I feel that elevating each child to the same level is not doing the kid a favor. By learning to cope with small dissapointments (like not being chosen to be Snow White in the school play) children learn to cope with the big dissapointments that life will eventually throw at them.

Ali, Philadelphia, USA

Its a vicious circle because the teachers cant discipline, praise, single out, stop bullys or teach effectively - all for fear of the parents. Then the parents complain that the teacher doesnt do what they want. A lot of housewives have too much time on their hands too.

Anna, Saitama, Japan

A lot has got to do with the falling birth rate and instead of raising two or three children they only have one. Parents dreams and aspirations therefore are channelled into this one and only child and so if anything goes "wrong" they are naturally more concerned. And they have more time to be!

John Crellin, Tokyo, Japan

I teach at a private junior/ senior high school in Tokyo. If the parents have changed, so have the children. When I talked to a student who can hardly keep awake in any class yesterday, what he said to me was really surprising. "I can't help falling asleep because your voice makes me sleepy."

Satoru, Tokyo, japan

Show the source of information of this topic.

toshiyuki hurudate, saitama, japan

I've seen plays like this. Usually the Snow Whites band together in threes or fours and they perform on the stage in shifts. There aren't 25 Snow Whites on the stage at once. It's a little hard to follow, but ...

Pat, Sapporo, Japan

Instead of heaping all the blame on the parents, let's place it where it really belongs.... on the rest of society for tolerating this garbage. When are we as individuals going to step up to the plate and declare, ENOUGH! As long as we tolerate abusive behavior, it will continue.

Patricia Graham, Taos, NM/USA

This is a symptom, not of consumerism, but of dependence upon a central government for all things, and the fabrication of rights which said govt. is supposed to provide (including education). This will continue until all state schools are abandoned in favor of local community schools.

Paul Gambon, Jacksonville, USA

I think that's great! They will come down to our level and we won't have to compete with them anymore.

jabeez, ft lauderdale, usa

I want to know what the parents reaction was... Also, would the teachers here in the USA have the nerve to stage all Snow Whites, with no dwarfs?!? I applaud those Japanese teachers, it was a great feat!

Carl Reasor, Denville, NJ USA

Sounds to me like they're becoming like American parents. Their precious darlings are always right and deserve to have the best and be the top of their class, regardless of whether they have earned it. I feel bad for their kids. They will grow up to be entitled and self-centered. Good job, parents.

Val, Canada,

Ryan, there's no 1 child policy in japan. that's China.

Mark, New York City, USA

This is an example of what we call helicopter parents here in the States taken to new levels. These parents are willing to take on teachers at the university level. I can't say I'm terribly surprised that parents would be this aggressive in any nation.

Peach, Seattle, Washington, USA

How very shortsighted and sad. In the U.S. now, especially in California, there are an incredible number of costly and difficult hoops to jump to become a clear-credential teacher. I assume it isn't easy in Japan either. But who will want to go through all that now? Doesn't sound worth it.

Virginia , Salton City, California, USA

Wow, whoever wrote that Japan has a 1 child policy has obviously never been to Jusco on a weekend.

And as a Assistant English Teacher here, I've also seen this everyone-wins mentality first hand. I can't fail anyone in anything; the lowest possible grade is a C!

Ryan, Kumamoto, Japan

And so begins the decline of Japanese society, following the US into selfish, myopic oblivion...

Jerome, Yongin, South Korea

Average women here can seldom keep their careers beyond pregnancy, and these job-market losers collectively find consolation in the sense of superiority to unmarried childless women AKA "makeinu (underdogs)". Only as mothers, they can exercise power -- including the witch-hunt like incrimination.

matsumoto, , Japan

Here, students are not failed.

For example if you sit in a test and write only your name and fall asleep you are not given an F for that test, you are given a C.

A student who hits a teacher is not suspended or expelled.

A student who cannot control themselves in class is not removed.

Richard , Hiroshima, Japan

"The Japanese have always been about 10 years behind the US in terms of cultural behavior,"
Valannin, Gotham, US
This is one of the most invalid and ignorant comments I have ever read. Japanese culture is entirely different to US culture, and is neither "behind" or "ahead". Open your eyes.

Phil, Osaka, Japan

It's been demonstrated that when performance by kids is rewarded according to how hard they try, and not how often they succeed (or lose), they'll then perform better in the long run. We've got to stop judging kids (and adults) solely by accomplishment (test scores) and more by effort put forth.

