PA
Nowadays, some parents get outraged about anything. Today, it's the turn of the mums and dads of children attending St Ann's C of E Primary School in Rainhill, Merseyside, who are up in arms about a move to charge them £1.50 to watch five to seven–year–olds in the Christmas play this week.
What's the big deal? It's the price of a loaf and a pint of milk to see your children's special moment – and raise much-needed funds for cash-strapped schools. It's those funds that pay for school trips and the like.
But the St Ann's parents don't see it that way.
One said: "We regularly put our hands in our pockets already and the school is not short of money. It just had a big fund–raiser."
Another added: "It's a bit 'bah humbug', if you ask me."
But head teacher Rebecca Wilkinson defended the move, saying the play will be held in the village hall for the first time because parents complained that the school hall was too cramped for the production.
She said: "This will be a community event and the charge is non profit–making.
"We are charging less than we normally do for the juniors' play and that cost will incorporate mulled wine and mince pies."
Well said!
Next week, my wife and two of our kids will be paying the monumental sum of a whole FOUR POUNDS (£1 each) to see our middle child hang about at the back of a crowd, staring into space and forgetting that he actually hasn't been given any lines, in his own school play.
And neither my wife nor I will resent a penny of it.
What do you think? Should parents be charged for the school Christmas play?