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NeverSeconds blogger Martha Payne 'banned' from taking school dinner photos | NeverSeconds blogger Martha Payne 'banned' from taking school dinner photos |
(40 minutes later) | |
A nine-year-old girl who became an internet hit after blogging about her school dinners claims she has been banned from taking photographs of her meals. | A nine-year-old girl who became an internet hit after blogging about her school dinners claims she has been banned from taking photographs of her meals. |
Martha Payne, from Argyll, began publishing photographs of her school canteen lunches on 30 April. | Martha Payne, from Argyll, began publishing photographs of her school canteen lunches on 30 April. |
Her NeverSeconds blog got more than two million hits in just a few weeks. | Her NeverSeconds blog got more than two million hits in just a few weeks. |
She gave each meal a 'food-o-meter' and health rating, and counted the number of mouthfuls it took her to eat it. | She gave each meal a 'food-o-meter' and health rating, and counted the number of mouthfuls it took her to eat it. |
But in a post published on Thursday evening, Martha said her headteacher told her not to take any more photographs for the blog. | But in a post published on Thursday evening, Martha said her headteacher told her not to take any more photographs for the blog. |
Under the headline "Goodbye", the post stated: "This morning in maths I got taken out of class by my head teacher and taken to her office. I was told that I could not take any more photos of my school dinners because of a headline in a newspaper today. | Under the headline "Goodbye", the post stated: "This morning in maths I got taken out of class by my head teacher and taken to her office. I was told that I could not take any more photos of my school dinners because of a headline in a newspaper today. |
"I only write my blog not newspapers and I am sad I am no longer allowed to take photos. I will miss sharing and rating my school dinners and I'll miss seeing the dinners you send me too." | "I only write my blog not newspapers and I am sad I am no longer allowed to take photos. I will miss sharing and rating my school dinners and I'll miss seeing the dinners you send me too." |
The council's decision to impose the ban came after the Daily Record newspaper published a photograph of Martha alongside chef Nick Nairn under the headline "Time to fire the dinner ladies.." | |
Charity blog | |
Martha had been using the blog - which she started with the help of her father Dave - to raise money for the Mary's Meals charity. | |
An explanatory note posted on the blog by her father read: "Martha's school have been brilliant and supportive from the beginning and I'd like to thank them all. | |
The decision, according to her father, was not taken by the school, which has been very supportive, but by the Argyll and Bute council. | The decision, according to her father, was not taken by the school, which has been very supportive, but by the Argyll and Bute council. |
It's not quite clear why - perhaps there is a ban on taking photos inside schools, or maybe there is some concern about the damage to the reputation of the school meals service. | It's not quite clear why - perhaps there is a ban on taking photos inside schools, or maybe there is some concern about the damage to the reputation of the school meals service. |
I prefer to think there is another explanation - and that this is all a cunning plan by the councillors to draw attention to their beautiful region with its dramatic coastline, and fine cuisine. | I prefer to think there is another explanation - and that this is all a cunning plan by the councillors to draw attention to their beautiful region with its dramatic coastline, and fine cuisine. |
It seems to be working - the case of the banned blog is rapidly becoming a cause celebre, with emails, tweets, and presumably phone calls arriving at council headquarters from around the world. | It seems to be working - the case of the banned blog is rapidly becoming a cause celebre, with emails, tweets, and presumably phone calls arriving at council headquarters from around the world. |
"I contacted Argyll and Bute Council when Martha told me what happened at school today and they told me it was their decision to ban Martha's photography. | "I contacted Argyll and Bute Council when Martha told me what happened at school today and they told me it was their decision to ban Martha's photography. |
"It is a shame that a blog that today went through 2 million hits, which has inspired debates at home and abroad and raised nearly £2,000 for charity is forced to end." | "It is a shame that a blog that today went through 2 million hits, which has inspired debates at home and abroad and raised nearly £2,000 for charity is forced to end." |
Mr Payne later told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme his daughter was not happy about the council's decision. | Mr Payne later told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme his daughter was not happy about the council's decision. |
He added: "I can see that the photographs at the start didn't look the most appetising, but Martha marked the last school meal 10 out of 10. | He added: "I can see that the photographs at the start didn't look the most appetising, but Martha marked the last school meal 10 out of 10. |
"I understand that it's brought pressure from around the world and media interest, but that is really out of our control. | "I understand that it's brought pressure from around the world and media interest, but that is really out of our control. |
"But we are very supportive of the school - the fact that she has been encouraged to blog and she got permission to do this is testament to them. | "But we are very supportive of the school - the fact that she has been encouraged to blog and she got permission to do this is testament to them. |
"Everyone in the kitchens has been wonderful to Martha and she enjoys going into lunch every day." | "Everyone in the kitchens has been wonderful to Martha and she enjoys going into lunch every day." |
Martha's blog was featured by media across the globe, with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver tweeting: "Shocking but inspirational blog. Keep going, big love from Jamie x." | Martha's blog was featured by media across the globe, with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver tweeting: "Shocking but inspirational blog. Keep going, big love from Jamie x." |
Among the pictures she published was one featuring her £2 lunch of a pizza slice, a croquette, sweetcorn and a cupcake. | Among the pictures she published was one featuring her £2 lunch of a pizza slice, a croquette, sweetcorn and a cupcake. |
Martha wrote: "I'm a growing kid and I need to concentrate all afternoon and I can't do it on one croquette. Do any of you think you could?" | Martha wrote: "I'm a growing kid and I need to concentrate all afternoon and I can't do it on one croquette. Do any of you think you could?" |
The apparent decision to ban Martha from taking photographs has been criticised by Scotland's Education Secretary Mike Russell. | |
On his Twitter account, the MSP for Argyll and Bute said: "I think the decision is daft and I will be asking the council chief executive to reverse it." | |
Argyll and Bute Council has so far not responded to Martha's claim. | Argyll and Bute Council has so far not responded to Martha's claim. |
But in a statement released last month, it said: "Our school meal provision is fully compliant with nationally agreed nutritional standards. | But in a statement released last month, it said: "Our school meal provision is fully compliant with nationally agreed nutritional standards. |
"Young people make a choice from at least two meals and salad, vegetable, yoghurt and cheese options are available each day." | "Young people make a choice from at least two meals and salad, vegetable, yoghurt and cheese options are available each day." |