Photographing Children

This editorial is an interesting take on attitudes towards publicly photographing (even one's own) children in the UK. Think of it in comparison to what we do here in the US - we even post photos of our children on the Web!

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/will-paranoid-parents-criminalize-photographing-children/

"As a father, probably the ban that I hate the most is the growing tendency to prohibit parents from taking photos of their children during school plays, concerts, and sporting activities. Six years ago, when Edinburgh’s director of education called for a ban on photographic or video recordings of nativity plays and school concerts, there was a huge outcry from parents. Since this incident, the outcry has died down and such bans are routinely adopted by schools and sports centers throughout Britain. Some schools do not even allow the photographer of the local paper to take a picture of their pupils playing sports. When a friend decided to take a photo of his son during a Saturday soccer match, he was accused of gross irresponsibility. How long before we insist that children play football behind closed doors or — better still — ban the sport all together?" [emphasis added]

Seems like a completely parallel universe, doesn't it?

How do we stop this from happening here? Is it unique to Britain, which long has had a robust "nanny state"? Does this blithe acceptance that the state (and even other parents) know better than you do what's best for your children - what will keep them safe - come from decades of docilely swallowing whatever restrictions on personal liberty show up on your doorstep?

Hopefully Americans are too stubbornly independent to be duped into such a mentality. Although, when it comes to overprotecting out children, we as a culture have a shot at the gold medal (if such an Olympic event existed). Let's not let that overprotectiveness smother the enjoyment of parenting - and of childhood.

As an aside, I'd love to know the attitude of Swedes, et al on this topic. Has their "cradle to grave" nanny state also led them down the same silly path the British have taken? If I find anything of interest, I'll let you know.