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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think teachers need to mix it up a bit

78 replies

DDDDDORA · 17/12/2013 20:45

When choosing children for solo parts. At my dc school it is always the same children chosen to do the solo pieces (songs/reading/acting parts). DD puts her hand up every time that the teacher is deciding who will do what and never gets picked,she is not the only child that this happens to. I understand that not all children want to take the lead but they should at least share it out fairly with those that do.

OP posts:
NotYoMomma · 17/12/2013 20:48

I think it is an unwinnable battle. it happened when I was at school with one of the teachers daughters. she got to be Nancy and the virgin Mary and all the good parts.

just because she could sing and shit Wink Grin

anyway ahem yanbu

Writerwannabe83 · 17/12/2013 20:59

Surely the lead should only be given to those who are capable of it. Just because a child wants to do it doesn't mean they should Hmm

Backtobedlam · 17/12/2013 21:04

I think at primary all children should be given the opportunity-teachers can't possibly know who may shine on the stage at such a young age. Secondary is different and I agree with auditions and best person being given the leading role.

Original poster
DDDDDORA · 17/12/2013 21:07

My DD is capable of doing it and so are most of the children in her year but only the same children are given the parts. How do they prove they are capable if they are never given the opportunity?

OP posts:
Original poster
DDDDDORA · 17/12/2013 21:09

I should have said she is in year 2.

OP posts:
Neverland2013 · 17/12/2013 21:17

I agree. DD is in Y3 and although I think she would love to be picked, it is the older children (DD is the youngest in her class) who are selected. I also see it as an issue and would like to see at least some 'effort' encouraging children to come out of their 'comfort' zone and try something different. They may not be brilliant but how can they gain more confidence if they don't try.

rabbitlady · 17/12/2013 21:19

no, i don't think so. teachers should choose the best for solo parts.

CaptainTripps · 17/12/2013 21:24

Less stress all round to pick pupils who can handle the role / singing / speaking required.

Parents aren't the ones who have all this added performance stress put on them - as nice as your sentiment is.

Original poster
DDDDDORA · 17/12/2013 21:26

How do they know the best if they don't give everyone a chance?

OP posts:
WooWooOwl · 17/12/2013 21:28

Teachers go for the children that will make a nativity play as easy as possible to coordinate and direct. They will have their reasons for choosing who they do, which will be difficult for parents to know about.

WipsGlitter · 17/12/2013 21:29

Every child should get a chance.

MrsGrasshead · 17/12/2013 21:29

yanbu is all I'm going to say.

Goldenbear · 17/12/2013 21:30

YANBU, my DS is more than 'capable' and wanted a talking part but didn't get it. He has had goodish parts two years in a row so I know that he's 'capable' but the fact is I'm not on the PTA, I don't have time to share tales of skiing holidays with the head and other 'brown nosing' activities at the school gates! Low and behold the children of these people are the main leads year in, year out.

I have to laugh at 'capable', i am talking about an 'infant' school, that 4-7 year olds attend- the quality of performances are not profoundly different within that age category.

CaptainTripps · 17/12/2013 21:31

Of course teachers know who can do what. You don't need to put on a performance to find that out. Teachers know their pupils.

Like I said - OP's sentiment is nice but impractical.

Goldenbear · 17/12/2013 21:31

Lo not 'low'.

yorkshirepuddings · 17/12/2013 21:33

Send them to a small school! I remember my DS first infant nativity. The whole of the infants only consisted of about 17 children. They all got a part. There was a shortage of girls and one girl had 3 parts - including Mary. It involved a quick strip off and new costume at the side of the stage.

It was all really sweet and felt quite old fashioned in a way.

Backtobedlam · 17/12/2013 21:34

There lies the problem, it should be what would benefit the child most not what will make the teachers life easier. There could be a child who is shy by nature, but given the opportunity would get a real confidence boost from having a main part. At primary who cares if it's a polished performance, or if a child forgets their lines, most people wouldn't even notice!

CaptainTripps · 17/12/2013 21:47

Wanna bet, bedlam? The pressure of the HT, governors, other staff etc not to mention all the parents coming to watch? No one wants the risk. Easy for you to say it should be about what would benefit the child most not what will make the teachers (sic) life easier - -when you aren't the one running it.

Original poster
DDDDDORA · 17/12/2013 21:54

Overlooked at infant school because it would make the teachers life difficult to pick someone else, how harsh is that! Don't think I'll be telling her that!

OP posts:
WipsGlitter · 17/12/2013 22:01

I really don't think parents coming to watch a child in a nativity are expecting a slick production with west end standards!!

CaptainTripps · 17/12/2013 22:12

If you are referring to me, note I used the words 'less stress'. Please do not attribute words to me I have not said, Dora. And no - I wouldn't advise you telling her nonsense like that.

Backtobedlam · 17/12/2013 22:13

CaptainTripps I come from a family of teachers, and had almost this exact conversation with my father last week (now retired). He said that he'd always make the effort to give every child a chance in class assemblies/school plays and some children really surprised him. SOME teachers may pick the easy option, but please don't assume all do, there are still teachers out there that actually care more about the kids than scoring brownie points with HT, it's just a shame that they seem to be getting fewer and fewer.

Nanny0gg · 17/12/2013 22:16

How do they know the best if they don't give everyone a chance?

They can pretty much judge from how children are in class and class assemblies. The child that hides at the back whenever the class has to do something will hardly leap to the front in a play.

And if a child isn't comfortable performing in front of classmates and other children, why do you think they'll enjoy being to the fore in front of parents?

As long as they all have a part to play (crowd, dancer, orchestra etc) what's wrong with that?

poopadoop · 17/12/2013 22:20

CaptainTripps - I think you exaggerate just how well all teachers know the capabilities of all students. In many cases, they have been teaching them for only 3 months before the play is cast. 'No one wants the risk'. Of what? If pupils are keen and fairly competent then there is little risk. BTW you included two dashes (SIC) in your post.

CaptainTripps · 17/12/2013 22:21

I don't think it's about scoring brownie points. More about managing crazy workload and extra stress from all angles. I am not sure if parents understand the degree of duck paddling going on beneath the water while they are watching in oblivion.
All pupils get their turn on stage ime. And it's true that some pupils cope better with meatier parts such as singing / projecting voices / memorising lines and lines. I don't include acting in that list as that is fairly straightforward. It's the speaking (projecting) and singing which tends to be the key areas.

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