Amos Atlantis

SORRY, parents. No photo-taking please. If you want any, pay $2 for a photo taken by our official photographer.

The policy has riled some parents, but the Marsiling branch of the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) kindergarten said it has its reasons: The policy is to prevent disruptions.

Mrs Nancy Tew, the Marsiling branch’s administrator, explained the policy, which she said has been in existence for 14 years: ‘Every year, we ask the parents to take pictures from their seats, but inevitably some parents will still get up and walk right up to the stage, blocking others.

‘It is embarrassing as some of them come right to the front, turn their backs to the VIPs and click away.

‘We even have to make announcements for them to return to their seats but some refuse to listen and this ruins the show for others.’

During one ceremony held at a community centre several years ago, she recalled that some irate parents yelled at the inconsiderate ones to sit down.

‘This is hardly what you want at a graduation ceremony,’ said Mrs Tew.

Before the graduation ceremony for K2 pupils on 30 Oct, the kindergarten had sent a reminder to parents of the 200 performing children.

The kindergarten also said it engaged a professional photographer and videographer for the concert.

Parents can buy a picture of their kids taken during their performance for $2, and a DVD of the graduation ceremony for $20.

The kindergarten said the parents are allowed to take pictures from where they are seated.

The ceremony took place at Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Cultural Hall.

The request isn’t unique to this kindergarten. Some schools do ask parents to refrain from taking photos. Others put up signs to remind parents to remain seated during the ceremony.

But the no-photo policy has not gone down well with some parents at the kindergarten.

A housewife in her 40s who wanted to be known only as Ms Lim, said: ‘It is a once-in-a lifetime-event and we should be able to take pictures of our own children during their graduation.

‘They charge us for the costumes the children wear for the ceremony and even charge us if we want more than two tickets. Why are they charging us for everything?’

Each family was allotted two free tickets. Extra tickets cost $5.

Mrs Tew, however, felt that $2 for a picture taken by the professional photographer was reasonable.

Reasonable rates

‘Usually, such professional pictures cost $5,’ she said.

‘Parents who order it get four pictures within one big picture. This way, parents get to see their kids in four different actions.’

Mrs Tew said sales from the pictures and DVDs go towards offsetting the cost of the graduation ceremony.

Mrs Tew added: ‘It costs $500 to rent the hall at the community centre but it can seat only 500 people. The hall at RP can accommodate 1,200 people.’

The RP hall costs $6,000 to rent.

It’s not known how much the kindergarten paid to hire the photographer and videographer.

However, some parents appreciate the no-photo rule.

Mrs Joyce Lim, 35, a pharmacist, said: ‘My son played a major role in the concert and by not worrying about taking the pictures or the video, I could really enjoy his performance.

‘If parents were allowed to take pictures, it might have frightened the young kids and affected their performances.’

Mrs Lin Siew Lian, 45, administrator of the PCF Aljunied-Hougang Centre, said that her kindergarten does face disruptions during graduation concerts but has not put in place a similar no-picture rule.

‘We put up signs to remind parents to remain seated but there will still be interruptions that we have to deal with,’ she said.

Parents of older students better behaved

SOMETIMES, parents who attend graduation ceremonies involving older students are asked not to take pictures.

The reason: Camera flashes may disturb performing students.

But educators whom The New Paper spoke to said that parents of older students tend to be well-behaved.

A primary school teacher, who declined to be named, said that only parents of prize-winners are invited to prize-giving ceremonies at her school.

She said that at a recent drama that her lower primary students put up, parents were told to wait until the end of the performance to take pictures.

It worked, to a certain extent.

Said the teacher: ‘After the performance, however, we had a hard time managing parents who rushed to the dressing rooms for pictures.’

A secondary school teacher, who also declined to be named, said her school recently staged a drama. Before the show, the audience were told that flash photography was not allowed.

The 30-year-old said: ‘Still, some went ahead anyway. It is impossible to control them. But it wasn’t a big problem as they remained seated.’

At the university level, parents are generally well-behaved.

A Singapore Management University spokesman said in an e-mail: ‘For the school ceremonies, where the degree scrolls are handed out to individual graduands, guests are advised not to take photos at close range as it would affect the work of the official photographers.

‘So far, the guests have been cooperative. Students are given one free photo of them on stage receiving their scrolls. Guests are at liberty to take any other shots.’