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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

is the school being mean or am I being pfb

87 replies

brighton9 · 24/09/2013 09:42

So my dds school runs a drama club for year 5 and year 6. Good so far. However they hold auditions for places as the club performs at the end of the year to the whole school.
Dd went for an autition with 8 of her class mates and she was the only one not to geta place.
Aibu to think that they should be able to find something for each child wanting to be involved.
I can understand auditions for secondary aged children but these arr primary aged children.
Or am I being pfb.

OP posts:
ReallyTired · 24/09/2013 21:08

Karoleann 90% of primary school children can't act or sing. They have never been taught.

RhondaJean · 24/09/2013 21:12

This is cruel because it is not difficult to find a play which would have enough walk on parts/crowd scenes/ chorus songs for everyone to be involved.

It doesn't HAVE to be like a sports team where there are limited spaces and one team wins so obviously you want the best players in the team.

And as others said there's behind the scenes work too. There are plenty of ways to involve everyone who wants to be.

Hulababy · 24/09/2013 21:14

A drama club should be run effectively enough to be able to find parts for any child wishing to be involved - and just use auditions for the main parts.

DD has been involved in a drama and theatre company since she was 5y and every single child who wants to be involved is included. Same happened at her primary school, same happens at my school. I am a voluntary director at the company now and totally believe in the ethos.

Inclusion is what drama is all about - including every one, finding something to match an individual's particular skill or aptitude, and investing time to develop those areas that need a bit more work. Drama is there to develop confidence -or should be.

What a shame the school are labelling 9-11 year olds already and not using their drama to help all rather than just looking at the glory of producing a big show at the end.

uselessinformation · 24/09/2013 21:17

My ds attends a local drama club/school. They put on a very professional summer show and auditions are held for main parts, but everyone gets to be in the ensemble if they want. There are probably 50 children in the shows. I don't see why a school can't do that.

Hulababy · 24/09/2013 21:18

Karolann - I disagree entirely. Any decent drama group should be able to develop a willing child's abilities and teach them skills to enhance their on stage performance. Besides there are so many parts - big and small, in front of and behind the curtains - any decent drama group teacher/leader should be able to manage to find something for all children to do in a show.

I work in Y2 and last year organised the end of year show. 90 children aged 6-7 years old. Every single one had a part. It's not hard to be inclusive.

coffeewhitenosugar · 24/09/2013 21:22

I also think that every child should be included if they want to be - I was told at secondary school that I shouldn't be in a class assembly as I was too shy - up to that point I was a bit shy but was fine being up on stage and enjoyed being in the school productions but after that my confidence was completely dented and it is only now 30 years later that I'm finding my public speaking feet again. I really think it is such a shame when children are turned down for these things, I'm sorry for your dd op.

phantomnamechanger · 24/09/2013 21:31

In DDs year there was a girl whose mum thought she was a fluent reader. One time in their class assembly her DD had a significant amount of reading to do - it was actually painful to watch her struggle to read a piece she had written herself and practiced a lot, and have to be prompted so much by her peers. I did wonder whether the teacher had done it to make an obvious point to the mother that her DD was actually well below average for the year!

What I'm saying is that sometimes because we love our DC we have an over optimistic view of their strengths and skills in comparison to others. Just look at all he wannabes on BGT/X factor and the like - have their parents never told them they really cant sing and they should try their hand at something else instead?

OP, it sounds unfair, but I would not mind betting there is something more to this, unless you think your child is for some reason being singled out unfairly? I cant see why in drama groups all comers cannot somehow be accommodated, as others have said, - I do think choirs or sports teams are obviously a different matter, if you need quality not quantity.

Golferman · 24/09/2013 21:35

What I'm saying is that sometimes because we love our DC we have an over optimistic view of their strengths and skills in comparison to others. Just look at all the wannabes on BGT/X factor and the like - have their parents never told them they really can't sing and they should try their hand at something else instead? it is quite evident on MN with some parents.

