A school that has sparked outrage by scrapping Easter celebrations wrote to parents outlining why the headteacher made the decision.
In a letter to parents, Stephanie Mander, headteacher of Norwood Primary School at Eastleigh, acknowledges the controversial decision will leave many people disappointed. But she says the move "aligns with our values of inclusivity and respect for diversity".
“ Dear Parents and Carers,
As we approach the spring season, I would like to inform you about an important update regarding our school's traditional Easter celebrations. After careful consideration and discussions with our school community, we have decided not to hold the Easter Bonnet Parade or the Easter Service this year. This decision has been made in the spirit of inclusivity and respect for the diverse religious beliefs, represented within our
school community. Our school is committed to fostering an environment where every child feels valued and respected, regardless of their religious background. By not holding specific religious celebrations, we aim to create a more inclusive atmosphere that honours and respects the beliefs of all our children and their families. We understand that this change may be disappointing for some, especially those who have cherished these traditions over the years. However, we believe that this decision aligns with our values of inclusivity and respect for diversity. We are exploring alternative ways to celebrate the season in future years, that will be inclusive of all children and reflect the richcultural diversity of our community. One of the ways we will be celebrating inclusivity is by taking part in Refugee Week which occurs in June, as well as beginning our journey to become an accredited School of Sanctuary. Watch this space! In the meantime, we look forward to seeing many of you at the Music Festival in a couple of weeks. We appreciate your understanding and support as we make this transition. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
The Brothers Grimm described SW as 'Skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony' - that's quite a specific colour combo and gives her a unique look, and I don't think it should be disregarded in the remake
That's symbolism, like you get in fairy stories, and not to be taken literally.
Anonymous said
Mar 25 10:14 AM, 2025
They didnt just change the race of the character in the little mermaid but altered the narrative making it more feminist in tone so girls would know the importance of being" independent and not reliant on men". Film critics said this approach simply made it less enjoyable as a result. Ffs, it's meant to be a fun film for children not a life lesson! I Consider myself a feminist but to inject clumsy additions to the plot of a once treasured film is unnecessary and also an attempt to manipulate its young audience.
Syl said
Mar 25 11:54 AM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
Barksdale wrote:
Calm down mate. It's a fairytale where the central female character is a woman living in questionable circumstances in the woods with 7 little guys, where her stepmother is a psycho who thinks her mirror is talking to her. Factual accuracy doesn't seem that high up on the list of requirements.
I would say with historical characters it's an absolute no-no to change the race (or sex) for film or TV. Fictional characters, not so much, unless race is specified and is an important part of that character, and I would say being called Snow White (the clue's in the name) makes it very much specified. If I were casting, I wouldn't just be looking for a white actress but a very pale one - maybe someone with Tilda Swinton's colouring, but younger and prettier.
The Brothers Grimm described SW as 'Skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony' - that's quite a specific colour combo and gives her a unique look, and I don't think it should be disregarded in the remake
I've nothing against Zegler - the link Maddog put up says she's going to play Eva Peron next - a role she is far more suited to imo - good luck to her! But Snow White, nah!
I agree with you 100%.
Maybe when the three little piggies are portrayed as goats people will be so brainwashed it'll work, till then...
Red Okktober said
Mar 25 1:11 PM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
That's symbolism, like you get in fairy stories, and not to be taken literally.
It's a description of a character in a book. You will find that most characters in most books are described at some point.
If you are of the opinion that the Brothers Grimm intended her appearance to be symbolic of something else, then all the more reason not to change it.
Red Okktober said
Mar 25 1:15 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
I agree with you 100%.
Maybe when the three little piggies are portrayed as goats people will be so brainwashed it'll work, till then...
Artistic licence though!
We may as well do away with makeup artists and costumes designers if it doesn't matter what characters in films look like.
If someone writes a book that is good enough to turn into a film, there shouldn't be a need to butcher it and make unnecessary changes.
Anonymous said
Mar 25 1:46 PM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
I agree with you 100%.
Maybe when the three little piggies are portrayed as goats people will be so brainwashed it'll work, till then...
Artistic licence though!
We may as well do away with makeup artists and costumes designers if it doesn't matter what characters in films look like.
If someone writes a book that is good enough to turn into a film, there shouldn't be a need to butcher it and make unnecessary changes.
It's only a big deal for people of a certain mindset.
Syl said
Mar 25 4:18 PM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
I agree with you 100%.
Maybe when the three little piggies are portrayed as goats people will be so brainwashed it'll work, till then...
Artistic licence though!
We may as well do away with makeup artists and costumes designers if it doesn't matter what characters in films look like.
If someone writes a book that is good enough to turn into a film, there shouldn't be a need to butcher it and make unnecessary changes.
It's only a big deal for people of a certain mindset.
Nothing is a big deal for people who are led by the nose.
Barksdale said
Mar 25 6:20 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
It's impossible to add anything to MLK's story by having a white actor play him....obviously his struggle was in part because he was NOT white.
