Swedish school confiscates boy's party invitations

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Associated Press

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - A school has confiscated an 8-year-old boy's birthday party invitations after they were handed out during class because it said it had a duty to ensure against discrimination.

The boy handed out invitations to classmates at his school in Lund, southern Sweden, but did not invite two boys because they were not his friends, the Sydsvenskan newspaper reported earlier this week.

The school, 360 miles south of Stockholm, confiscated all the invitations, saying it objected because it had a duty to ensure against discrimination.

The report on Friday did not name the boy or his family. It said the boy's father has filed a complaint with the parliamentary ombudsman.

The father told the newspaper that the two classmates were not invited because one had bullied his son and the other had not invited his son to the classmate's birthday party.

"My son has taken it very hard," the father told Sydsvenskan of the school's decision. "It's like taking someone's mail."

The parliamentary ombudsman has asked the school board to decide on the issue before Sept. 8.

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/...eden30-odd.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Why did they have to say it was about discrimination? Would it have been more logical to say that it was because he was disrupting the class?

Though I do have to say that there's something to be said for "left out" kids. Lots of playground politics in a primary school.

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

The world has gone too far with trying to make everything fare. We need a major sturring up in the world to reset things and start over.

[Scott & Lai 12]

I guess we should outlaw friends, since the very act of choosing friends discriminates against those whom are not chosen.

[MrsCat 6]

Conniption - a fit of rage, hysteria, or alarm <went into conniptions>

My parents went into conniptions when I was 8 and the only girl (aka Miss Spazy Pants) I didn't invite to my party was border line retarded. I wasn't being discriminatory, I just didn't want her there. Everyone else was A-ok. What my parent's failed to realize, was that there were 3 other kids who were disabled that were invited. So alas, I was forced to invite Miss Spazy pants to my birthday party.

When Miss Spazy Pants went into hysterics and started bodyslamming kids into the wall, my parents realized that at age of 8, I possessed wisdom beyond my years.

They never apologized though. . . . . I might have to give them a call and let them know that its been long overdue.

[Scott & Lai 12]

When Miss Spazy Pants went into hysterics and started bodyslamming kids into the wall, my parents realized that at age of 8, I possessed wisdom beyond my years.

They never apologized though. . . . . I might have to give them a call and let them know that its been long overdue.

Apparently, you possessed more wisdom than they did, at least as far as this event was concerned.

[jundp 191]

My daughter's school has a policy about handing out invitations to birthday parties and the like at school. Kids may not hand them out at school unless all the kids in the class (or all kids of the child's gender anyway) are invited. They do this because there are roughly only 24 to 26 kids in each grade level and it would become a "clique" thing, even at the younger ages.

In kindergarten, my daughter and one other girl were the only ones not invited to a birthday party and the reason the other girl gave was that they wouldn't give her a nice enough present because they (my daughter and the other girl) weren't rich. It was a sad experience for my daughter but it was also a great life lesson about how incredibly shallow some people are.

In a private small school I think it's a good policy.

[almaty 19]

he was at school and violated a policy..should have mailed them or presented them prior to school starting or afterwards..or could have amiled them..the cheap chop

[one...two...tree 2,762]

he was at school and violated a policy..should have mailed them or presented them prior to school starting or afterwards..or could have amiled them..the cheap chop

I agree... a major faux pas. Father and son should be sent to etiquette school.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Jabberwocky

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

the far left should be having the party with this news.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

the far left should be having the party with this news.

I've got my tap dancing shoes on right now...

[almaty 19]

he was at school and violated a policy..should have mailed them or presented them prior to school starting or afterwards..or could have amiled them..the cheap chop

I agree... a major faux pas. Father and son should be sent to etiquette school.

i agree..charm school

[Nagishkaw 510]

I like Scott's idea of outlawing friends altogether.

[almaty 19]

I like Scott's idea of outlawing friends altogether.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

My 7 yr. old was invited to a few birthday parties ....2 this past weekend and one the weekend before. Each child has a mailbox or cubby in the classroom and that is where the teachers ask the parents and students to place party invitations. It can be devastating to some children when they are left out from being invited to parties. If parents want it to be exclusive, they should be discreet and keep the exclusion outside the classroom.