AIBU to wonder what's the point of big end of year productions?!

[User3billion]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this & told about the numerous and wonderful benefits but just curious as to whether I'm the only one that feels this way?!

DC attend a local primary with around 300 pupils. At Christmas the infant children put on a nativity production (separate from foundation) & the juniors have a Christingle service with readings & music performed by then so each is around 35-40 minutes & there is one performance.

Cue end of year and they're putting on a whole school production (each class performs individually - not a play/musical). We found out earlier in the week there are 3 performances and that children are expected to attend all 3; one being in the evening. My children will not be attending the evening show - they have prior sporting commitments & 6 days notice isn't enlarge to rearrange.

They've spent hours upon hours releasing this production both as individual classes and as a whole school - running time is around 90 minutes.

The children are fed up of sitting in a hot & stuffy school hall and bored rigid with it all. I'm failing to see why so much time is taken up with this when we're told so often how prescious learning time is & how there's barely enough time to teach the curriculum. AIBU & am I alone in feeling this way?!

Drama, music and team building. All important. Standing on a stage saying stuff clearly - very important skill for later life.

Though whether your school is doing it 'right' is of course another matter. Our primary always managed to put on good performances with 'just enough' rehearing. So they weren't polished, but the children didn't have time to get bored rehearsing either.

I think it offers children the chance to learn/practice differnet, non-academic skills, and adds value for many DC. those who aren’t keen can usually be in the choir.

For parents, it’s punishment.

What i’d REALLY like to know is why all historical costumes involve trousers with zig zag cuts in them.

There's no choice or option of level of involvement, it's very much "you're doing it" and that's it. Don't get me started on costume requirements.

DDs dance so are accustomed to stage performance. DS has done drama in the past and decided it's not for him. He'd happily be involved in set design/props/music/lighting or anything that meant being more "hands on" and less on stage only these things aren't an option.

But children don't get to 'opt out' of Maths, or Art, (or Sports Day).
Why should they be allowed to opt-out of drama?

My DD was involved in the school production of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. Not a 'role' but one of the backing singers.
It involved lunchtime rehearsals, afterschool rehearsals .
They did the play every day for a week for the pupils then 2 performances for parents.

Poor soul who played Joseph had no voice by the end (they really should have given him a mike) but it was a really stunning performance.

This was Yr 6 , DD is now leaving Yr 11.

--Still remember the stuffy noisy school hall

All the above and I think for most kids it's fun and in the warm weather easier to engage kids with than maths!

Payback from teachers for all those times parents have made their work harder

I’m still recovering from a 1hr and 42min musical I had to sit through the other night

YANBU It’s that time of year when I seem to spend almost as much time at school as the DC!!

I gained at least as much from taking part in drama productions at school as I did from lessons.