But swapping and changing an actual persons colour 'for artistic licence' is as ridiculous as having a male play a historic female character.
Come on Barksdale, you can be still be open minded and 'down with the kids' without resorting to silliness.
I admit it's a bit of a stretch regarding MLK but I wouldn't say it is impossible. It could work in the alternative history category (where the "what If the Nazis had won WW2" is particularly popular - make of that what you will) where the question of how the civil rights movement would have changed if MLK had been white or something similar.
Isn't part of the purpose of art to push boundaries, challenge perceptions or show us what life is like lived through someone else's experience. A big part of being creative is the ability to take risks. Maybe it would turn out to be ridiculous or absurd. Or maybe it wouldn't. We cannot know unless we allow people the ability to explore ideas freely.
Syl said
Mar 25 6:28 PM, 2025
Well, they are allowed to. They can do all of that, if they have the money, the time, and the imagination, there is no law that says they can't.
Us old farts don't have to like it though.
Barksdale said
Mar 25 6:31 PM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
They didnt just change the race of the character in the little mermaid but altered the narrative making it more feminist in tone so girls would know the importance of being" independent and not reliant on men". Film critics said this approach simply made it less enjoyable as a result. Ffs, it's meant to be a fun film for children not a life lesson! I Consider myself a feminist but to inject clumsy additions to the plot of a once treasured film is unnecessary and also an attempt to manipulate its young audience.
But then people don't need to watch it surely and can simply watch the original version which they prefer? It's not like it has gone away to be replaced by the new movie alone. I don't think it's a bad thing for people to have a choice or perspectives which haven't been represented before to see that portrayed.
On a tangent (and not aimed at you specifically Anon) this area looks a lot like the majority of people are happy for cultural ownership of something artistic (such as a film) to apply when it suits them but also free ownership and we should share freely when it suits them as well. Nobody seems to mind that rock and roll came from blues and gospel music and we should all be colourblind and celebrate it, but when it comes to things like James Bond or Snow White it is absolutely imperative that we enforce strict representations when it comes to their portryal. Heads I win, tails you lose.
Should the Japanese tell the West that Star Wars is a disgrace as it doesn't show any Japanese people even though it was based on The Hidden Fortress? What about the Magnificent Seven which is the same deal?
Barksdale said
Mar 25 6:32 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Well, they are allowed to. They can do all of that, if they have the money, the time, and the imagination, there is no law that says they can't.
Us old farts don't have to like it though.
I can live with that!
Red Okktober said
Mar 27 1:36 PM, 2025
There are rumours that Putin is seriously ill - apparently he fell down a flight of stairs and shit himself.
I hope someone managed to film it and added a comedy trombone.
Permanent facial recognition cameras are coming to London, despite campaigners warning the move is the first step towards ‘a dystopian nightmare’.
Croydon is set to see the city’s, and the rest of the democratic world’s, first permanent live facial recognition (LFR) placed to scan faces and match them to a criminal database.
They will sit attached to lampposts or buildings on pedestrianised streets, and be just a short walk away from where schoolgirl Elianne Andam was stabbed to death outside the Whitgift Centre.
Permanent facial recognition cameras are coming to London, despite campaigners warning the move is the first step towards ‘a dystopian nightmare’.
Croydon is set to see the city’s, and the rest of the democratic world’s, first permanent live facial recognition (LFR) placed to scan faces and match them to a criminal database.
They will sit attached to lampposts or buildings on pedestrianised streets, and be just a short walk away from where schoolgirl Elianne Andam was stabbed to death outside the Whitgift Centre.
Permanent facial recognition cameras are coming to London, despite campaigners warning the move is the first step towards ‘a dystopian nightmare’.
Croydon is set to see the city’s, and the rest of the democratic world’s, first permanent live facial recognition (LFR) placed to scan faces and match them to a criminal database.
They will sit attached to lampposts or buildings on pedestrianised streets, and be just a short walk away from where schoolgirl Elianne Andam was stabbed to death outside the Whitgift Centre.
There are better ways to keep the peace than using Orwell as guide.
Vita said
Mar 29 2:42 AM, 2025
I've been online for almost twenty years, I've read and seen some terrible things and thought I had build up an immunity not to be shocked anymore at the terrible things people do but then you realise you were wrong.
Given the chance, I could easily kill this person.
It happened in South Africa, he gets sentenced next week.
Evil through and through. It's a pity they abolished the death penalty there.
And before anyone says he should live and suffer for the rest of his life, I dont agree.
In my opinion monsters like this dont have the right to draw breath.
Maddog said
Mar 29 3:16 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Vita wrote:
It happened in South Africa, he gets sentenced next week.
Evil through and through. It's a pity they abolished the death penalty there.
And before anyone says he should live and suffer for the rest of his life, I dont agree.
In my opinion monsters like this dont have the right to draw breath.
It's possible this guy was so diabolical that no one could see he was a monster.
But it's more likely that he had plenty of red flags and the baby's mother just ignored them..
Not blaming her, but ladies need to be beey selective about who they reproduce with and allow around their kids. Its almost a daily event that some.piece of shit does something to a girl friends kid..