Donna Hughs, Mountain View, CA, United States

The USA isn't to blame, for all their faults, it has given the rest of us the greatest gift: A level playing field: Capitalism!

The kid who stands up and says I'll be the the witch - they're going places. There will always be mavericks, the others just sheep. That's what we should teach our kids

Audrey Hynd-Gaw, Prestwick, Scotland

choice: We can carry on as we have always done, with some children left behind, despite skill & talent because they are lower status,
or we can give them equal start, then we can let them run, and leave it to them to stand out if they wish to..Japan needs that as much as the rest of us, its just.

Audrey Hynd-Gaw, Prestwick, Scotland

BTW I'm about to start a new career as a secondary school teacher - You're scaring me to death!

Nah, only kidding, you gotta be tougher than that to be a teacher

Audrey Hynd-Gaw, Prestwick, Scotland

Japan needs criticizing for a lot of things, but to be honest I think this isn't one of them. In a society where to be pretty is everything if you are a girl - how do you think the parents felt about their girl having to be a hairy little dwarf? Choosing Snow White was just ignorant & thoughtless

I Caswell, Tokyo, Japan

Here in the UK the politicians are also keen to pander to parents. "Parental choice" is king, and pushy parents who think they know best are almost at liberty to confront, harass, second-guess, and undermine teachers.

Chris K, Cheltenham, UK

"So where's the photo of all these Snow Whites onstage? THAT's what I want to see."

Careful! I don't know if the joy of Political Correctness has reached Japan yet but in some parts of the UK anyone who photos their kids in a school play is liable to be suspected of paedophilic tendencies!

Chris K, Cheltenham, UK

Why blame US parents? What about English teachers? Noticing that my 11 year old's work was invariably ticked and praised, despite being riddled with misspellings & mispunctuation, I asked her teacher if he felt unable to correct her. He said that he did not wish to, for fear of demoralising her!

Jan Kumar, Croydon, England

I teach elementary aged kids here in Tokyo, and I have encounted these monster parents before. They complain about the most ridiculus and trivial subjects imaginable. I am not even allowed to raise my voice in the classroom and these kids continue to grow into spoilt monsters.

Kaori, Tokyo, Japan

I teach English in Japan and once booted a boy from class for punching a girl after being ordered to stop. He told his mom and she came to school demanding an apology for embarrassing her angel. The vice-principal agreed. I said "I'm sorry you are all morons" and still have the Mp3 file to prove it.

Torrie, Yokohama, Japan

This is a great story. Marvel at the ignorance of parents who sat through the play and didn't think they were collectively nuts. I observe the competition in Japanese society is very win-lose and zero-sum, exemplified by the parent who wanted the other kid to miss lessons. Schools need to say No.

Jay HK, Hong Kong,

I've taught for 34 years and the evolution of the parent's role is really a frightening thing. No more dodge ball, no more picking teams, no more validictorians. But more frightening are the children. I police, I parent, I offer therapy, I clothe, I feed, I chase, I comfort, I referee, etc.......

Marla, Madison WI, USA

We could consider the play as an artistic interpretation of snow white. (Kidding!)

Can't get the image of all these children playing Snow White - If they're all Snow White - then there is no witch, no Prince, not even a hunter. What do they do, shuffle side by side for an hour?

Audrey Hynd-Gaw, Prestwick, Scotland

It sounds like Watts in L.A. to me.

Rod C. Venger, Colorado Springs, USA

Schools need to have clauses put in place that limits teacher interference. This should be agreed on acceptance of a pupil. Parents have similar attitutdes in China, where there is a huge amount of pressure on young people to achieve. But the kids are generally respectful and often hard working.

Mike, Beijing, China

I can't stand parents like that. I'm only 20, and it's amazing how things like this change. I was never coddled and told that everybody is a winner or anything like that. I know people like these parents and I feel for their kids. With such domineering parents, the kids'll wind up in therapy.

Kate, Bangor, Wales

In Japan, women are oppressed. Note how the article refers to mothers getting together for coffee & talking about their kids' teachers. If women had more rights in the workplace in Japan, they'd be too busy (and perhaps fulfilled) to waste their time with this kind of nonsense.

Janiebelle, Thomasjeffersonland, USA

Hey Leo, any way you can get the parents at the school in question a copy of this article and, more importantly, the reader's comments translated into Japanese, of course. Now that would make for an interesting follow up story!!

