When World Book Day first started, we never asked children to dress up as characters, as we were in a high area of deprivation. The emphasis was on enjoying books.
Then we got a new headteacher and children were asked to dress up. It then progressed to the Head spending a fortune on expensive outfits for himself to dress up and putting pressure on staff to also dress up as characters.
There were many pupils whose parents could not afford to buy an outfit or hadn't the imagination or time to make their own. I felt so sorry for those children who felt different. In my mind, it was a type of discrimination.
The original purpose of the day became lost in the competition to see who had the most original outfit. The whole concept of enjoying reading was lost. I dreaded World Book Day in the end.
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