Nativity play ‘banned in schools’

[CoughLaughFart]

A couple of my FB friends have recently shared a post about what a disgrace it is that the nativity play is now ‘banned in schools’ and that the tradition must be restored immediately as this is a CHRISTIAN country (it's always in caps). I have two problems with this:

1. A search for ‘nativity school banned’ brings up several results for stories about schools banning photography at nativity plays, plus a Guardian article about why there’s such a panic about nativity plays being banned in certain circles. There wasn’t one example of the nativity play actually being banned. I also don’t know any parents who have experienced this in real life.

2. As this is indeed a CHRISTIAN country on paper, it happens to have thousands of churches. Anyone desperate to see their child in the nativity play could easily get involved with their parish church so that their children can be part of that one. They could learn all they like about Christianity then, from the experts no less.

AIBU to think that this is a non-existent ‘scandal’ spread on social media by people too lazy to check the facts? And that, with church attendances standing at around 2% of the population, these people aren’t bothered enough about their children learning about Christianity to get up early on a Sunday, and really just want a picture of their child looking cute with a tea towel on their head?

I've never actually been to a nativity play - not as a child nor a parent. Is that unusual?

It’s Daily Mail nonsense. All our local schools do a nativity play which featured in the local paper.
I can imagine a school serving a predominantly Muslim or Sikh community might choose not to put one on but it’s certainly not banned. Nobody would have the authority to ‘ban’ a school play unless perhaps it was ‘hair’ being put on as per original in a secondary school.

It's lies spread by racists and shared by idiots.

^ This. The banning of Nativity plays is right up there with 'one GCSE Gary' complaining that 'Ahmed the neurosurgeon' is taking his job.

I’d say it was very unusual Fekko. I’m old and did the, myself. DD is 2 and was in them in infants (infants did the nativity bit at her school, juniors added other stuff to the event). My friends’ smaller children seem to do them. They do them at the school I work in.

My dc's infant school got increasingly rabid about 'the real meaning of christmas' over the years. There was nothing but hymns and a very traditional nativity by the time my daughter left. It wasn't much fun. If I could, I would have banned it myself.

Oooh. I love good Britain's First fake news.
It's like an IQ test, but public

Snort! Yes, so true, sadly.

OP's facebook acquaintances would have their minds blown by my DS's school. Not only a nativity play, but back when he was in reception I remember going in to help make Christmas decorations, and sitting on a table with one of his classmate's mums, also happily making Christmas decorations, while wearing a hijab.

Church of Scotland 😉

At DS little school there was always a christmas choir at the local church and a Christmassy play but it wasn't ever a religious one from what I can remember.

I worked for the Church for a while - I never saw the nursery nativities first hand but it generally ended up with the wise men pretending their crooks were light sabres and the sheep chasing the Virgin Mary around the stage.

They do various takes on it across the year groups at my kids' school - but all are the Nativity story.

More than anything else - they pass the costumes around all the classes and have all permutations of sheep, donkeys, angels and various tea towel topped characters covered!

It's just that these days they're called the Grumpy Camel, or The Lost Sheep.

They all end up with the Nativity though.

Actually they did a play about a school puting on a nativity play - dont think that counts though.

Total nonsense. I have friend who is an Imam and his children go to a church school and he has no objection to the Nativity play.
For information, he tells me that Jesus is regarded as a prophet in Islam and Mary is also honoured. As other posters have said typical Daily Wail rubbish.

The banning of Nativity plays is right up there with 'one GCSE Gary' complaining that 'Ahmed the neurosurgeon' is taking his job.

😆

They celebrate mass and have chaplains in prisons so I doubt wearing a crucifis would be an issue. I can think of some reasons why wearing a crucifix round your neck might be banned, but none of them have anything to do with religion.

I’ve been working in primary schools for 25 years plus, in a variety of locations, urban and rural in the south of England, church schools and non church schools, all state schools. Always, always had a nativity play for the younger children, older children usually do a carol service. I’ve never known a parent object at all, regardless of their heritage or beliefs. It’s never presented as ‘the truth’ just a traditional activity, same as the mince pies and Christmas tree.

Mary, Joseph and the story of the birth of jesus also features in the Quran. Jesus is revered as a prophet in Islam.

Not sure why so many bf types like to push the narrative that Muslims find the nativity or jesus offensive

@CoughLaughFart, I think other posters are right. If you're keen to avoid spreading fake news, please do report your OP to MNHQ and ask them to amend the title.

And actually, this is a good example of how Fake News works: even if we know it's fake, we can end up spreading it inadvertently.

It's a bugger.

My FIL tells us info like this in horrified tones.

Someone up thread said no nativity plays in Scotland that is nonsense too my DD's school do 1 every year, the P1's dress up as mary jospeph angels shepherds stars etc ( as many "parts" as there are children) the older ones do the readings and each year group sings a song some are religious carols some flying snowmen etc and the whole school do some together

they have a sheet to learn the words this year it includes Silent Night Holy Night and all the verses of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

this is a big non story

My nursery class does a traditional nativity every year. The rest of the school do more modern Christmas productions but they all refer to the Christmas story. Children of all or no religions take part, just as we also celebrate Eid, Diwali etc. Learning about the story behind the celebration does not mean you are forced to believe it. Learning respect for all is very important and part of the curriculum.

I volunteer at two schools and both have Nativities.

I remember some wanker at a party telling me it was a disgrace they didn't teach spelling in schools any more. I happily reassured him I had good news & he didn't need to worry - indeed my DD had their weekly spelling test that very morning. It was as if I hadn't spoken. He just continued his huffy rant about how in his day everyone could spell and now they didn't even teach it. My first hand experience, from that morning, in the very same town was not sufficient to even dent his blinkered prejudice. That is how some people are - once they believe something, they will cling onto it and any contrary evidence seems to weirdly reinforce their mistaken belief.

My DS school won't do Nativity play for respect to others faiths... but they do celebrate things like Ramadan, Diwali, ... every year.
It's a double edged sword, and I understand that some parents are unhappy about the situation. (They have however a Christmas fair.)
I don't believe in anything and would like to see these celebrations in the family home or as part of religious education. Not as part of the school festivities calendar.

This time of year is prime twat bingo time on social media. Between the banning of nativity plays, the insistence that we should say "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas and the "X place banned poppies because Muslims" posts - of which precisely none ever happen - there's always a revelation when I discover once more racist and bigoted tit in my friends list.

@EmeraldShamrock

The much-publicised case of a cross/crucifix not being allowed was a nurse who was wearing it with her uniform. In common with everywhere I've ever worked as a nurse, the only jewellery allowed was a wedding ring. No exceptions and being expected to conform to rules that exist for good reasons is not 'PC gone mad'.

oh it'll be 'Winterval' next that they all kick off about!

Our school is even doing the nativity play IN A CHURCH - can you imagine!

Honestly the 'PC brigade' laugh themselves silly at this kind of bollox and the people who spread it !