Originally Posted by BBXX (Post 11669179)

Sorry this got lost.

Fair point, I think - Scotland particularly seems to have a more defined Scottish culture that England has an English culture, which I do think a lot of people as 'British'...

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 11669182)

You mean it wasn't worth commenting on till you saw I'd taken exception to it.

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 11669181)

First this girl is excluded from a British school for wearing a union jack. Then there's a whole thread of people suggesting there's a lack of British culture and that English culture doesn't exist anyway.

Tone deaf.

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo (Post 11669078)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/...g?imwidth=1520

A 12-year-old girl was put into isolation for wearing a Union flag dress to her
school’s culture day, her father has said.

“Straight A” student Courtney Wright wore the Spice Girls-esque dress and
wrote a piece about British history and traditions as part of the celebrations
on Friday.

She was later told the dress was “unacceptable” and was hauled out of
lessons and made to sit in reception until her father collected her.

Bilton School in Rugby, Warks.

Mr Field, who works in marine restoration, said: “Courtney was so
embarrassed and couldn’t understand what she’d done wrong.

“She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. And she
shouldn’t be punished for celebrating being British – nobody else I’ve spoken
to can quite get their heads around it.”

In a permission letter sent to parents, it said the day was “designed to
promote inclusion:rolleyes:, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds,
traditions and heritages”.

But Mr Field said the school’s actions went against the message and other
pupils with St George’s flags and Welsh flags were also turned away from the
school gates.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/...eg?imwidth=560

A spokesman for Stowe Valley Trust read from a prepared script and said: “At Bilton School, we are proud of
the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our
community. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil
feels respected, valued, and included.

then they added: “We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our
sincere and unreserved apologies.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...on-flag-dress/

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo (Post 11669083)

Its the iconic dress of 90s UK

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/...pg?imwidth=640

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 11669107)

It's not "backlash" the story just seems so absurd that people think there's more to it, that's people agreeing that of course she should be allowed celebrate her own culture

Originally Posted by Cherie (Post 11669111)

What a well written inclusive speech, I can't think of another country apart from increasingly ridiculous England where this type of behaviour would happen.

Originally Posted by BBXX (Post 11669128)

I have to say though, doesn't it speak for the lack of actual British culture that the main option to show British culture is a dress with the flag on it. This is not dig on a girl, because it's an obvious choice, but genuinely what else do we have? I do actually love our tiny island most of the time but we honestly have such a poor national identity on a lot of things. We produce some amazing music, world class television and cinema but most of our food is shocking really, and a lot of what we hold dear as British people is stolen LOL ffs.

I possibly would have dressed up as a lion or a King's Guard but the choice is bit **** really from a fashion perspective. Some beautiful fabrics and patterns from other cultures, based on heritage, indetitiy and history and I'm sat there dressed as a big cat :laugh:

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 11669157)

Well that's the thing isn't it, if the girl in the article came in dressed in African clothes she'd probably be accused of cultural appropriation so it's a lose lose

Originally Posted by Liam- (Post 11669277)

Dads a Tommy R fanboy apparently, go figures

Originally Posted by BBXX (Post 11669290)

While the speech on its own is completely fair, there is something a bit … confrontational in the context it was read in… with suggesting British culture is never spoken about and that “it’s okay to talk about British culture”… it’s kind of not really needing to be mentioned to a group of fellow 12 year olds because it’s essentially implying division. It also feels like something that would come out the mouth of an adult, rather than a child.

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock (Post 11669292)

I was thinking that the speech sounds more like something an adult would say.

It sounds like the parents views are spreading to their child.

Originally Posted by Beso (Post 11669299)

Can you explain a bit more, what views are these? How does the speech refer to what views the parents have.

I'm very confused what you mean by that and how that letter reflects any thoughts her parents might have.



Even if she does, its no different to a kid supporting the same team as their dad.

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock (Post 11669309)

The way that the speech is written in general sounds like the views being expressed from an adult's perspective, rather than a 12 year olds.

Because think back to when you were 12 years old, would you really say things like "I think culture should be for everyone, not just for people from other countries or backgrounds. Being British is still a culture, and it matters too. It's part of who I am."

That's not how 12 year olds naturally speak, it's clearly one of her parents that's influencing her speech.

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock (Post 11669309)

The way that the speech is written in general sounds like the views being expressed from an adult's perspective, rather than a 12 year olds.

Because think back to when you were 12 years old, would you really say things like "I think culture should be for everyone, not just for people from other countries or backgrounds. Being British is still a culture, and it matters too. It's part of who I am."

That's not how 12 year olds naturally speak, it's clearly one of her parents that's influencing her speech.