to want to ban nativity plays

[whatkatydidathome]

OK I know that it gives the children the chance to go on stage but it seems ridiculous now. Unless you have a lead part most rehersal time is spent being bored. Our children appear to be effectively missing 2 weeks of schooling as the whole place appears to revolve around rehersals, they come home exhausted (how can a 4 year old be expected to put on 4 preformances in a week??) and most of the kids are wearing outfits from ASDA which were probably made by children smaller than they are.

Wouldn't it be better if we just all stuck a tenner in an envelope and posted it to a children's charity and then just got our little darlings to reherse once and then sing a few carols with a bit of tinsle on their hair?

Because the primary school curriculum is so essential that 2 weeks out is devastating.

"Because the primary school curriculum is so essential that 2 weeks out is devastating." well it suddenly appears so as soon as you want to go on holiday in term time

I kind of agree - DS1 only has one line and is thoroughly bored with all the rehersals. He is also upset as is playing "a child" so has to wear his own clothes from home, which does not constitute a "costume" in his eyes. Having said all that, I do love them, I always get teary

piprabbit yes there are other ways to involve older children in Christmas but from what you say the younger ones do the carols and the play, whereas the older ones don't do a Christmas-related play apart from backstage stuff. I wonder why older children take part in Christmas-related drama so much less than younger children. I still think it puts across that the Christmas story in its purest form is something that you grow out of.

YANBU where the school nativity is run by teachers with no experience in drama etc.

If it was run by drama specialists, the children would NOT be bored, they would be facilitated to be contributing all the time, rehearsals would be about them contributing, understanding what they were doing, learning listening, speaking skills etc, and it would be a group effort, not stars and walk-ons.

However drama teachers are edged out of schools, the old advisory service and teachers centres that used to offer INSET and training on such matters have been abolishe long ago, and the ConDems approach to the arts will push any value to be gained from proper engagement with drama and theatre even further down the agenda.

madamdstare: lol; a hairy what? isn't there a law against it? in front of children too!!!

Should be banned for nurseries. The children just aren't old enough to do it. It means weeks of telling the children "don't do that", "do this", badgering parents telling children off for being bored of doing something boring, all for 20 minutes of children on a stage not saying their lines between songs. Christmas at a nursery isn't nearly as fun as it should be.

I think my DDs school got it about right:

Yr2s acted the nativity, the younger infants providing chorus.

Juniors did carol concert. Then in summer they did a musical play (NOT Disneyfied!) with yr6 acting and younger juniors who were in the choir singing.

This maximised chance of every child performing during their school career in a manageable fashion.

when i was little my mum was working when my 1st school play was on - i felt so lonely with all the other parents there to watch & noone for me.

it wasn't so usual then for both parents to work.

makes me realise why i sit through some school 'events'

Yabu my DCs love taking part. They also re use their costumes many times at home putting on plays that DH and I have sit through over and over again. So think yourself lucky you only have to suffer once .

Do you actually have any concrete evidence that Asda use child labour in their clothes production.

yanbu
There is no learning purpose to them at all. None - except the challenge of memorising a few carols.

It involves hours of time wasted in the hall doing a story that means nothing to half the kids, driving them into even more of a frenzy than they are already.

oh no, I love nativities. Yes, rehearsals can be hard work and v boring at times but always worth it for the fantastic performance at the end of it.

And I have never been to a nativity where some children don't have parts, whether they are animals or members of the band or stars or talking parts or narrators.

I am surprised some of you think there is no worth in memorising a role, memorising a story, playing your part in a team event, helping with costumes, helping to advertise (we have great posters up all round the school), helping to invite people.

You unimaginative bunch.

And the huge enjoyment they bring to all the older children who watch the rehearsals. I have never yet met an older kid who doesn't love a nativity to bits.

madamdstare: i think we may be singing from the same carol songsheet here...

Sat through our nativity today, 3 shows, 1 for reception, y1 & y2, where y2 narrate the nativity and y1 and recep act it out. 2o min ish
2nd play yrs 3 & 4 40 mins
3 rd play y5 & y6 40 mins also (!!)
Very cute though and enjoyed by all, also managed to hear my DD (6) snort out with laughter when a year 3 boy said 'where is your Ox and Ass' in his play

Also had to clentch bum very hard when a year 6 boy said to a year 6 girl. 'Thats a nice muff' It was a russian style play.

ooer, comrade

lol

So that will be a lesson about patience then?

"It involves hours of time wasted""