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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why so many teachers take the school Christmas concert so seriously?

89 replies

GlitteryRollers · 08/12/2015 16:25

I'm doing supply at the moment in a school that is taking its Christmas concert so seriously you'd swear they are putting a show in the West End.

Today the head teacher, whom I've already got pegged as a bit of a narcissist, ranted and raved at the whole school during a run through because of the way the way they were getting fidgety (they'd been standing for well over an hour at this point), they didn't have their hands by their sides and they weren't looking happy enough.

It's just seems a bit much really. I've sat through a couple of run throughs already and its completle dirge, which is not the kids fault because they didn't write it. The parents just want to see their kids singing on the stage. They won't care who's not standing on straight, or who's fidgeting, or smiling. They will be focussing on their own DC's.

The difference between this school and the one I was in last xmas is insane. They were much more laid back last year, and as a result it was a better show. I can't help but thinking its all about the teachers and their egos more than anything else. I'm right arent I?

OP posts:

regenerationfez · 08/12/2015 18:02

It doesn't sound like 'so many teachers' from your OP. It sounds like one- the headteacher at your school. So your thread title is BU because it's misleading. Yes, your head sounds like an idiot, but that's not the case with ' so many teachers'. And, some schools do have a performance 'bent'. My DS's school is sporty, so put kids into loads of sports competitions, but the school down the road have full on productions for their assemblies and put on a proper play every Christmas. sent my kid to the wrong school

Original poster

GlitteryRollers · 08/12/2015 18:03

No amysmummy. On a serious note I don't really share the schools ethos and don't think I'd be very happy there. They are too serious, too dour and far too pretentious. Thankfully most schools aren't like that anymore.

OP posts:

K1mberl1 · 08/12/2015 18:11

The teachers at my kids schools put a lot of work into these performances and I have a lot of respect for them . They give up their time at lunchtime and after school to rehearse and it's a great experience for the pupils to take part .

to them and teachers like them

SuburbanRhonda · 08/12/2015 18:12

OP, how about you just make sure you don't do supply there again? Win-win, as no doubt the school will already have picked up on how ill-suited you are to their school.

Your language is pretty vile, too, for a primary school teacher.

Topseyt · 08/12/2015 18:13

I totally agree with you OP, especially if you are talking about primary school.

It is meant to be fun for the children and their parents. Mostly it is, and most teachers are fine, but occasionally you do come across one or two who seem to think they are directing a West End production.

I am not thinking so much of my own children's primary school days (now behind us), but more of my own way back in the early seventies. It was a school which went in for a lot of exhibitionism. They put on so many productions every year that it often seemed as though we did little else. Choir practise and rehearsals were all important, and to be endured rather than enjoyed. It was taken terribly seriously. I hated it, and I wasn't alone. If you weren't a natural for things like that then you didn't really fit in at that school, but it was our catchment primary so there was little choice.

Apparently they are still the same today. It is a school tradition.

pinkhousesarebest · 08/12/2015 18:15

I am a teacher and do agree with you OP. When I taught in the UK, the concert dominated everything from the end of October. Am now in Europe and my dd's class put on an end of year show ( bit of a hobby horse for the teacher who used it as a pretext to opt out of the week long school trip that every other class participated in.) It was two hours long and perfect, but the kids had endured hours of unpleasantness to get it to that standard. My dd learnt nothing from the whole experience.

Needless to say, she changed schools and is now in a drama club where she is having a ball.

roundtable · 08/12/2015 18:18

at a primary school teacher having 'pretty vile' language.

amysmummy12345 · 08/12/2015 18:21

Haha the bad language post made me chuckle! I'm a nursery teacher and I can also say piss, wank, bollocks, cunt, knobjockey and other such profanities. Do I say them at school or anywhere else that might compromise my professional standing? Of course not! Swear on OP 😋

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 08/12/2015 18:26

Absolutely - THIS isn't primary school, it's an adult forum, people are allowed to swear here, doesn't mean they do it AT SCHOOL. Honestly

hazeyjane · 08/12/2015 18:36

Fortunately ds's school are very relaxed about their nativity - everyone works very hard, but there are usually a few who end up on mum's laps, a few costume refusers and lots of very expressive dance from ds's friend. It is a brilliant inclusive school, and everyone gets a chance to get something out of it.

