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?

That's a slightly unfair representation. One of the big problems with the traditional nativity play is the extremely limited number of roles. Trying to find a place for 135 children is a bit of a challenge if you're not going to add to it.

Oh, and the poster who said Catholics don't do it. No. They don't.

A quick Google shows this to be wrong, there are countless examples of RC schools having nativities.

Why do people make this stuff up?

Catholics don't do it? I was at a catholic secondary in the 80s. I distinctly remember being a wise man 

Ah yes, we’ve had no nativity plays at the school my dc go to in Scotland, definitely phrased that unclearly as obviously I’ve done no Scotland wide survey. I wish they went to another school that did have them - i had no idea I’d be treated with such miserable Christmas stuff before we moved into catchment!

Well im one of those millenials DTS and I remember how much bloody better and quickly eduction improved when New Labour came in. It was a complete joke before then. I also have a degree in history, not sure what you mean about us trying to erase our own history?

Im aware 'millenials' are the target of choice for you sort of people now that you cant make up shite about gays and black people anymore though

We are doing Hooray in a manger and we have Muslim children in the cast. At the moment it is amazingly stressful but it will be amazing and special as always. We do a nativity every year.

Apparently Catholics fair game though. Not that she's any better informed about that than she is anything else.

I wouldn't say banned but my dds school just doesn't do them! Every year just a odd play?

Should people insult people who have strong beliefs, be it Christians, muslims etc that they’re just believing in a fairy story. We should respect everyone’s beliefs.

They only turn up for the chocolate to be honest.

DD is at a Catholic school. Ks1 do a nativity every year(she's third camel in the left ) . Ks2 do a Christmas concert.

Yes, it was terrible when Christmas & Easter were banned.

So traumatic that my memory seems to have blanked it out 🤔

YANBU I agree 100% with everything you say.

Christmas was banned - by DTSMUMBOJO 's beloved protestant Christians, not by Catholics or millennials or Muslims. It happened in 1640 something... So no wonder that the youngesters don't remember...

Indeed, blueskies. 1647.

Meanwhile the centuries-long, Northern (and Southern) European tradition of mystery plays is Catholic.

Someone on my fb shared a post stating ‘share this post if you think they should bring back teaching British History in schools’. I happily pointed out that you can’t bring back something that has never gone and listed just a few of the British History areas my children had studied so far. I also said not to worry, they would soon have the ‘they have banned the nativity’ posts to share soon, which again are untrue!

Fake news, innit.

My kids go to a c of e school and there's always a nativity done by Yr R. The other infant years do a play based on the Christmas story but with a spin (one year it was farm animals etc). The older years do different plays at other times of the year culminating in the Yr 6 production always a musical of sorts. The nativity is important for Christmas but I think schools want to expose the children to other theatrical opportunities so doing a massive school wide traditional Nativity is not the best way to do this.

I’ve taught for over 13 years in a number of schools and we’ve had a ‘nativity play’ every year - only it’s not the traditional nativity usually it’s something like The Inkeeper’s Breakfast or Shine Star, Shine. Mostly because there’s usually 120 or so children to find parts for, and because they come all written up with a CD for the songs (which are usually a little easier to teach to the very young children than the more traditional carols). There’s always a nativity element, even in Christmas with the Aliens.

I am Catholic and have always had a nativity. Both my DC go to RC school and always do the each nativity, usual along side a Christmas concert, lots of angels and wise men singing in the choir too. All DC get an ok part.
I was a prop in mine in the 80's, Some were hay bales in the barn.

blueskies, the celebration of Christmas was suppressed (not banned) by the Puritans. The Puritans have far, far more in common with milennials than any modern day mainstream Christians. I believe they have already been labelled 'modern day Puritans' by many.

I don't know where you get the idea Protestants are my beloved anything. I'm Catholic. Children's nativities are not a Catholic tradition and where Catholics do them (like my kids school) it's usually because they live in an area with heavy Protestant influence. They are just not of Catholic origin.

I don't know why you're blathering on about Muslims either, considering I didn't mention them. As religious people themselves, I can't say I've ever come across a Muslim who objected to other people's expression of their religious traditions.

Left wingers using Muslims as an excuse to stop them - plenty. A Muslim themselves? Never.

I haven't RTFT but find it just so depressing that people still believe and share this nonsense, it fuels 'othering' and hatred and is cast out into cyberspace by those who want to divide us (a topless Russian comes to mind). Every year it's so predictable - faux outrage over Christmas, Easter eggs, poppies...the sheer lack of any critical thinking enrages me.

For those who share my dismay, a conversation earlier this year gave me the warm and fuzzies. I volunteer with Syrian refugees and was chatting to a seven year old boy who'd arrived a year ago having suffered the most awful traumas. I asked how he'd settled in at school and he said he loved it. I asked if he'd made some nice friends at school, he said with a big smile, "ChildofCastor, the whole school are my friends". I asked what had been the best thing that had happened at school and he said he'd loved being in the nativity play and described it to me in great detail, so full of enthusiasm and joy, with his proud (Muslim) parents looking on. He'd been the Innkeeper, which struck me as pretty poignant.

Nativity at my DC's school every year btw - it's a tiny school which means there are enough parts for everyone!

When I was in a nativity play in the 70s I was a carol singer but everyone wanted to be Mary

In fact my children's Catholic school has a lot of children of Conservative Muslims there because in the absence of decent Islamic provision their preference is for Catholic provision. Their children don't take part in the nativity, but they come to watch it and enjoy it. Our children learn about their traditions and practices throughout the year too.

It's all very interesting. Actually, we're incredibly fortunate they do want to come, because our admissions favour anybody who practices a religion regularly above anybody who doesn't, they fill up all the spaces that might otherwise go to the left wing militant atheists who do send their kids to religious school then complain if religion is ever mentioned.

I'm Catholic. Children's nativities are not a Catholic tradition and where Catholics do them (like my kids school) it's usually because they live in an area with heavy Protestant influence. They are just not of Catholic origin

There were not many protestants in the Republic of Ireland, definitely not in the 80's, So no protestant influence and we always had a nativity play in the schools.