0utnumbered · 24/09/2013 22:26

YANBU. Surely the point of having a drama club is for children who have taken an interest in drama to learn and improve? Maybe hold auditions for the production so that everyone gets a part that suits them but for the club is just silly! I first started dance classes for fun when I was little then started to compete at competitions when I learned how to dance well! The logic behind this was that they didn't want a child to go to a competition and be made a fool out of which is understandable but no one is going to get better without the opportunity to be taught!

Fairenuff · 24/09/2013 22:52

they hold auditions for places as the club performs at the end of the year to the whole school

Do you mean that the club has limited places and your dd failed to get in or that they were giving out parts and she didn't get one?

MrsGarlic · 24/09/2013 23:15

I do think it is a bit mean to only exclude one. I well remember being the only girl in the year not considered good enough for the choir (this was in primary school). I had to spend my Thursday lunchtimes with the boys, which was fine as they were a nice lot, but way to make me feel different and singled out. I auditioned every year for three years and was never given a place. I know I can't sing that well, but to be the ONLY one...?!

ToffeeCaramel · 24/09/2013 23:23

I think every child should have the opportunity to play some part in a play, or stage hand/musician if they would like to do this instead. I definitely think all children should be allowed to join a school choir too. It was selective when i was a child, but i didn't think schools did that any more. Ours is anyone who wants to join and they sound lovely to me.

ToffeeCaramel · 24/09/2013 23:24

YANBu by the way and YANBPFB

ToffeeCaramel · 24/09/2013 23:26

The choir was a big thing in my primary school and I remember a friend of mine who wasn't allowed in being quite sad about it and saying she had always wished she could sing. :-(

Original poster
brighton9 · 25/09/2013 04:35

Thank you. She has always taken part in previous plays at schoolsoo. Not leading roles but ok. Singing and dancing too ok but not leading lady material. There was a restrictionic on numbers hence auditions. Only a few didn't make it but they are on a reserve list.

OP posts:
Therealamandaclarke · 25/09/2013 07:32

YANBU.

YouTheCat · 25/09/2013 07:41

There is a restriction on numbers. Drama clubs are always oversubscribed and the restrictions are probably due to staff:child ratios.

It's a pity your dd didn't get a place but sometimes life is like that. Schools can't just magic up more places as that requires more staff to give up their time for free.

SoupDragon · 25/09/2013 07:46

There was a restrictionic on numbers hence auditions

There is your answer then.

YouTheCat · 25/09/2013 08:01

And she wasn't the only child not chosen. She was the only one amongst her friends. I'd bet there were plenty of others who didn't get a place.

Fairenuff · 25/09/2013 08:09

Well that's different then isn't it. At first it seemed like your dd auditioned for a role in the play and was the only one not to get a part, which is why posters were saying, crowd scene, etc.

But actually, all that has happened is that the club is oversubscribed and she, together with other children, didn't get in this year. Maybe they gave priority to some children who didn't get in last time.

In that case I would say that YABU.

Original poster
brighton9 · 25/09/2013 08:21

Obviously now I know this I feel differently.

OP posts:
LittlePeaPod · 25/09/2013 08:26

Isn't the whole point if auditioning the fact there are a limited number of places? Why hold auditions if every child can get a place? Just for the fun of it? Confused As I said before YABU.

Original poster
brighton9 · 25/09/2013 08:53

I didn't realise auditions were due to a restriction on places. Now ii know I feel differently. I guess its hard with an oversubscribed club

OP posts:
ReallyTired · 25/09/2013 09:27

I think that at the tender age of nine/ten/ eleven that pulling names from a hat is the kindest way of restricting numbers for a club. (Prehaps some places can be reserved for children who missed out previously.)

I feel that primary school is too young for a child to "fail" an autition.

Backtobedlam · 25/09/2013 09:35

YANBU-I think at this young age everyone should be given an opportunity. If they don't get the chance to even be involved, there's no way they're going to improve and be able to get a part another time. I may be in the minority, but I also don't think that only the best should be chosen for school sports teams. Anyone that excels at drama/sport will surely join an out of school group that is more competative anyway, school is for learning, nurturing and improving, not just winning.