OBM, Shibuya-ku, Japan

I'm among the first to point out their ignorance, obesity and arrognace, but to blame america for pushy parents is taking things too far.

It is arguable that America was where indiviualism first took off, but the point is that Japanese society is becoming less structured and self-controling

Cameron , London,

This has been happening for years. Acute bullying permeates many levels of society in Japan and it stems, largely, from a deep-rooted social sense of inferiority. I speak as somebody with a strong Japanese background. A facade of success is the priority for these parents. Where is the love?

Paulie, Loughborough, England

Perhaps the Japanese are evolving from a society of silent conformity to one of open discussion and there are, perhaps, many buried issues that need to evolve and develop. Don't forget that we have over-ambitious parents in the UK too.

kim domnick, Torquay, UK

Agreed Krista, If anything the USA is very much the home of good manners. In the UK we have an epidemic of feral youths.

Steve, Bere, UK

"Americanization"?
This is modernization. A world where txt msging, email, microwaves, & so on have created a modern societal mind-set where patience isn't tolerated anymore. If expectations aren't instant we grow frustrated & we've passed this on to our parenting & what we expect in parenting.

Jeanine, Fairfield, Ohi, USA

I too would LOVE to have seen a video of this play! The parents nust have made their own children look ridiculous.

Things are tending this way in the UK too. There are so many things teachers can no longer say or do that they are completely without power - the children and parents have it all.

Katie, Lancashire, UK

American bases in Japan could not have caused this. Time for the world to wake up and take responsiblilty for their own problems. As an American, living in Britain, I have personally witnessed young British girls, attack a grown man on a train. Blaming America doesn't solve these problems.

Krista, London, UK

For Robert, Dallas, TX, US

If that happened in Texas, the parents would arm themselves with guns and go shoot everyone in sight. Big difference to just complaining.

Paul Taylor, London,

The comments over look the teachers and schools that have for years shunted aside students that are inconvenient to them. They overlook schools that dictated to parents for years.

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

A pc culture/selfish parenting allows for a non- competitive environment in which to raise kids. This brings a whole generation of ‘spoilt winners’ into the world with a blurred view of expectations and sense of entitlement - any wonder we are beginning to see the fabric of our society unravelling?

TC, London, UK

Like it or not - the world has been influenced by American values , and Japan is no exception with military bases still there since 1945. Teachers everywhere had always been respected and entrusted with the education of children. Basic
education, however, was taught at home.

lena, vienna, austria

I have an idea...let those parents in Japan come over to the US and try to pull that mess down in South Dallas! They would get a true beat down! LOL

Robert, Dallas, TX, US

Ni Hao, fellow Teachers and people of reasonable persuasion.
As English Language Director of Studies at a major college in North China, I can validate academic standards being slaughtered - a 'No Fail Policy' for the most incompetent and/or lazy students. Parent/student pressure is standard.
PWH.

Paul Webster-Hughes, Weifang, Peoples Republic of China

It's no wonder kids are so screwed up!

Kelly, El Cajon, California, USA

To Jim in Calgary (CA), may I point out a few items? The Times (paper) is difficult to get on this side of the pond, and simple to get electronically; secondly, are you aware how much Canada buys from the US? Keep the oil, if you think it'll help anyone's behavior. Pretty shallow, sir.

Dan, Small New England Town, US

I would suggest the teachers in Japan start recording the harassment. It wold make for a lively parent/teacher conference. Or play them for school assemblies, and let kids be embarassed by mom's behavior. The local news could show "best of" clips; the "winners" get their address & phone # published.

Dan, Small New England Town, US

This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! Snow White is not traditionally a Japanese story. Why not stick to Godzilla and have all the students play Godzilla??!!

SB, Sometown, USA

Just think, if just one child had stepped forward to be the witch, SHE would have been the star of the show! Admittedly she would have to have carried huge sack of apples onto the stage ...

And no, it's not just Japan, America, Canada or the UK in which these horrible parents procreate.

Angela, Epping, Australia

In the US they have gone too far with the Zero Tolerance, and in today's headlines, Australia teachers are being investigated for raising their voices, Japanese parents have ruined a classic fairy tale with their monsterous actions. There's a thing called BALANCE; parents worldwide need to learn it.

Dew, Houston, Texas, USA

I worked at a private girl's elementary school in Tokyo for five years. I often felt that the girls and families were 'customers' rather than ' students' and the school would give in to the prissy demands of these Chanel suited mothers so as to not rock the 'wa'.