Ds (who is disabled and who had horrendous separation anxiety) has been chosen to lead the donkey out this year (a scooter with ears - it is all very sophisticated) - he will probably need a teacher with him, can't speak (his rendition of little donkey is mainly 'ee ee ee ee eeeeeee' and may refuse to do it at all - but he is very proud of being asked, and I am over the moon.

I think it is good to take it seriously enough for them to take pride in what they do, whilst remembering that it should be fun for them.

MrsDeVere · 08/12/2015 18:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Topseyt · 08/12/2015 18:48

Your language is pretty vile, too, for a primary school teacher.

There are no swear words in the vocabulary of any primary school teachers. Not at all. Did you not all know that.

I would understand that comment if this was a forum aimed at primary school children, but it isn't. It is an adult forum. We can swear like troopers if we want to.

There is a time and a place. I am sure the OP does not stand and swear at any classes she takes, so what is the issue if she does it on here or at home,

Topseyt · 08/12/2015 18:49

That should have ended with a full stop obviously, not a comma.

Disclaimer, I am not a teacher.

winterswan · 08/12/2015 18:50

I wonder that about a fair few teachers MrsDeVere

MrsDeVere · 08/12/2015 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NewLife4Me · 08/12/2015 18:55

You are so right and I couldn't agree more.
My dd school don't do nativity but they do concerts where you'd think they'd be so stressed, pushed and aware of requiring perfection.
However, it's so laid back and dd tells us that rehearsals are just like any other lesson, certainly no teachers getting stressed.
It is a specialist school with many professional performers/ teachers.

However, when all our dc were in state schools it was a whole month of little education and feeding stressed out teachers, who were serious wannabes. The premise is that it's for the children/parents but when the dc are standing around for hours at a time how can it be? It's laughable tbh.

roundtable · 08/12/2015 18:57

That's dreadful Mrs

On a more positive note, I watched a lovely dress rehearsal nativity where the children were encouraged and praised. They had a little boy who has autism and in order to get him up on the stage his one to one adult was dressed up as a sheep so he could lead her up the stage dressed as a shepherd and he cuddled and patted her throughout his scene. That's inclusion at it's best.

roundtable · 08/12/2015 18:57

Its best, sorry.

cardibach · 08/12/2015 18:59

winterswan -unpleasant? How? I simply asked questions, which the OP still hasn't answered. I teach secondary, so it's different, but I aim for high quality in shows as people are paying, for one thing, and for another, children learn something worthwhile when encouraged to be better.
I would never exclude a child with additional needs, though - I'd work with his/her TA or the LS department to find appropriate challenge within the show.

hazeyjane · 08/12/2015 18:59

That is fantastic MrsDeVere!

Ds is in a resource base in a ms school, so it is all just par for the course to have a child in ear defenders, or a boy getting up and krumping to Little Donkey (ds's friend again - he dances at every opportunity!). I love it all crammed into the big church at the end of town, with babies and siblings and the vicar looking thoroughly overwhelmed - no tickets, or sibling bans or different showings - it is bloody lovely.

One of my happiest memories of last year was at sports day when ds's teacher gave him a piggy back over the line when his leg gave way, whilst the whole school cheered his name.

NewLife4Me · 08/12/2015 19:01

MrsD

So pleased for him, I hope you enjoy it.
This is what it should be like, not kids and teachers stressing over it.

MrsDeVere · 08/12/2015 19:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

winterswan · 08/12/2015 19:18

It was unpleasant and I think you intended it to be. I also teach secondary but I know enough about four year olds to know they fidget.

And it's utterly horrible to imply you are superior to the OP because she's on supply. Maybe she's on supply because she wants to be?

amysmummy12345 · 08/12/2015 19:18

roundtable I've actually got a tear in my eye thinking about that little autistic boy and his sheep/adult. That's outstanding inclusion xxx

MrsDeVere · 08/12/2015 19:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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