To think the nativity play is a waste of time...

[PointyJat]

And the biggest parts are given to teachers favourites/those with pushy parents?

Ds is in year R and they've spent weeks preparing. He and his friend say they spend lots of time sitting in the hall watching the main parts 'practice'. Teacher has cancelled PE since half term for this 'practice'.

Only a few children have a big part, the rest are varying levels of nothing ds is a 'villager' but doesn't even go on stage, he just sings the songs along with all of the others.

Nativity seems like a waste of time and a lot of waiting about, other than for a minority of pupils. I'd rather either all children got a part with a similar level of input, or they just stopped bothering with the play and did PE as usual. Aibu (and grumpy).

Ours is awful. 60 %of the kids had a part and the rest sat on the mat in their uniforms supposedly as part of the choir. My son aged 6 even said that I shouldn't take time off work to watch as he wasn't in it, he didn't have a part. I took time off anyway cos you feel bad when you get the ticket slips but I wish I hadn't bothered. My son and all the choir were sat there looking bored shitless. They really were not a part of it. Sad and a waste of my time.

No nativity play this year as they are rehearsing for a musical in which all pupils from 3 - 6 classes participate. DD cried because she loves them.
Us parents have no influence at all at the roles, it's all done at school, including the rehearsals.
It's always a great experience for all and all kids are enjoying themselves. I can't see why I should have any involvement in what role DD would be playing.

Depends. I can't wait for Dd3 nursery nativity. It will be Fab and I really don't care that she is only a sheep.
However I do think favouritism does happen in some schools. I remember the KS2 play in dd1s final year at the school. They always said that the best parts always go to those in their last year. Dd had an OK part (lead angel) but many of the other kids didn't as the script had two main characters played by kids who went to stage school and we're talented Tbf. But I did feel sorry for the other kids.
Also at the last minute the school changed the performance date as it clashed with a Christmas party the favoured kids were attending. And kne of the child's parents worked at the school.

Apologies for point one not making sense, too busy making tea and not paying attention to what I was writing!

What I was trying to say was that the Nativity story is an important part of Christmas. Regardless of your beliefs, it is the origin of Christmas before it evolved into Santa etc. Whilst I understand that not everyone holds the same beliefs, that is why it is done.

To answer other posters, I teach in an non faith school and am a non believer, but the curriculum I teach means we teach children about all religious festivals including Hanukkah and Diwali.

But hoop, we don't have five year olds reenact the crucifixion at Easter!

Ours is awful. 60 %of the kids had a part and the rest sat on the mat in their uniforms supposedly as part of the choir.

You are lucky, only 25% of the kids in ours have proper parts as its a combined Yr1/Yr2 (~180 kids) production. They get the reminder to dress up (in outfits provided by parents) and sing but they are sat on the side out of the way.

ittooshallpass Sun 04-Dec-16 23:24:43

"Talking to DD and her peers they are well aware that they are overlooked and use words such as 'rubbish' about themselves."

Don't you think this message is being reinforced by parents? If it is this common for parents to think that anything that is not a main part is a waste of time, couldn't it be that the children are picking up on those vibes? And does it have to be that way? Couldn't we as parents give out different vibes and help to make it all a bit more enjoyable for them?

Very true! I can imagine the mumsnet thread now if they did

cory I have always been positive with DD2 -like I said DD1 didn't care but DD2 does. She is the one coming to me saying she wanted a part and I have told her try your best whatever role (non role) you have, don't fidget etc, behave and put yourself forward. It didn't work...
I am still being positive with her but I am furious that her confidence has been so badly knocked -I am at the point of telling her exactly what I think. Because an explanation might actually make her feel better about herself....she isn't rubbish.

