A 12-year-old British girl was removed from school for celebrating Britain on Culture Day by woke Bilton School
She was not allowed to celebrate her own culture or give her speech
This is not a topic I normally write about. However, I was deeply annoyed when I heard about the case of a 12-year-old British girl who was removed from Bilton School in Rugby, England for celebrating her own culture on Culture Day.
Pupils were invited to wear traditional cultural dress to school instead of their usual school uniform. They were invited to take part in a variety of cultural activities to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different background, traditions, and heritages.
They were asked to represent their culture and heritage.
This girl, British, born in England to a British family of British heritage, went to school wearing a Union Jack dress and a matching hat. So very British.
The girl was removed and her dad called to pick her up.
The girl was sat at reception, as if she had done something wrong, to wait for her dad and told that Culture Day is not for her to celebrate being British.
She was not allowed to read her speech which she wrote about her culture, British culture, and why it is important to her.
The speech is lovely. She wrote about British traditions, about writers like Shakespeare, history including kings and queens and castles, and the Royal Family. She wrote about music and fashion, the weather, drinking tea, and fish and chips.
She wrote: “Being British is still a culture, and matters, too. It’s part of who I am. So, let’s celebrate all cultures —whether they come from far away or right here at home.”
Her father shared her speech online since the teachers didn’t allow her to read it at school, removing her from school, instead.
The following quote is from the Bilton School’s website. You can’t make it up. I think the actions of the school and teachers are not aligned with what they preach on the website.
“At Bilton School we are a community. At Bilton School we treat everyone with kindness. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included.“
Except, all that didn’t apply to a British girl who wants to celebrate her own culture on Culture Day in her own country.
I think that Bilton School disrespected, devalued, and excluded a 12-year-old British girl from the Culture Day celebrations by punishing her and humiliating her in front of her classmates. That’s what they did. Imagine how the 12-year-old girl felt. She’s twelve years old!
I don’t think Bilton School understands the meaning of what they preach on their website where it says: “At Bilton School we treat everyone with kindness” … NOT.
What are your thoughts on this matter?
About the Creator
Susan Fourtané
Susan Fourtané is a Science and Technology Journalist, a professional writer with over 18 years experience writing for global media and industry publications. She's a member of the ABSW, WFSJ, Society of Authors, and London Press Club.
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Comments (7)
I cannot begin to wrap my head around this one, Susan, but I think it's ridiculous that this child was not allowed to celebrate her own culture in her own country! I can only imagine what sort of family discussion this prompted at home, and how she must feel about the school now, the one that so-called "Treats everyone with kindness" because it is a community.
me full support you can you support me
Spooky, I just stumbled across this on Facebook before reading your piece. It's sad because that school has probably mentally scarred the poor child. She won't forget this anytime soon, that's for sure. And her speech sounded so good!! Come on you crappy school, don't deny children like this! Ugh!
Like whattttt! This is crazyyyyyy! She did exactly what they asked for and yet got kicked out? They sure don't practice what they preach There's a small typo for the spelling of usual* in this sentence: "Pupils were invited to wear traditional cultural dress to school instead of their usul school uniform."
I wish we could all listen to each other - about the different cultures about everything. Perhaps then we'd realize that we really do have a lot more in common than divides us. I can't pinpoint when the world went bonkers and we stopped being able to discuss things. Great article Susan.
That's ridiculous. I feel very sorry for the poor girl.
As a Black West Indian living in Canada, I fully support that little girl and think the school should be ashamed of associating her Britishness with something inherently vile or unworthy of a speech.