To think school production role allocation is unfair?

[guaranteess]

Dd school production this week, and during the interval i overheard the teacher talk to the lead role's mum, telling her that her son was chosen to be the lead before they even did auditions, based on his personality. Meaning the children that were auditioning for the lead were just wasting their time, as they had already chose the lead. The child wasn't even going to audition for that role, until the teacher asked his mum to encourage him to. I don't think it's very fair, they should either allocate roles based on auditions or to scrap auditions and allocate just on the child's personality, which is practically what they are doing anyway.

Aibu to think it isn't really fair?

This happened in DS's year, he was going to miss the audition for the part he wanted due to a hospital appointment. I asked the teacher if he could audition late as he was really keen and had been practicing a lot.
The teacher laughed and said we already know who's going to play what, the auditions are just an activity. DS will be [different role to the one he wanted]

Ah, ok. Sorry, I misunderstood. Tbh I've only ever seen the roles go to the person best placed to do the role at my dds primary.

@arethereanyleftatall no worries, I didn't express myself very well!

It's laziness on the part of some teachers - they opt for the easy option
Yeah, right, those lazy good-for-nothing teachers who bugger off home every day at 3.30 and have long holidays.

And before I'm accused of teacher-bashing, I used to be one and have been there when "Araminta" is selected for the nth year running for the school production.

So, couldn't hack it, then? And if you have "been there" when Araminta is cast yet again, why did you not step in and do it all properly differently?

I don't think it necessarily should be the best kids getting all the parts it's not the bloody west end 🙄
My dd attends a local stage school thing and they put on 3 shows a year and all the kids get an equal part and are on the stage as much as each other.
The shows are spectacular and involve about 60 kids so it shows that it can be done.

Imagine the less confident children got given the main parts to boost their self esteem and got shown they can do things to if they put their mind to it

Imagine if the less confident children crumbled in front of an audience.... what a great show that would be 😏

Maybe schools should choose pupils who can't kick a football to represent their school at football matches. You know....it may boost their confidence (But most likely not! And won't do the reputation of the school any good either).

Would I have expected my dd to be picked for her school maths competition. No...absolutely not! Her weakest subject is maths. DD would have been the very last pupil school would have chosen to represent them. It wouldn't have done her confidence any good either. I would have been mortified tbh!

Each child will be chosen to represent their school in whatever they are good at. No child should be chosen if they are no good at it (Whatever 'it' is)... No child will be given a confidence boost at something they show no flair for. The end result could be crippling for a child's self esteem and confidence.

Teachers know their pupils. Let them decide which activity is suited to each, individual child.

Yes and obviously it's always the same kids who get picked. There are plenty of children in a class of thirty who can play good roles in school plays, it's not fucking Shakespeare.

It’s not fair, but that’s because it’s a learning experience, life is not fair at any age. The kids care less than the parents.

Not true. I've had a child in absolute fits of tears because he got a shit part last year, or a non part as he has a speech disorder he got put in charge of tech. Not a single line. His confidence was absolutely shattered and he started secondary school on the back foot, thinking he was rubbish. It's not the parents trust me.

It's laziness on the part of some teachers - they opt for the easy option

Actually, as lines need to be learnt / practised at home we don't choose children who we know have lazy parents and won't bother to help their DC learn their lines.

"In my experience, it's often the same kids picked over and over again for readings, presentations, assemblies, and the same kids are picked for end of year school play lead roles."

What, picked every year by a succession of different teachers? It's almost as if they're good at drama/singing/learning lines isn't it?

I've had parents come to me over the years and plead their child's case to be 'given a chance.'

I've seen them act and they're rubbish (or less good than who has been chosen anyway).
Or cba doing their homework so I've got no faith that they'll learn lines.
Or confide that they don't want a big part actually, it's all coming from their mum but please don't tell her.
Or have low attendance so I can't be sure they'll turn up on the day.
But mostly they're just not as good as someone else.

If kids are upset they're not getting chosen they should do what anyone does if they want something bad enough - practise, rehearse, step up in drama lessons, show their teacher they can learn lines and deliver them, demonstrate what they can do all year not just when there's something in it for them.

