Girl in Union Jack dress sent home on diversity day

I remember my school having a flagpole with a Union flag. Not flown all the time but on designated days and special events.

I wish the majority would actively cherish and celebrate a unifying British culture and heritage before it all gets neutralised to avoid offending those who hate this country.

Allira

^I suppose I thought I was European but that was taken from me.^

You can still write your address as I did in my books as a child - name, address, Town, County, Country, GB, Europe, The World, The Solar System, The Universe!

😂

We are still in Europe for anyone mourning the loss of being part of a whole Continent.

So, can someone please describe to me a traditional British or English costume which would be appropriate for such a day? (Allira)

Why are you even asking that question? You must, know that we don't have "British Costume". Why try and conjure one up? Our "tradition" doesnt include one.

What an opportunity for the teachers to talk to the children about the UK being made up of four separate countries. That what is now considered the Welsh traditional dress was seen as that because it differed from what was worn elsewhere, etc. That England is a country that has gone forward by being good at adapting to change. So we did not adopted a "costume" at any point; not the Roman robe, the Danes headdress or any of the French tradition. We absorbed the bits we wanted, grew and moved on.

Or do you think it was this father's job to teach the children at the school to see things the way he sees them? If he thinks his views come before his daughter's well being then he is to blame for using her. Not the school.

There is now a Gofundme page for the girl started by Voice of Wales a far right group - sigh..

Jaxjacky

There is now a Gofundme page for the girl started by Voice of Wales a far right group - sigh..

Of course there is ... Jaxjacky, but today I am refusing to be sad over the need for some "adults" to squabble like small children in the playground.

Maybe time we dropped the Union Jack from the corner of our flag if it means so little to the British these days ?

nanna8

Maybe time we dropped the Union Jack from the corner of our flag if it means so little to the British these days ?

🇦🇺
There for the time being, nanna8! 😀

So, as you are so knowledgeable about what constitutes English traditions and customs, PoliticsNerd, what would you suggest the children of English heritage should have worn to school on that day?
Or should they have stayed at home?

nanna8

Maybe time we dropped the Union Jack from the corner of our flag if it means so little to the British these days ?

I think some of us have made it very clear that we respect our flag nanna8. Members of my family have fought under that flag as did many from other countries when the call was made.

I'm disgusted that it's treated as a petty game to some when it means so much that many thought of it as a symbol of the country they then gave their lives for.

How do you feel about your Australian flag?

Allira

icanhandthemback

Allira

day not say
Or event if that makes it clearer

Yes, I did and could find little wrong with it.

Any suggestions? English milkmaid? Henry VIII?
Anne Boleyn - with her head tucked underneath her arm as the song goes?
Pearly Queen?

Let me think...

For boys, a long sleeve shirt, waistcoat, trousers and a tie.
For girls, a summer dress with a fascinator.

That is a cute wee Welsh costume Allira.
I could easily recognise an Irish or a Scottish costume, but yes, what is an English one, that kids would be happy to wear?
Pearly Queens and Kings, if you are a Gran with lots of wee buttons to sew onto say a black waistcoat, but I think of that as a London outfit.
Robin Hood? Morris Dancer already mentioned.
The two in the post above would be easy to put together.

Maremia

That is a cute wee Welsh costume Allira.
I could easily recognise an Irish or a Scottish costume, but yes, what is an English one, that kids would be happy to wear?
Pearly Queens and Kings, if you are a Gran with lots of wee buttons to sew onto say a black waistcoat, but I think of that as a London outfit.
Robin Hood? Morris Dancer already mentioned.
The two in the post above would be easy to put together.

I’ve sung Rule Brittania many a time with helmet, shield etc etc.,but I can’t imagine that going down very well these days…

Can I thank BlueBelle, OldFrill and StoneofDestiny who took the time to comment to me personally on my poster.
I've had a good look for something better and have replaced the old one with this.

I quite agree that the "Values" are ones we share with many other countries, however the government require us to promote them as "British" and that is what Ofsted will expect to see.

As a childminder looking after school-age children (7 to 11 years old) I don't do much teaching as such, but this is one thing I can discuss with them!

hollysteers

Maremia

That is a cute wee Welsh costume Allira.
I could easily recognise an Irish or a Scottish costume, but yes, what is an English one, that kids would be happy to wear?
Pearly Queens and Kings, if you are a Gran with lots of wee buttons to sew onto say a black waistcoat, but I think of that as a London outfit.
Robin Hood? Morris Dancer already mentioned.
The two in the post above would be easy to put together.

I’ve sung Rule Brittania many a time with helmet, shield etc etc.,but I can’t imagine that going down very well these days…

Oh yes, I dressed DD as Britannia for a street party when it was the Silver Jubilee. Now it would be frowned on, probably.
The little boy next door was dressed as Noddy 😁

Allira

So, as you are so knowledgeable about what constitutes English traditions and customs, PoliticsNerd, what would you suggest the children of English heritage should have worn to school on that day?
Or should they have stayed at home?

England football strip

Jeans and a T shirt would be fine - you see way more of them than union flag dresses.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202507/medium-2p8r7i-1000034767.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202507/medium-1fi2c9-1000034766.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202507/medium-6mnjnd-1000034765.jpg

I suppose if I'd been given this task (via my children) I might have looked to folk costume- girls with calico aprons over long (ish) dresses. Or may-day summer dresses of the sort seen in traditional maypole dancing.
I remember dressing one of my daughters in a sort of mediaeval outfit once for a "history day".

I suppose you might also consider a Green Man outfit or King Arthur or as others said, Robin Hood.

They were banned, OldFrill.

I think a Britannia style dress is maybe OK but isn't that a Roman dress really?

Yes, NotSpaghetti, you triggered a memory. We used to perform national solos on stage at ballet school and the English costumes were very much like those in your pictures.
I performed a Polish dance, and had a beautiful costume like this.

The school has had to close early due to extremist threats to staff. Predictable.

Diversity seems to be the worst thing to promote these days. A red rag to a bull to some people inviting trouble and controversy as we are seeing.

Lathyrus3

It says Your attire must reflect your nationality or your family heritage.

So her dress did reflect her nationality.

Actually I think the whole idea was poor. Tokenism.

Pupils were told that there should be no flags and no football strips

escaped - now I've seen your Polish outfit I remember a "heritage day" at my school all those years ago. My Polish friend wore something like that and it was so colourful. I can't remember what I wore but I did take in/wore a Welsh paisley shawl which had belonged to my paternal grandmother.

I do remember several Irish dancing dresses!