Does anybody else think that schools are guilty of using the same lead parts in plays too much

[ifeelsleepy]

Hi
I have noticed at my ds's school that the same children tend to get the lead parts in school plays alot.
Although I realise that teachers are likely to pick children they know they can rely on to do the part surely others should be given more of a chance on this.
I have seen many a child who has done a fantastic job with their lines on the rare occasion they have been picked, but they are never chosen again and the same ones seem to be chosen all of the time.
I do not mean to sound like a jealous mom and I know some of you may be htinking that of me but my ds actually got a talking part the once and he delivered his lines beautifully and I couldn,t believe it even the teacher commented how well he did.
I have been disppoitnted ever since that he has not been given the opportunity to show this unexpected part of him again.
Most plays I have been to he has been stuck at the back in a low key role etc.
Just wondering if anybody has had the same thoughts on this sort of thing.

[Beetroot]

[Loriycs]

yes, ive noticed this with both the primary schools my children have attended

[Cynthia32]

Ooh whats that smile for Beetroot?

[Beetroot]

I teach drama

[ifeelsleepy]

Thanks hope nobody goes to town on me calling me a jealous mom.

[Cynthia32]

Ah I see, I thought you were implying you were a mother who's children always get chosen everytime.

[Hecate]

A lot? How many plays do they do in your school? Only one or 2 a year here.

[ifeelsleepy]

I just think the teachers are so guilty of not giving children more of an opportunity to shine, and take the safest bet with the most intelliegient children in the class those with a bit more maturity.

[PuppyMonkey]

I have no prob with kids shining at what they do best. But i agree, the same kids at our skool always get picked. So how can you know if there's a little star who normally hides in the background and so never gets picked - but would be fabulous on stage.

Grr. this make me v. angry actually. My dd never gets picked because she has a "quiet voice." But when she gets to know folk she is hilarious and a v.good mimic etc. Always has her friends in stitches. Teachers never see this. They just give the part to the same old blonde girl. Even Snow White.

[ifeelsleepy]

Loads at my ds's school.

[taipo]

In my dd's last school play the girl who had the lead part (and it was a massive part) also did a turn on the flute. Oh and she also happens to be top of the class in all the tests they do. Dd was part of the crowd and had no speaking part at all.

[Not jealous at all emoticon]

[taipo]

but maybe a little miffed

[ifeelsleepy]

What I have noticed is that the ones that are picked are those children who are regarded as a bit more advanced intellectualy sorry if I have spelt that wrong.
It just seems a little unfair.

[ifeelsleepy]

Yes I am sure that there loads of children in my ds's class that have never been picked who would be capable of giving a fantastic performance.
Sometimes its the more innocent not so bright ones that give the best ammusing performance.

[Loriycs]

i dont think you can compare sports day with a school play. With sports day all the children compete and so have a fair chance, and its about trying to win after all.Therefore fair game. school play is not about winning, it IS the taking part and the kids are picked by the teachers.

[Loriycs]

i dont think you can compare sports day with a school play. With sports day all the children compete and so have a fair chance, and its about trying to win after all.Therefore fair game. school play is not about winning, it IS the taking part and the kids are picked by the teachers.

[Mercy]

My dd is one of those children.

She and 2 other children are always chosen to be the narrators in assemblies, plays etc.

She's not happy about it either - she'd much rather be one of the billy goats or a sweetcorn for a change. She does feel under pressure to get it right tbh.

[unwiseowl]

How funny - just thinking the same thing.

Ds did a school play last night and a Leavers assembly today. Funnily it was almost exactly the same children who had the big parts in the play who had the talky bits in the assembly. I had blithely assumed the teachers would try to pick the children who hadn't had much to do in the play to do the bigger assembly parts but instead it was very clear that some children are stars and others are just the also-rans.

[charmkin]

ditto malory

[unwiseowl]

That didn't come out like I meant - I don't think they are stars or also-rans it just seems that they appear to be categorised like that by some teachers.