AIBU to think primary schools should not audition children for choirs?

Because she got a solo at a singing group where they all take turns at doing solos?

The poster you quoted didn't say they were her views

@LovelyBranches isn't in a wheelchair.

DD has never had a single bad word said about her behaviour. In fact we had parents evening recently and her teacher said she is one of the best behaved. DD has a physical disability and has needed assistance during the time she’s been at school because she used to use a wheelchair and every teacher has always said what a kind and polite child she is.

Used to use a wheelchair.

Ok so then the choir decision has absolutely nothing to do with her wheelchair?

You are misinterpreting the poster @LovelyBranches .

Did the school actually audition the children?
Might she be too good for the choir? (she might be a budding Charlotte Church/Katherine Jenkins/Catherine Zeta Jones)
Might your daughter have been left out because of long absences for medical reasons?

Might your daughter have been left out because of her being in a wheelchair?

I'd clarify with the school and deal with it with then.

It would have helped if you'd not have drip-fed the details.

But that should, if anything, make it easier for them both to accept that, this time, she wasn't chosen for a specific thing. No one is suggesting she's bad at singing, only that, this time, it was other children's turn.

Unfortunately, this is life, sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.

But her daughter has external confirmation that she is good at singing

@LovelyBranches does your DD use a wheelchair now?

I had read your posts about the wheelchair as being in the past tense - ie she has been a wheelchair user, but isn’t anymore. If so a lot of posters are barking up the wrong tree.

I think you are misinterpreting what I'm saying completely. My opinion is the complete opposite! You have latched onto that phrase without understanding what I was trying to get across.

Of course I'm not saying a wheelchair would ruin the 'look' of a choir! I'm saying that by excluding your daughter, this is what the school's view possibly could be. Hence their reason for not selecting her. It's discriminatory.
If you read my posts, I am completely on your side Op.

If the school is generally accommodating with her wheelchair then I wouldn't personally jump to the conclusion that either they are suddenly happy to not accommodate her or to go along with a TV show who suggest to leave a child out because of her wheelchair. Especially without saying something to OP.

I suspect it is purely down to numbers and the TV show wanting majority older children which is why Year 6 didn't have to audition.

I agree OP. I know there is an argument to say that kids need to learn that they won’t get everything in life. But all that they are learning is disappointment and exclusion. If they had auditions then she’s been rejected, there’s no other way for her to feel. Kids don’t really have the capacity to process that like adults can.

I can remember a lot of disappointments when I was at school, either mine or my peers. I was chosen for some stuff and it was incredible, but I don’t think it was very fair.

Oh dear, you sound like the first mother to complain if the choir was crap. People need to realise no matter how much your child likes something doesn’t mean they are going to be good at it. My oldest loved singing at the top of his voice it was awful so we just joked for him not to give up his day job. Children need to know their limits or is it the parents need to know.

Actually I hate to say it but do you think the wheelchair was a factor? Dreadful but people can still be awkward about wheelchairs. I think it’s worth an email to the sch Saying what could she practice. Meanwhile tell her you know she is good. Does she know what the other two are like at singing.

I agree and 3 out of a group of 15 members of a choir is in my view, a singling out - for exclusion.

But if that was the case they should explain that to her.

This has actually brought back a memory - my children play competitive sport. My daughter is one of the best in the year in her sport and in year 10 she didn’t get picked for this big tournament. SHe was devastated. Teacher was away and she couldn’t ask why she wasn’t picked. I didn’t want to be that parent as everyone is suggesting and complaining. She had to stay in school where everyone drove off without her.

eventually she was so down about it I wrote in to the head of sport and said, look can you explain to her why didn’t get picked. The head of sport was baffled and was like, ‘she was supposed to be there’ - let me investigate.

turns out she has been left off the list accidentally.

gutted honestly. She would have loved to have gone and I’ve kicked myself ever since for not entrusting my instinct and asking.

I know I’m down with the flu and all but I re-read the post and I still don’t see where disability is mentioned?

If she wants to work in the arts and entertainment she’ll be dealing with many, many rejections through her life.

At 9 years old it’s not an unreasonable age to understand not everyone gets picked. Would you feel the same if this was a painting competition etc?

This thread is frustrating. It's obvious so many posters are just commenting without having read Op's posts properly. So many just giving their opinions without even realising the Op's daughter is disabled.
And not a drip feed either. She mentions this right at the start of the thread and it's mentioned throughout.

The worst part is they will take this attitude into High School, eg how dare they not put me in Set 1 for Maths, Mum'll be there to whine for me and when I don't pass my driving test, get a First Class Honours degree etc etc. she'll be there. I used to have a few pupils on the junior books of a very high profile Premier League football team but I only recall one of them eventually playing for the first team, the others were taken on by lesser teams and have gradually disappeared into obscurity. That's life.

Stop wrapping your child in cotton wool. the whole world can't revolve around your child. If she really wants to go into theatre she is going to face rejection on a weekly basis. You are not doing her any favours here OP.

20 in the year, 15 auditioned and 3 interested auditionees were excluded. It wouldn't have made any difference to the disinterested 5 who didn't audition in the first place.

Like another poster mentioned above, I suspect that it has something to do with the wheelchair - possibly access arrangements, not having enough teachers to look after op's child or worst-case scenario, having a wheelchair on TV would spoil the 'look' of the choir. If the first two reasons then it should at least be explained to Op's daughter. The third reason shouldn't even be entertained.