She already (with no input from me) talks about the 'chosen ones' - they are always the same children -plays, assemblies, committees, house captains etc. This is something she has got from her friends - they are 9/10 now - they can work it out for themselves. One of her friends (newish to school but was already friendly with one of the chosen ones so originally hung around with them) is 'always picked for things' - she is now a good friend of DD and DD can't really understand why this child is a 'chosen one' and she and the rest of her friends aren't...

I live abroad and will never see my kids in a nativity. I am disproportionately choked about this.

the Nativity story is an important part of Christmas. Regardless of your beliefs, it is the origin of Christmas before it evolved into Santa etc

No its not, its only an important part of the 'Christian' Christmas. Roman pagans first introduced the holiday of Saturnalia. Then in the 4th century CE, Christianity imported the Saturnalia festival hoping to take the pagan masses in with it.

To be honest, I think people just are projecting a little here and feeling offended/annoyed on their children's behalf. I imagine most kids are just "Whatever..."

When I was in Y6 in the mid 80s, the teachers were striking and working to rule. No trips, no Christmas panto, no residential...imagine the uproar from parents nowadays. We children didn't really care at the time.

Why are people so artificially upset about the relugious character of the nativity play or that children do it?
FFS people, we have primarily Christian traditions in our corner of the world. Christmas is for most connected with the birth of Jesus over here. Why not present the story in a play?
And I don't believe in God, haven't seen the inside of a church for months and only ever see it as a tourist. DD isn't even baptised and she's being brought up in a very secular environment. I still believe she needs to know the Bible and the foundaments of Christian religion (and others too). We must have it too good if we are getting our knickers in a twist for a nativity play (or, as DD called it once, the Mary thing).

I played Mary in my one (it's my only claim to fame). Not everyone get a part in the good old days.
I think school plays are quite crap but so excited to see PFB in her play in a few years

Christmas is for most connected with the birth of Jesus over here.

Most? You might want to double check that.

Clandestino, I'm guessing you haven't read the thread. You seem to have missed the point quite spectacularly....

Even if you aren't a Christian, Christmas is still a Christian festival which you are partaking in. It may be pagan in origin, but Christmas as we know it today is most definitely based on Christian beliefs and traditions.

Bah humbug.
Our school Nativity is great - all the kids involved! Someone already said ^ that it's the bomb proof/confident kids that get the lines and then special parts get created for the kids that can't yet cope with it all so well. All of them get to learn songs together and actions to go along with them so they're all involved. Whilst lines are being learnt set is being painted of halos are being glittered. We have great teachers 😄

I think maybe this is being scrutinised too much...
As a kid I remember the nativity, I was sat in the hall singing the songs but didn't have a part in the play and it didn't bother me one bit. I was just happy that it was Christmas! Like most kids I assume, the nativity play is one step closer to Christmas school holidays and one step closer to the excitement of Santa's visit

Even if you aren't a Christian, Christmas is still a Christian festival which you are partaking in. It may be pagan in origin, but Christmas as we know it today is most definitely based on Christian beliefs and traditions.

Yep, you keep telling yourself that.

Come on then jessy? How is the story of Mary and Joseph anything but Christian?

Well, it was stolen by Christians from other belief systems, as was Jesus, and many bible stories, and trees, lights, feasting, presents...........

Just because many Christmas traditions have their origins in pre-Christian rituals and festivals does not negate the fact that in the present day those same customs are now wholeheartedly adopted by and tied to Christianity. I have no problem with anyone who wants to celebrate in their own way, no matter if they are Christian or otherwise, but trying to argue that Christmas and Christianity are are not fundamental to each other at the present time is ridiculous. It may be that as time moves on Christmas will once again revert to a secular festival, but right now it isn't.

Well, it is for me and pretty much everyone I know.

Christ has fuck all to do with my celebrations at this time of year, and Incant imagine I'm in the minority on that.

Just because you don't equate it with religion doesn't mean that it is not a Christian Festival. If Christians hadn't adopted it I very much doubt you would celebrate it in the same way you do now.

Without Christianity there would be no Nativity play and no Santa Claus,