Bree, Tokyo,

I find the comments on this topic quite interesting. The first observation is that almost all the comments are from Americans. What does no one read the Times online in the UK, or did this topic hit a nerve in the US. As for Canadians exporting this behavior to the US, lmao, you only want our Oil.

Jim, Calgary, Canada

In the U.S. , there is little respect for teachers by many ignorant parents. I truly believe we have too much freedom in this country. Stupid people can say anything they want to, about who ever they want to, even if it is a complete lie and ends up hurting the greater good of the public.

Dan, Nashville, U.S.

I teach preschool for Head Start. Even at this young age, children and their parents are running the schools. I have been hit, kicked, bit, spit on, cursed and robbed. By four year olds!!! Their parents are oblivious to the chaos. When anything goes wrong, it's always the teachers fault.

Robin, Lexington, USA

After 20 years of teaching in Japan, I've seen a considerable change in classroom behavior, not to mention dress codes. Japanese teenagers are polite and a pleasure to deal with. They do not carry knives or form gangs.

Monster parents sound like a continuation of the "education mamas" of the 90s.

Bazza, Tokyo, Japan

Well i just have to say just wait, cause this type of political correctness is coming to the U.S. This what we have raised our children to be "I'm ok you're ok" and "everyone is a winner" hey i got a novel idea, life is sometimes hard so buck up and deal with it and try harder next time.

Jim Pranger, Jennings Ok, U.S.A.

Canadian's exported this to America. They're a socialistic country that can't accept competition, personal ability or responsibility. No one 'blames' more than Canadians. Everything must be 'leveled' and no one is incompetent.

Mary Catherine, Elmhurst, USA

I lived in Japan back in the late 80's and 90's and knew a lot about Jap. culture. Somehow many factors contributed to the change -- stress over conformity to tradition; new-found "rights" concepts adopted from the West; decaying morals-- you are watching the fall of the godless society.

Arlene Meyer, Tampa, USA

As an English teacher in a private school in South Korea I am well aware of this type of thing happening. When we report on the children at the end of each month we MUST lie and make everything nice and sugercoated. The directors are afriad of the truth and the parents wont listen to the truth.

Race Braxton, Jeonju, South Korea

Took the David Paul training course in Hiroshima in 2005. EFL for children. On the basis of 20 years' experience teaching adults in Japan, my view is that Japanese boys (girls, ok) have to be taught classroom manners before they can begin to learn English. But if you ever need a vision of Hell ...

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

Okay so the parents win and there are 27 Snow Whites. Now none of the children has the lead in the play. No dwarfs, no witch....not a Snow White play. Stupid parents.

Cindy Sewell, TX, USA

Blame the employers looking for wanting to look at all 15 years of an applicants educational history from kindergarten to university, to determine who they should recruit. Playing Snow-white in a school play may make all the difference to getting a life-long job with a Japanese corporation.

Michael, Edinburgh,

i am an american who is living in japan and i have a child at a japanese school. i am the one who is appoligising to the teachers for my child's missbehavior in the class room,since it is my fault that my child doesn't behave properly in school. so far, i have not encountered these monster parents.

a, okinawa, japan,

what happened in the play? was it like some sick twisted psychological thriller by school kids as Snow White? so was this also girl only? did the boys get to be Snow White too? i am actually very intrigued now...

james, norwich, United Kingdom

I am a student, and this infuriates me. A phrase commonly heard in the US is "Helicopter Parent", used to describe a parent who does everything for their child and tries to do make everything easier for their child. These parents go too far, however. There is a limit between parenting and obsession.

Alexandra, Stow, USA

Rather than giving in to these parents, the school should have cancelled the play. A play with 27 Snow Whites is absurd. These parents are teaching poor values to their kids Parents need to support and work with their schools; not try to control them.
How very sad.

Dave Sneed, Castle Rock, Colorado, U.S.A.

Monster parents is an excellent name for them. I call them 'parents gone wild' in my new book Attacking our Educators. What is happening all over the world and is an epidemic in England is a shame. Teaching is not for the weak. www.stoppingschoolviolence.com

Derek Randel, Chicago, USA

I would have been pretty upset if I were one of those kids--forget Snow White, I would have wanted to be the Wicked Witch!!

