[CrazyKnitter]

They caused more problems by blocking her, actually. Very stupid.

[RobinOfLoxley]

Photos aren't allowed in Court either.

But Courtroom Sketch Artists ply their trade....

[biggle2000]

Originally Posted by CrazyKnitter

They caused more problems by blocking her, actually. Very stupid.

Exactly. They have now ensured that any blog she does will have even more readers

[BomoLad]

Originally Posted by RobinOfLoxley

Photos aren't allowed in Court either.

But Courtroom Sketch Artists ply their trade....

They're not allowed to draw in court though.

[Dan Fortesque]

All they've done is highlighted the issue tenfold.

[stud u like]

A lesson in fascism.

[Ænima]

Heard about this on radio 4. I got what her dad was saying and he did say the school waa very supportive but I can see how it might be a bit irritating. I mean, everyone knows the deal with school dinners, we've had Jamie Oliver shoving it down our throats for years, but it can't be very nice for the people who make them and it could portray the school in a bad light. I mean it could essentially be judged on one little kids opinion since she got a following, so I can see why they did it.

If she's really so creative, I'm sure she can find something else to blog about. I don't see what's so creative about taking pictures of food snd rating it anyway, but that's just me.

[BomoLad]

Originally Posted by Ænima

Heard about this on radio 4. I got what her dad was saying and he did say the school waa very supportive but I can see how it might be a bit irritating. I mean, everyone knows the deal with school dinners, we've had Jamie Oliver shoving it down our throats for years, but it can't be very nice for the people who make them and it could portray the school in a bad light. I mean it could essentially be judged on one little kids opinion since she got a following, so I can see why they did it.

If she's really so creative, I'm sure she can find something else to blog about. I don't see what's so creative about taking pictures of food snd rating it anyway, but that's just me.

I couldn't give a damn about the feelings of people who make them. Why should we? Essentially telling kids to eat crap because enough fuss has been made already?

[Starpuss]

Originally Posted by Ænima

Heard about this on radio 4. I got what her dad was saying and he did say the school waa very supportive but I can see how it might be a bit irritating. I mean, everyone knows the deal with school dinners, we've had Jamie Oliver shoving it down our throats for years, but it can't be very nice for the people who make them and it could portray the school in a bad light. I mean it could essentially be judged on one little kids opinion since she got a following, so I can see why they did it.

If she's really so creative, I'm sure she can find something else to blog about. I don't see what's so creative about taking pictures of food snd rating it anyway, but that's just me.

She is highlighting that the dinners are crap. Not sufficient to keep a growing child going over an afternoon.

Having said that I would give her a packed lunch if I was her mother. But it is a useful reminder that some schools do not provide what they sould. I say some as when my children were at primary the school meals were lovely.

[juliancarswell]

Originally Posted by Mallaha

I've just had a look at the actual blog. It struck me how the foreign school dinners sent in by her readers were so much nicer than hers.

Why are Scottish children eating dinners off those weird plastic prison plates?

I was quite shocked when I saw them at my girls' school, but it turns out that they are in common use all over the country.

When I was at school we had proper plates and cutlery.They were rarely broken and nobody ever died.
I suppose we should be grateful that they get a knife and fork nowadays, even though they are plastic (terrible waste)

[BomoLad]

I quite enjoyed school dinners to be honest.

[Snozzcumber]

Originally Posted by Ænima

Heard about this on radio 4. I got what her dad was saying and he did say the school waa very supportive but I can see how it might be a bit irritating. I mean, everyone knows the deal with school dinners, we've had Jamie Oliver shoving it down our throats for years, but it can't be very nice for the people who make them and it could portray the school in a bad light. I mean it could essentially be judged on one little kids opinion since she got a following, so I can see why they did it.

If she's really so creative, I'm sure she can find something else to blog about. I don't see what's so creative about taking pictures of food snd rating it anyway, but that's just me.

It's a basic freedom of speech issue. She's being suppressed from expressing herself because the powers-that-be are embarrassed.

[zounds]

Following this story and feel sad for her, just glad that it's blown up in the councils face to massively! @argyllandbute I'll put money on them reversing their decision!

Her Dad praises the school and says that they've been 'brilliant and supportive from the start', but I don't think they dealt with it very well - pulling her out of class to the head's office to tell her she can't take any more pictures wasn't right and must have been upsetting, surely a phone call to her parents from the council explaining their reasoning would have made more sense (oh how I'd love to hear their reasoning!).

