Aibu to think schools cannot win?

[arethereanyleftatall]

So far in the last few weeks, we've had:

'Shouldn't be a nativity play, my dc with small part is bored'
'Should be a nativity play, pc world gone mad'

'Should be an evening performance for working parents'
'Shouldn't be an evening performance, dc too tired'

'Siblings should be allowed, I've got no one to watch them'
'Siblings shouldn't be allowed, too noisy'

' teachers should teach instead of all this paperwork'
' teachers should send letters out to all parents checking their availability for play, and rewrite play as necessary thereafter.'

Anyone got anything else to complain about, during this joyous time of year?

The TA's daughter gets the part because her mum is part of the casting team....most Mums would practice the part with their child, most Mums will source the correct costume and most Mums would put it in a named carrier bag (something I have done this morning actually). You are correct, not many West End productions choose an unknown actor, but then little miss TA's daughter was unknown once....she certainly isn't now, we've had to put up with her every since!!!! I just think all the kids should have an opportunity at some point, throughout their six yrs at Junior School to shine.

Viques, what a ridiculous comment.

First off, a school nativity is hardly equivalent to a west end production is it?

Secondly, are you suggesting that only a TA's parent is capable of ensuring their child has a costume, practices lines, turns up etc?

I have seen it many times (admittedly in the past as out school has improved this now) where the same kids get the speaking parts year in year out. These kids were, pta kids, TA's kids and the DS' of one of the teachers. My DD went 5 years without a speaking part in primary and was devastated, she is now studying drama and musical theatre at a-level, got a A* in her drama GCSE, has singing instruction from a former west end star and intends to apply for top drama schools. Would she not have been able to manage a speaking part or remember her lines?
All children should be given a chance, you just never know what their future might hold.

I don't think what viques posted is ridiculous. It's all about risk isn't it. And there's a fairly low risk that a ta's daughter wouldn't prepare or would bail out.

Low risk? Its a school nativity! No one is being nominated for a tony award!

These are kids, they ALL deserve a chance throughout their primary school lives.

I feel guilty now, my DD always got a lead role in the school plays, however neither my DH or I were on any PTAs etc. However she did drama after school and was quite good at acting. Drama was also where she came out of her shell as she used to be such a shy kid.

She got a real shock when she got to Secondary School though and got a non speaking role in the school production though...

It's a lovely and idealistic thought to think that every child can have the same chance to star in a school production... It's also crap, of course. There are usually a couple of 'starring' roles and a bunch of speaking parts. The rest of the school get non-speaking parts. If only Y5-6 do the production, that's two chances for each child to get one of those 'starring roles' during primary school. If the whole school does it they have more opportunities but they need to be chosen from hundreds of kids. As a teacher, you are not going to select a child who is chronically shy, has terrible attendance, can't read to learn the lines, can't be bothered to learn their lines, can never remember their lines, has terrible behaviour, bosses and bullies other kids, is massively egotistical already... Etc.

so we have to sit through another hour's worth of just her talking on stage again Only one speaking part in the play?

Opal Tree
Yes, it seemed that way....she literally never left the stage for the whole hour, she even sang at one point.....

100-120 kids in our village school, class specific productions from infants to yr 6.

Why should the same kids get picked every year on that basis?

Wookiecookies: You're right, if the same kids are picked every year that does seem unfair unless there are reasons why the kids who aren't picked can't do it.

Trifleorbust
Out if approx 100 kids, and about 80-90 of those sat bored supposedly "in the choir", I'm sure out of 90 there are quite low numbers of kids who are shy, have terrible attendance. Can't read their lines, boss and bully kids etc, so surely plenty of potential for others to have a go and perhaps surprise you.

Do teachers really think that out of 100 or so children, only a select few are capable of carrying out a good performance? I know some schools do make up and split parts to give more kids a chance, and I know teachers have a hard task on their hands, but just wish they would try and choose different children every so often....then surely it would be more interesting for them too.

There's a chance you'll further damage the confidence of a shy child if you force them to stand up in front of hundreds of adults if they're not capable of it.

Totally agree...but then I don't believe there are 90 shy kids in a year group of 100.....I wonder why Junior schools don't do as in High schools, have a Christmas play and let kids audition for it, and let the other 90 kids who don't get parts not take part? Then if you are a parent of a child who doesn't get/want a part, you don't have to go and watch other people's kids in the main parts again and again....

We have just finished our school production- it went well. When we started we asked the children what kind of part they wanted. As mine are year 3 they all had to have some kind of speaking part. Some asked for a very small sentence to say, some asked for a longer line and some wanted a big part. those who wanted a big part (about ten children) took home some of the lines to learn and then auditioned. We chose the ones who were the best (ie the ones who had actually learned the lines). It was such a faff, but the only fair way of doing it. Having said that, we can't choose children with a high level of absence.

My own son goes to a different school. He's medium confident so had a couple of lines but not a small part. I'm really proud of him and really couldn't care less that other kids have the main parts and not him. Unless other parents start bragging about it of course!

Sorry I meant he doesn't have a main part!

Mumzypopz: I think most kids are capable of taking a speaking part. I don't think all kids are, which is all I said. There are lots of reasons why this might be.

I hope the crap practice of the sporty dc picking their teams has stopped in p.e

Nope - and they wonder why kids give up sport as they don't make the teams so see it as pointless

Can I add to the list the dickhead dad who started abusing me as he walked through the door this morning because I hadn't yet responded to his email that he sent me.... at 1am this morning.

Blimey Midnite. I sent an email in the evening a couple of weeks ago and wasn't expecting it to be read until the following evening really, but the teacher replied at 00.26 that same night. I hope he doesn't have to work that late every night.