Should Valentines Day be shunned and cards banned in schools?

By Desert Divas Ltd | Friday, February 12, 2010, 09:51

Valentines Day - is it a day of romance or heartbreak and should it be banned in schools?

Should Valentines Day be shunned by schools?

This week a primary school in Weston-super-Mare banned Valentine cards, saying they are inappropriate for pupils too young for romance.

Parents with children at Ashcombe Primary School were told in this month’s newsletter that any cards found on to the premises would be confiscated.

Peter Turner, the head teacher, wrote: “Some children and parents encourage a lot of talk about boyfriends and girlfriends. We believe 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.”

A spokesman for North Somerset Council confirmed the ban and defended Ashcombe Primary School's decision.

He said: " Ashcombe is a primary school and they believe that children under the age of 11 are still emotionally and socially developing, and therefore cards declaring love can be confusing.”

Should schools shun Valentines Day? Do you have a school Valentines Day story to share?

Re-post Write a story

Ads by Google

Comments

I think they should be banned even though I always looked forward to Valentines Day at school. I'm not sure how the British celebrate such an event but in America we used to make special bags to collect our cards. Valentine cards were sold in packets of 30 and it was always a dilemma on which card to give to whom. I would spend days worrying if a certain card would "send the wrong message"....and all that worry from the age of 6!
I soon learned that Disney made the best cards...as it was all a bit generic...but if you did get a Minnie and Mickey card.....well that could mean someone had a crush on you!

By Desert Divas Ltd at 16:48 on 12/02/10
Report
When I was 11-years old at school in the 70s, all the pupils were required to bring Valentine's cards for everyone in the class. I got a card with a mouse on it holding a heart that said Be Mine. However the boy that gave it to me scratched out the Mine on the card. Thirity-five years that memory still hurts - and he wasn't even a boy that I fancied!
Ofcourse there's a karma moment here as at our 25-year class reunion, he kept asking me to dance and I just thought...."no I'm happy to let BE!"

By Maryellentuck at 10:14 on 12/02/10
Report