[peon]

Originally Posted by Ænima

Heard about this on radio 4. I got what her dad was saying and he did say the school waa very supportive but I can see how it might be a bit irritating. I mean, everyone knows the deal with school dinners, we've had Jamie Oliver shoving it down our throats for years, but it can't be very nice for the people who make them and it could portray the school in a bad light. I mean it could essentially be judged on one little kids opinion since she got a following, so I can see why they did it.

If she's really so creative, I'm sure she can find something else to blog about. I don't see what's so creative about taking pictures of food snd rating it anyway, but that's just me.

i'm sure it isn't, but their poor hurt feelings ought to come a distant second to highlighting shite served up to kids, who get no say in what they're given to eat. it's not like it is for the rest of us, who would turn our nose up at that rubbish if served it in a cafe or restaurant and go elsewhere.

[juliancarswell]

Originally Posted by stud u like

A lesson in fascism.

Quite.

Our local Mayor was in the paper earlier in the year spouting on about how a deal he had done with a local company to supply him with a limo, was saving the tax payers ten grand a year.
In the same issue on another page was a report that disabled children in the borough will now have to make their own way to hospital appointments because of the cuts in the budget.

Little Martha's council must use the same PR consultant as our local council.

[harry hamster]

School dinners have always been crap.

[CoolboyA]

What shocks me is that in comparison to other countries around the world, the food we get is dire and pretty unhealthy. No wonder we are all so unhealthy - manky cheeseburgers, fish fingers, pizza, ice cream, jelly etc.

Look at Spains' dinners, or those of Japan. Lots of fruit, veg, rice, fresh ingredients - and it all costs the same. If they stopped bulk buying frozen burgers and bulk bought fresh food and actually learned to cook, then maybe things would be better.

[zounds]

Statement on school meals from Argyll and Bute Council

[mazzy50]

I've had a quick read through a few pages. I think it is a really good blog and I loved the photos of school dinners from around the world. I think it is both interesting and informative to see what children eat elsewhere.

I think the council have made themselves look pretty foolish by banning the photos.

I hope Martha continues with her blog.

[Abriel]

Surely phones and cameras are banned in schools though?

[Voynich]

Originally Posted by zounds

Statement on school meals from Argyll and Bute Council

This made me laugh...

As part of the curriculum for excellence, pupils in all our schools are regularly taught about healthy eating and at lunch breaks staff encourage pupils to make good choices from what is on offer. We use a system called ‘Nutmeg’ to make sure everything is nutritionally balanced. Our staff also get nutrition awareness training so they know how to provide a good healthy meal. There is portion sized guidance which we adhere to and it is matched to the age of the child so they get the right amount of food. Second portions would mean too many calories for pupils.

The photo of a grotty burger and ice-lolly puts paid to that. No wonder they're banning the pics.

[zounds]

Originally Posted by Abriel

Surely phones and cameras are banned in schools though?

Whether or not they are banned in some schools, she had permission from staff.

(they're not banned at the School I work at, but they have to stay in pockets or bags when on school premises, except for emergencies obviously),

[CoolboyA]

Originally Posted by Voynich

This made me laugh...



The photo of a grotty burger and ice-lolly puts paid to that. No wonder they're banning the pics.

Exactly! They are just digging themselves deeper in an already pretty deep hole.

There is no way that the meals the girl has eaten are "nutritionally balanced". 1 manky cheeseburger, 2 croquettes and an ice lolly does not constitute a healthy meal.

[delthedude]

Originally Posted by Ænima

Heard about this on radio 4. I got what her dad was saying and he did say the school waa very supportive but I can see how it might be a bit irritating. I mean, everyone knows the deal with school dinners, we've had Jamie Oliver shoving it down our throats for years, but it can't be very nice for the people who make them and it could portray the school in a bad light. I mean it could essentially be judged on one little kids opinion since she got a following, so I can see why they did it.

If she's really so creative, I'm sure she can find something else to blog about. I don't see what's so creative about taking pictures of food snd rating it anyway, but that's just me.

I had the feeling that little Martha's daddy was actually the one behind the blog...

[Abriel]

Originally Posted by zounds

Whether or not they are banned in some schools, she had permission from staff.

(they're not banned at the School I work at, but they have to stay in pockets or bags when on school premises, except for emergencies obviously),

Thanks didnt realise that. So the school were ok with it at first, then the council got on it's high horse