Kari, Central California, USA

If the "monster" parents wanted to really help their chiidren, they would spend their time volunteering at school and helping the teachers. Instead, they sit around whining and plotting. They are teaching their children to bully their way through life, acting on impulse rather than careful thought.

bridget cooper, east lansing, usa

This problem makes many great teachers find other jobs. It hurts the public school systems greatly. It is amazing how many times my wife gets harrased because she "singles out" a child for bad behavior. Teenage students often lie about a situation and the parents believe them, not the teachers

Danny, Kentucky, U.S.

Emotions run amok! As a therapist, I am continually assisting individuals to use logic when "irrational thought patterns" take over. This article clearly demonstrates this point. These groups of parents are blindly accepting each others belief systems without first assessing their own values.

Brian Newbury, Center Ossipee, USA

My God. The USA has exported the worst of everything to the world. We have even corrupted Japan. Soon, they will be buying their term papers just like our students who cheat their way through school.

Fred, Ailanta, USA

Well, we no longer have to worry about the vaunted Japanese educational system.

Paul Schulte, Gilbert, AZ, USA

Here's one more example of the Japanese adopting an American idea and making their own. They have outdone us again. What's next for them? Obesity?

J Gornell, New Jersey, USA

If the Japanese persist with this they will loose the best teachers (those who always have other options). Once this spiral starts their excellent education will be over, leaving it no better than the bottom end schools in the USA or UK.

Brencis, JHB, South Africa

I can't imagine anything like that happening in the U.S.A. and whoever says that doesn't have a kid in public schools. We are raising a bunch of kids who have a sense of entitlement, but teachers are not harrassed like that. I can't imagine a school play with 25 snow whites. That's absurd.

Lola, D.C., USA

As a teacher (in the derided American school system) I've found that monster parents succeed if spineless administrators let them. Monster parents are bullies who've discovered that in our Jerry-Springer-everyone's-a-victim culture yelling and whining works. And it does, but only if admin lets them

alice, Salado, tx/us

Just one more example of political correctness run amuk.

Erwin Rommel, Oakland, CA, usa

With often only one child per family and an intensive amount of competition within Japanese society, I don't doubt many parents are willing to commit acts of terror to get their child ahead. A pity these "Monster Parents" couldn't turn their fury on School Bulling to better effect.

S Dudley, Pasadena, USA

Oh I forgot Canada is so perfect and thier parenting flawless--this is a problem of other countries. But its ok just blame America for everything than no one has to take responsibility for their personal actions

S. Lee, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA

Here's a solution: have the school administrators grow a spine.

The next time a teacher is mobbed by angry parents---have the police arrest the parents for simple assault/disturbing the peace/whatever.

Prosecute! Sue! This foolishness will end--IF the adminstrators have the will. If not...

Donald Smith, Tucson, USA

I Grew up on 3 acres of land, When I was 5 I learned to cut it by a push mower, the U.S.A. needs to stop being pussies so we can take the lead again, the only reason i am posting is because the ill comments toward the U.S.A. , we have our probs. so lets take care of it. Enough blaming let's go m28

mike, nsb, u.s.a.

@pam (ft. worth), I've noticed that disappointment is no longer something a parent will tolerate. My wife and I have observed this among her friends. the moms are more concerned with how to orchestrate success than teaching their kids the life skill of dealing with disappointment. How unfortunate.

K. McNamara, Dallas, USA

This happens in the US all the time. They now preach equal opportunity in schools so that everyone can join a team regardless of ability. Grades are no longer the students fault, but the teachers.
What happens when teachers just care about covering their asses instead of teaching our children?

Sara, Webster , USA

The parents don't realize what they have instilled in those kids by insisting the whole lot win the part. What a blow for common sense. Society has been dealing with the silly mentality that nobody loses because it will hurt someone's feelings. That is from communist/socialist thinking.

Sharon, San Marcos, USA

If you are reading this, then please take a couple minutes to read "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut. Short story, little words.

Life is not fair. Abilities are different in each person. You have a choice of growing stronger, or withering.

Jubal, Los Alamos, NM, USA

The sad part about this is that its not only happening in Japan. This happens in the USA as well. This trend of parents who enable their children to grow up weak and expect the world for nothing started with todays young adults. I can not imagine what these youngsters will be like as adults.

Mindy, Kansas City, USA

This is one of the most frightening and sickening things I have ever read. I cannot even imagine what these children will be like as adults.

Lea, CA, usa

Parents want to shield their children from any emotional hurt, but that's doing the kids a disservice... because once they get into the real world, they WILL have to deal with hurt, and they won't be equipped to do so.

