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AIBU?

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Original poster

Stupid, bloody "dances" being put on by girls at school

30 replies

Pantone363 · 20/05/2013 20:21

There seems to be a trend at the moment for girls to be allowed to organise and put on dances for the class. It was one occasionally a few terms ago. Today both DD and DS didn't have story time before the end of school because girls in the class had organised a dance to show to everyone.

There's been repeated problems with girls being excluded from dances and it being used to bully and pick on children who are in then out then in then out.

Where is the educational value? Some of the songs the year 6s are using are utterly inappropriate for a primary school. I've spoken to one teacher who seemed to agree but said once they'd said yes once it was unfair to say no to others.

AIBU to think the school should just say a blanket NO from now on?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pantone363 · 20/05/2013 20:23

The school repeatedly tell us how important it is to read to the children...and then they miss out on having books read to them (some of them probably the only time they get read too) so that little girls can copy some crappy dance off MTV for the class??

OP posts:
ubik · 20/05/2013 20:25

our school insists the dances, are vetted by the head or SMT first - and they are told to practice more/change dance etc

ArtexMonkey · 20/05/2013 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper · 20/05/2013 20:30

Yes, that sounds desperately cringey for all concerned, except the girls involved.

I would ask for it either to be moved after school, or contained to say once a year week or month.

Original poster
Pantone363 · 20/05/2013 20:31

I'm thinking of suggesting they all have one assembly and get to do their dances all at once and then that's it.

Plus it is always the same girls doing a slightly different dance. They do one then organise another. DS is in year1 and even the girls in his class put one on today Hmm

OP posts:
MalcolmTuckersMum · 20/05/2013 20:35

Sounds like it's got way out of hand OP. I'd certainly be saying something - and it's no good them brushing off with "Well we've started it now........" - all that means is "Well, we can't be arsed to do anything about it now........".

It sounds ridiculous to me. Should be a once a term thing at most.

ArtexMonkey · 20/05/2013 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

imaginethat · 20/05/2013 20:39

Our school puts on a show once a year to get all these dances out of the way. The acts are vetted, and many refused, for inappropriate song choice/dress.

DuttyWine · 20/05/2013 20:39

Ooh this sounds exactly the kind of thing my dd would love to be dragged into! My dd is in yr 4 and she makes up lots of dances at playtime. Last year she and her friend did one for the talent show but I made sure it was an appropriate song...

I wouldn't want them to perform them to the class as I agree some kids would feel left out and usually they are not very good! Sometimes when her friends come they make up dances and do a strange kind of makaton where they act out each word with an action! I often have to stifle my giggles when they ask me to watch Grin

Maybe once a month they could pick a group or individual child to show something at the end of the session? They could pick out of a hat so it was fair to all?

LimeLeaffLizard · 20/05/2013 20:41

Never heard of this before. Doesn't seem a good use of class time.

YANBU

Dozer · 20/05/2013 20:41

Urgh. Yanbu.

ThreeBeeOneGee · 20/05/2013 20:42

My children's primary school has a talent show every Christmas. The teachers tend to only put one act of each genre through. So only the best of the countless dance routines gets through, but DS1 and his friends got through with a rather under-rehearsed escapology act because it was unusual.

I remember dance routines (and the associated friendship / clique issues) at primary school, so this is not a new phenomenon.

CloudsAndTrees · 20/05/2013 20:43

I agree it sounds like its got out of hand. There is no need for Y6 children to be doing this in school time, it's what drama and dance lessons and clubs are for.

I think there is some value to it in reception and KS1, it can build confidence, improve physical development, encourage team work, encourage peer support, and if it's a 'show' rather than a dance it helps the children build their understanding of different things as the ideas often come from books and stories. It can be a good way to expand their imagination and sometimes their language development.

Personally, I would disagree with the Hmm you have given for girls in Y1 doing this, but then I work with Early Years so I can find a learning opportunity in just about anything!

WorraLiberty · 20/05/2013 20:45

Are you sure it's just dancing?

My DS's school lets the kids perform whatever they want...singing/dancing/comedy/poetry etc for the rest of the class.

Mind you, I think the only ones interested in performing are the dancers and singers.

bleedingheart · 20/05/2013 20:47

Sounds like it has so much potential for upset -bullying through exclusion etc.
It seems so OTT, why allow it so often? So dull for those watching too.
YANBU

serin · 20/05/2013 20:47

How boring for all the other kids. Is the teacher very inexperienced?

TigOldBitties · 20/05/2013 20:50

I don't think its a current trend as my DS1 is 21 and I remember them doing these sorts of things all the time. I think in the end it became what they did on Friday afternoons while some kids did drawing or whatever and those who wanted to perform or watch performances did that.

I can't see theres massive harm in it, the only negative side would be the bullying but I'm sure the school could resolve that with a bit of organisation. Some kids really enjoy performing, others don't but as long as they aren't interrupting every class I don't see it as an issue.

Sokmonsta · 20/05/2013 22:24

Op yanbu. Dd's reception class went through a phase of this. It was stopped when it became clear that the girls were using it as a way to isolate certain other.

Instead the teacher asked if parents had any CDs they could loan the class as they were going to learn about different genres of music (so they could have more than just the latest tracks) and about movement. They swapped a free play session for the movement session so they didn't lose out on their regular pe lessons.

Permanentlyexhausted · 20/05/2013 22:38

YANBU.

The phrase "Me and x and y want to put on a show" is possibly the one i detest the most during my Brownie meetings. Why on earth would they be getting allowed to do this sort of stuff at school?

gallicgirl · 20/05/2013 22:42

Huh? Shouldn't this take place in PE class?
I can understand the value of public speaking, presentation and debate but this sounds more like a talent show and doesn't belong in the classroom (unless its PE obviously)

MrsKoala · 20/05/2013 22:43

oh god! i remember this from secondary school. There was a group of very showy girls in the year and they were constantly doing dances in the assemblies, at least one per week. These were often buttock clenchingly embarassing as they pranced around doing ill rehearsed moves to songs like Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer.

AmberSocks · 20/05/2013 22:46

YABU

you cant stop kids from doing stuff just in case others feel left out.

PimpMyHippo · 20/05/2013 22:48

I remember this... Even at primary school we would all be cringing! Funny how it was always performed by the cliquey girls who would laugh at the rest of us for not being cool enough - I don't know how they failed to see how cringey their dances were!

Original poster
Pantone363 · 20/05/2013 22:49

Thank you! I just wanted to check I wasn't being a loon before I mentioned it properly tomorrow.

The Hmm about year 1 was mostly because one of the girls came out crying last week because they hadn't had time to do their dance, so time was made to do it today (what should've been story time)

OP posts:
Original poster
Pantone363 · 20/05/2013 22:50

It's not about being left out, that's one aspect of it.

Why should children have to sit and watch crappy dances that have nothing to do with school or education because they think they look cute?

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