (they no longer work and add to the household income, or help on the family farm) and the financial cost of children has increased (most studies put the cost of raising a single child to adulthood at somewhere around $200k), the value of children has become purely emotional, and parenting has skewed in some very unhealthy ways due to that consideration.
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:52 pm
by dales
Joe Guy wrote:dales wrote:How are your children doing, Joe?
Oh that's right, you don't have any.
Oh, really?
Maybe it's because I don't have any business being a good parent.
You're probably right.
Re: I'm no longer your friend!
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:54 pm
by dales
bigskygal wrote:There are some interesting studies out there showing that as the financial value of children has declined (they no longer work and add to the household income, or help on the family farm) and the financial cost of children has increased (most studies put the cost of raising a single child to adulthood at somewhere around $200k), the value of children has become purely emotional, and parenting has skewed in some very unhealthy ways due to that consideration.
I wouldn't have traded it for the world.
