LONDON (AP) — Thousands of British students mark World Book Day by going to school in costume as their favorite fictional characters. But one 11-year-old found himself in a bind when he dressed as Christian Grey, the S&M-loving billionaire hero of erotic thriller "50 Shades of Grey."
Teachers at Sale High School in northwestern England sent Liam Scholes home Thursday after deeming his suit, accessorized with cable ties and an eye mask, unacceptable.
The school said Friday that the decision "reflects the school's high standards in terms of student behavior, welfare and safeguarding." It said Liam was allowed to return once he had "modified" his costume.
Liam's mother, Nicola Scholes, said the costume had been her son's idea, and defended his choice.
Scholes said other pupils had dressed as James Bond and the title character from "American Sniper."
She told ITV television that Grey is "a character that has been put out there on the television and all aspects of media. ... (Liam) walked into school yesterday and every child knew who he was."
Scholes stressed that her son had not read the book, which has sold more than 100 million copies around the world, or seen the steamy film adaptation.
Scout's note: Per bolded, how the hell did this kid pick this then?!?!
Tangent: I was annoyed yesterday at all the girls at DD's school dressed as Elsa. *sigh* Frozen is a movie. Books may have been made after the fact, but Elsa and Anna and Olaf, et al- that is a movie. Find a book
Post by penguingrrl on Mar 6, 2015 10:46:38 GMT -5
So, the kid has never read the book, hopefully never seen the movie and yet it's his favorite literary character? How exactly can a character you have never read be your favorite? There is so much wrong with this story.
Tangent: I was annoyed yesterday at all the girls at DD's school dressed as Elsa. *sigh* Frozen is a movie. Books may have been made after the fact, but Elsa and Anna and Olaf, et al- that is a movie. Find a book
I would imagine it's because the parents already had the costumes and just went with it.
Tangent: I was annoyed yesterday at all the girls at DD's school dressed as Elsa. *sigh* Frozen is a movie. Books may have been made after the fact, but Elsa and Anna and Olaf, et al- that is a movie. Find a book
I'll admit I would be annoyed by that. Except that there's a good chance that we already have those costumes and don't have money on hand to buy stuff for another costume, so I might let my girls wear those to save money and still have them participate.
I'm not terribly surprised that he knows the character or that the other kids do. I just - I don't - how can it be his favorite character if he's never read (or hell even watched) any of the material?
I'm not terribly surprised that he knows the character or that the other kids do. I just - I don't - how can it be his favorite character if he's never read (or hell even watched) any of the material?
How did he know to accessorize with rope ties? That's not in any of the promos I've seen.
So...he didn't read the book, but Grey is his favorite literary character?
His mom is an idiot for trying to defend his choice, especially with the bolded text above.
His mom is a total moron. You can't have a favorite literary character without having read the book. He could have picked Harry Potter and it would have been inappropriate if he didn't read it.
I'm not terribly surprised that he knows the character or that the other kids do. I just - I don't - how can it be his favorite character if he's never read (or hell even watched) any of the material?
How did he know to accessorize with rope ties? That's not in any of the promos I've seen.
Cellphone with data, some other kid told him about it, maybe he's overheard his parents talk about it, a family computer that's not locked down. I mean, we already know the mom is not all there so it wouldn't surprise me if the family has super lax technology boundaries. Or Jayde. I bet it was Jayde.
I don't get it. He never read the book, yet knows enough about the story at 11 years old to know the character uses ropes/chains/blindfold during sex and used those for his outfit? And the mom saw nothing wrong with that?
At age 11??? I have an child just 2 years younger And have a ton of friends with 11-13 year olds and I just can't imagine he would ever know what 50shades is, never mind want to emulate the main character to show that he LOOKS UP to this type of person/character or something.
Though, I agree with the mom in that it sounds like there were other outfits that day that were questionable also and should have been sent home if he was.
I'm gonna say the thing I thought we were all thinking, but didn't see anyone mention in my scan: I think mom has a super mega-crush on Christian Grey, & son has picked up on it. Through their discussion of what character he'll dress as, I'm picturing him mentioning Grey & mom JUMPING on it!!! Puke. Therapy for all. Puke.
I don't get it. He never read the book, yet knows enough about the story at 11 years old to know the character uses ropes/chains/blindfold during sex and used those for his outfit? And the mom saw nothing wrong with that?
This is where I am. WTF? I've admitted on these boards a million times that I would be a lax (read: terrible) parent, and even I can't really imagine sending my 11 year old kid to school dressed in costume with S&M gear.
I don't get it. He never read the book, yet knows enough about the story at 11 years old to know the character uses ropes/chains/blindfold during sex and used those for his outfit? And the mom saw nothing wrong with that?
At age 11??? I have an child just 2 years younger And have a ton of friends with 11-13 year olds and I just can't imagine he would ever know what 50shades is, never mind want to emulate the main character to show that he LOOKS UP to this type of person/character or something.
Though, I agree with the mom in that it sounds like there were other outfits that day that were questionable also and should have been sent home if he was.
I have a 13 year old and an 11 year old and I don't find it strange at all that he would know about a character he hasn't read and proclivities that didn't make it into the trailer. He probably doesn't understand them but it's not strange that he's heard it. Kids have siblings, their friends have siblings. Some kids have grown siblings.
Tangent: I was annoyed yesterday at all the girls at DD's school dressed as Elsa. *sigh* Frozen is a movie. Books may have been made after the fact, but Elsa and Anna and Olaf, et al- that is a movie. Find a book
I would imagine it's because the parents already had the costumes and just went with it.
Yep, I would totally send DD in her Anna costume if she wanted to do her frozen book and that costume. It's free, we already have both and so my lazy ass has to do nothing but put it on her.
I don't want to be a asshole but there was life before Anna and Elsa.and store bought costumes. Make a mask with a paper plate or face paint or a pillow case or mommy's old clothes or something.
I don't want to be a asshole but there was life before Anna and Elsa.and store bought costumes. Make a mask with a paper plate or face paint or a pillow case or mommy's old clothes or something.
Eta: it's not Halloween, it's Book Day
Did you miss the lazy part Now DD has a dress that would work for Little House on the Prairie and I'd likely nudge her in that direction but this is one of those pick your battles situations where it's not worth my time to fight with her over it since it won't matter in a week much less 5 yrs what she wears to book day.
I don't want to be a asshole but there was life before Anna and Elsa.and store bought costumes. Make a mask with a paper plate or face paint or a pillow case or mommy's old clothes or something.
Eta: it's not Halloween, it's Book Day
Yeah, I'm way too lazy for that. Combine that with the fact that I've yet in my life had a craft come out looking even remotely okay and just no. We have few craft supplies in the house even because I hate crafting so much (my poor kids are deprived and have to do their craft shit at school only).
Post by downtoearth on Mar 6, 2015 11:23:39 GMT -5
That parent is crazy. So your kid hasn't read the book, but wanted to get a rise out of people... he did and got sent home. Okay, lesson learned, so the parent shouldn't make a fuss, getting a rise isn't what the assignment was about, it was about trying to dress as a fictional character from a book THAT YOU HAVE READ b/c reading is cool.
By the time I was 11, I had read every book that even mentioned sex that I could find out about - and I did not have internet access. The mum is an idiot, the kid shouldn't have been sent home unless he was wearing inappropriate attire (which this isnt as far as I can see) and is the book age restricted in this country? No? Then shut up everyone, school, mum, media etc.