^^^That's bad. In fact, if possible I'd encourage no one to turn up (or bugger off elsewhere) so they at least realise they made the wrong choice. Or get everyone to complain. Or ask if they are going to arrange a minibus or similar.

I cant tell you how angry and upset I am and a blog is going to be written very soon.

Went to Escape play area today and when taking a photo of Emily (and only Emily) I was told by a staff member to stop as some people were "wary".

Consider this:

1. Nicola and her friends went recently too and all took photos - with the permission of the place to boot!
2. Nicola's friend also went today and has put loads of photos on Facebook from what she took
3. I'm a man. They're all women.

I'm genuinely upset by this.

I questioned this and apart from being male the only other reason could/was my camera being a DSLR. Total ignorance though as:

1. Lens is just under 3x zoom. I'd get more range from my "discrete" compact camera with 12x.
2. If I were a perv why would I go with a big noticeable camera with my child where other children play under parents supervision and try to take photos of them?
3. If I were a perv why would I take photos of fully dressed children in a place where you're almost guaranteed to get caught?

I could go on but I'm watching The Apprentice now.

Yup unfortunately there's a huge thing with "men". A man wanting to be a nursery school teacher is a big no-no. Must be a paedo if that's the case!

That's the kind of mentality that drives me nuts. If you want equality, IMO the door should swing both ways and men should be able to work with children. If someone wants to abuse a child, no amount of security checks will stop it from happening. The most determined will abuse, in the same way a thief will steal something if they want it badly enough.

Ask primary school teachers - the majority of them being women - and they will tell you that children need more male influences in their lives, but men don't go into primary education for two reasons. One reason is that of appearing to be a pedophile. The other is that men don't see primary education as a career choice.

I help out at my other half's school. I've been invited in a few times to do videoing of various events. I'm fully CRB checked (which allows me to be left alone with the children). I'm usually not though, which us not a bad thing.

It's tricky in this climate of suspicion for men to help out in this way - but they are needed in early years of a child's development.

Completely agree with the need for male teachers. I had female teachers until the age of 9 and up until that point I'd say I was just a "C" grade student - not abysmally crap but nothing special.

Then in year 6, I had a male teacher. Not sure why, but I did a lot better. Things were explained in a more straightforward manner and less "wishy-washy". I had much more respect for the male teachers than I ever did for the female teachers. I went from near the bottom of the class to one of the top five of the whole yeargroup and managed to get into grammar school as well.

When I was in Sweden I was dragged along to my kids school a number of times. In Sweden parents are allowed 5 days off per year to spend with their kids. They are also encouraged to go to the school and spend a day in classes with their child to see how they are doing and to chat to their teachers. During a break I had a chat to the only male teacher I saw there and he said that he is asked why he is a teacher. The all male teachers are paedophile theory is popular there as well.

Don't write a blog.

Write a letter to the headteacher detailing exactly what happened and your objections to it. State that your being asked to stop when females can go unchallenged amounts to sexual discrimination. State further that no member of staff (including the headteacher) has any lawful authority to stop anyone taking photographs as the school is public property.

Oh and make sure to say that you will take photos of your child any time you damn well choose and any future challenges will result in both an official complaint to the governors and your going to the press.

Fight, comrade, fight!

Wasn't it mentioned in another thread that a school is private property?!?!

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/logos/cx-logos-corporatestandards/cx-logos-imagesofpeople/cx-logos-images-faqs.htm

Might shed light on some of the issues here.
Short version - was the 'Escape play area' privately owned? If it is, you need permission to photograph anything on private property.

T'was here http://escapeplay.co.uk/welcome-to-escape.html (not a school) and even though a private building I am a paying customer who is being treated differently on the basis of my gender

To be honest the narrow minded parents are equally at fault as it was let slip someone mentioned it to them

It's frustrating that they apparently have a blanket "no photography" rule yet choose to ignore it based on your gender

On the tables they had a crib sheet of rules and it stated something like "photos are not allowed due to the child protection act". What's the child protection act then because I cannot find that piece of legislation?

It is privately owned. I have no bones if they ban everyone from taking photos. It's their place so it's up to them. Allowing four people I know to take photos (all women) whilst banning me on the other hand is plain wrong.

Sorry - thought it was a school.

In that case I'd write stating what happened and asking why, if there is supposed to be a blanket ban, are women allowed to take photos when men aren't.

And then go to the press

They're digging themselves a bit of a hole here.
They should've gone with the standard 'It's our property, no photography allowed. Sorry.'
Far simpler than claiming the 'child protection act'.
There isn't a single piece of legislation that covers 'Child protection' - http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/questions/child_protection_legislation_in_the_uk_pdf_wdf48953.pdf
There is the 2004 Children Act which basically deals with how we safeguard against child abuse in it's various forms. This came about after the systemic failure of things like Baby P and Victoria Climbie, where there were lots of opportunities missed to prevent the death of those children.

But certainly, hoist them for the implied sexism.

I was thinking:

1. Write a blog
2. Write a complaint letter to them with a link to the online blog
3. Ask them about the implied sexism and made up legislation
4. Ask them if they think the press might be interested in the various goings on

I have to say I rather doubt they would. They're the ones whipping up the whole 'pedo armageddon' paranoia after all.

Jon