A school that has sparked outrage by scrapping Easter celebrations wrote to parents outlining why the headteacher made the decision.
In a letter to parents, Stephanie Mander, headteacher of Norwood Primary School at Eastleigh, acknowledges the controversial decision will leave many people disappointed. But she says the move "aligns with our values of inclusivity and respect for diversity".
“ Dear Parents and Carers,
As we approach the spring season, I would like to inform you about an important update regarding our school's traditional Easter celebrations. After careful consideration and discussions with our school community, we have decided not to hold the Easter Bonnet Parade or the Easter Service this year. This decision has been made in the spirit of inclusivity and respect for the diverse religious beliefs, represented within our
school community. Our school is committed to fostering an environment where every child feels valued and respected, regardless of their religious background. By not holding specific religious celebrations, we aim to create a more inclusive atmosphere that honours and respects the beliefs of all our children and their families. We understand that this change may be disappointing for some, especially those who have cherished these traditions over the years. However, we believe that this decision aligns with our values of inclusivity and respect for diversity. We are exploring alternative ways to celebrate the season in future years, that will be inclusive of all children and reflect the richcultural diversity of our community. One of the ways we will be celebrating inclusivity is by taking part in Refugee Week which occurs in June, as well as beginning our journey to become an accredited School of Sanctuary. Watch this space! In the meantime, we look forward to seeing many of you at the Music Festival in a couple of weeks. We appreciate your understanding and support as we make this transition. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Miss Mander
Headteacher “ https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/25031225.easter-axed-school-norwood-primary-headteacher-letter-full/
That's symbolism, like you get in fairy stories, and not to be taken literally.
I agree with you 100%.
Maybe when the three little piggies are portrayed as goats people will be so brainwashed it'll work, till then...
It's a description of a character in a book. You will find that most characters in most books are described at some point.
If you are of the opinion that the Brothers Grimm intended her appearance to be symbolic of something else, then all the more reason not to change it.
Artistic licence though!
We may as well do away with makeup artists and costumes designers if it doesn't matter what characters in films look like.
If someone writes a book that is good enough to turn into a film, there shouldn't be a need to butcher it and make unnecessary changes.
It's only a big deal for people of a certain mindset.
Nothing is a big deal for people who are led by the nose.
Isn't part of the purpose of art to push boundaries, challenge perceptions or show us what life is like lived through someone else's experience. A big part of being creative is the ability to take risks. Maybe it would turn out to be ridiculous or absurd. Or maybe it wouldn't. We cannot know unless we allow people the ability to explore ideas freely.
Well, they are allowed to. They can do all of that, if they have the money, the time, and the imagination, there is no law that says they can't.
Us old farts don't have to like it though.
But then people don't need to watch it surely and can simply watch the original version which they prefer? It's not like it has gone away to be replaced by the new movie alone. I don't think it's a bad thing for people to have a choice or perspectives which haven't been represented before to see that portrayed.
On a tangent (and not aimed at you specifically Anon) this area looks a lot like the majority of people are happy for cultural ownership of something artistic (such as a film) to apply when it suits them but also free ownership and we should share freely when it suits them as well. Nobody seems to mind that rock and roll came from blues and gospel music and we should all be colourblind and celebrate it, but when it comes to things like James Bond or Snow White it is absolutely imperative that we enforce strict representations when it comes to their portryal. Heads I win, tails you lose.
Should the Japanese tell the West that Star Wars is a disgrace as it doesn't show any Japanese people even though it was based on The Hidden Fortress? What about the Magnificent Seven which is the same deal?
I hope someone managed to film it and added a comedy trombone.
www.express.co.uk/news/world/2033289/putin-health-fears-soiled-himself
Croydon is set to see the city’s, and the rest of the democratic world’s, first permanent live facial recognition (LFR) placed to scan faces and match them to a criminal database.
They will sit attached to lampposts or buildings on pedestrianised streets, and be just a short walk away from where schoolgirl Elianne Andam was stabbed to death outside the Whitgift Centre.
metro.co.uk/2025/03/26/new-big-brother-cameras-announced-london-despite-dystopian-warning-22790959/
That's a no from me..
You've obviously never been to Croydon...
There are better ways to keep the peace than using Orwell as guide.
I've been online for almost twenty years, I've read and seen some terrible things and thought I had build up an immunity not to be shocked anymore at the terrible things people do but then you realise you were wrong.
Given the chance, I could easily kill this person.
It happened in South Africa, he gets sentenced next week.
Evil through and through. It's a pity they abolished the death penalty there.
And before anyone says he should live and suffer for the rest of his life, I dont agree.
In my opinion monsters like this dont have the right to draw breath.
It's possible this guy was so diabolical that no one could see he was a monster.
But it's more likely that he had plenty of red flags and the baby's mother just ignored them..
Not blaming her, but ladies need to be beey selective about who they reproduce with and allow around their kids. Its almost a daily event that some.piece of shit does something to a girl friends kid..