Megan, USA,

The comments here are very interesting. I love how we have a story about monster parents in Japan and somehow it's the USA's fault. Is anybody else getting a little tired of the "blame America first" mentality out there?

Jan, St. Louis, USA

Wow, does this echo what is happening in the US! I work in the schools, and militant parents are everywhere, waving threats of lawsuits in front of financially-strapped school districts to get what they want, instead of trusting the professionals to provide their child what they truly need.

Greg, Ocean, NJ,

How sad that this has already taken place in the Far East! Nothing more than the victim complex linked together with the entitlement mentality. Just like here in the U.S.!

Henry, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Ridiculous. Children mustn' t be kings: at school, teacher is the boss. This is a bad way of educating your son. If he doesn' t learn to apologize, he will never be humble but only vain, and when the first heavy failure will go on, he won' t be able to confront the ordeal...

Alban, London,

I envy people who have the free time to terrorize their children's teachers.

Write a song, bake a cake, read a book.

Basil White, Washington, DC, USA

this is absolutely ridiculous for grown-ups to act like this. we
will soon have no caring and compassionate teachers left, because they will be so tired of dealing with these awful parents.
what's happened with children learning respect and disappointment.

pam, ft. worth, usa

I think it is simply part of the 'last days', where all kinds of bad things will/are already happening: floods, fires, earthquakes, murders, etc., that is foretold of in the Bible and other scriptures(also a brakdown of the family, society, etc.

Gay Michaelis, Woods Cross, United States of America

Somehow America or American culture will be blamed for the poor behavior of these Japanese Parents because this is much easier for people to do than to take responsibility for their own actions.

powell, Waverly, US

Japan has finally become completely Americanized. Our cancer is spreading the world over. We (USA) have lost all direction and sensibility.

dave r, ft. worth, texas, usa

Unfortunately these sorts of antics DO work. We're so interested in being politically correct these days that common sense has gone right out the window. What does this sort of thing teach children about the real world? Absolutely nothing. It's no wonder each generation is worse than the one before.

Kelly, Saint Joseph, Michigan, United States

xhunter and Shelley,

while the problem exists in America, I've visited Canada and seen the same problem. Its not a North American issue or a Japanese issue. i'm sure the UK has the same problem as does the EU. Lets not single out one country.

Thanks.

Gracie, Cary , North Carolina

wow. Japan is really taking a play right from the U.S. playbook. Once again, no one can take responsibility for their child because of course, their child can do no wrong.

Shelley, detroit, United States

This is absolutely a much more emphasized version of the american problem where they seem to think children are the left leg of Jesus and should be revered as such. You weren't raised that way, neither should your kids be. What was good for you is good for them.

XHunter, Moncton, Canada

I think a good way to stop these "monster" parents, especially those who assault or hound teachers, is to automatically suspend their children from school for a year.

Sam, Wichita KS, USA

It has been going on in the U.S. for some time now. My wife is an 8th grade public school teacher. She is always being harrassed by parents who think there young teenager does no wrong. It has come to the point where we now have insurance to protect us from getting sued by parents.

Danny, Kentucky, U.S.

Terrible idea! They can't frighten a company into hiring their little darling or bully a district manager into giving their grown child a raise or be forced to resign. I've seen parents try bullying schools here. It's a bad lesson to teach kids - they can scream their way to success. Doesn't work

cloudberry, Ft Worth , Texas.

The Japanese have always been about 10 years behind the US in terms of cultural behavior, so this should come as no surprise; American parents pull the same stunts on a daily basis. The difference here is that if a mob of angry parents were screaming in my face, a few of them would get punched.

Valannin, Gotham, US

It's called Americanization.

JOHN CHUCKMAN, Toronto, Canada

So where's the photo of all these Snow Whites onstage?THAT's what I want to see.

Jemi, Concord, NH, USA

While in the US it is not quite this extreme, I fear we are moving in that direction. As it stands, the teachers and administration have no power in the schools- they have to bend to the whim of each parent protecting his/her "precious, perfect, innocent angel."

Cassie, Murfreesboro, USA

there is only one Snow White, just as there is only one winner and one loser. these parents need to "get over themselves", just as they need to get over their little "bundles of joy". Just wait for when these spoiled, socially inept brats grow up. It will be over for them and their insane parents.

james lewis, Tampa, FL, USA