Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Kelly-Ann Mills

Schools slammed for holding 'Grandfriends' day as grandparents title is dropped

Schools in parts of Australia have been criticised for hosting 'Grandfriends' days - an event which has been traditionally called 'Grandparents and Grandfriends Day'.

The move - aimed at being more inclusive rather than less - has seen youngsters invite elderly residents from local old people's homes to spend the day with them, as well as their own grandparents.

But the dropping of the 'Grandparents' name from the event title has upset some, who claim it will lead to parents being called friends too.

Spring Field Public School in Spring Field, New South Wales posted on their social media page about the event held yesterday: "Grand friends day is an opportunity for our grandparents and Carrington friends to visit our school and students.

"We acknowledge that not every child has a grandparent that will be able to attend.

"We encourage those students to invite someone special to them to share a picnic."

Do you think the word Grandparents should have been included in the event name? Join the debate below

The event went ahead with a picnic, artwork on display, and performances in the main hall, with photos of a backed auditorium shared on the school's Facebook page.

The New South Wales Education Minister Sarah Mitchell, said: "Spring Farm Public School used this term to promote their event as they had invited residents from a local aged care facility who are pen pals with the students.

"This was an opportunity for young students who have sadly lost their grandparents to feel included in the day's celebrations."

Ian Barnett, the Founder of the National Grandparent Movement in Australia said the move to drop the grandparents title was "an odd move".

The name change was branded "odd" (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

He told Channel Nine's Today show: "The implication behind that is of course, if grandparents are now grandfriends, it means the next logical step is that parents become friends."

He added: "I can understand maybe they want to make it easier for others to come onboard, but even little ones who have lost their grandparents do have others in their life that take on the role of a grandparent.

"It's such a significant phrase and concept and it's disappointing to actually think that we can no longer use that and we're changing into something like grandfriends."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.