We're not looking for Oscar winners, just not someone who delivers a mediocre monotone of barely remembered words whilst standing stock still, looking terrified. Not when there's someone who is really quite good waiting to step in, because overlooking someone committed and talented wouldn't be fair would it? If we did that, their parents would - quite rightly - be in asking why.

I hope you're my dds teacher next year hellodarkness!

"His confidence was absolutely shattered and he started secondary school on the back foot, thinking he was rubbish."

If he was in fits of tears and thought he was rubbish because he was on tech in the school play, it is the parents. The school play shouldn't be the only place he gets his self esteem.

Honestly, what is wrong with some parents? I've had four kids with a variety of talents and weaknesses. When they lose out you teach them resilience. You show them how to get better, or direct them to other things that they are good at.

Believe me they know if you think it's all unfair, then they think it's unfair, then you create a kid who thinks the world is against her. Instead, create the kid who says 'well done' to the main actors and means it, who can see that they're better at this one thing but can take it on the chin.

Queen Bluberry. Did you not let your DC know that everybody is important in a production? The show cannot go on without main cast, chorus, director, producer, tech team, set manager blah blah...

I have had many children, in foster care. Some have had main roles, some have donned a bit of tinsel on their heads and sung with the choir, some have had no speaking parts, some have been happy to be part of the tech team.....Each and every one of them enjoyed their school concerts, knowing that each of their roles were important for the production to take place. Some were removed from stage at pic taking time (That's what they were unhappy about).

Most have been a Shepherd or Angel. Some have been Mary or Joseph. All non speaking parts. One rocked it as Tracey in Hairspray. I'm bloody proud of them all. None more than another. They each played their parts well and the shows were fantastic - whether mine got a main part of not.

My partially sighted boy pressed the CD player for backing music for each singer. He was wonderful 💖 and played his part perfectly to cue.

A child's confidence should be encouraged at home. A school production is never going to encourage confidence or feelings of self worth if the task in hand is beyond them.

It's laziness on the part of some teachers - they opt for the easy option

Words escape me. How anybody can possibly think that a teacher who goes out of their way to put on a production, and all that that involves, is lazy, just beggars belief. Teachers can never, ever win in these situation unless they can find a production with 30 completely equal parts. Mind you, some parents would still not be happy....

@QueenBlueberries a reaction like that is very much the parents’ fault.

Ridiculous overreaction and you did him a disservice by not saying as much to him and explaining the important of all roles in a production.

Next time my Head Teacher suggests we put on another play, I shall be saying "Fuck, no!"

Seems fairer than ds1 primary schoolboy always picked the same two kids for everything from reception to yr 6 and yes whilst they were confident ,one was the deputy,heads daughter and the other was one of one of the teaching assistants son

It’s not fair, but that’s because it’s a learning experience, life is not fair at any age. The kids care less than the parents.

So true.

x2boys
That's awful.

Teaching children of colleagues is potentially awkward because you don't want them picked for everything, but at the same time you don't want them always on the shelf just because nobody wants to risk favouritism.

I tend to ignore that they're so and so's child and think 'would I give this opportunity to them if they weren't...' It solves most issues.

I bloody hate that with schools, you'd think it would have stopped by now.
DS has been really shy until this year, as DD left and he's had to look after himself.
He decided to audition for the play, everyone was shocked. His teacher said how great he was, how beautiful his singing voice is.
We thought he would get a good part as a result.
Nope. 2 lines, tiny at that.
He was gutted, and now said he didn't know why he bothered trying.
Of course, same old golden kids from the other class got the plum roles.
They don't seem to realise the damage it does to a kids confidence.

BiBiBirdie Maybe your DS could trial for the football or rugby team. Or even the competition maths team - depending on where his strenghts lie and what after school club's you pay for. Just a thought? Lots of people have a lovely singing voice or dance experience. It won't compare to a child whose parents pay every week for vocal coaching or dance training though. Can you imagine how you would feel (Or more to the point how your DS would feel) if you have paid for vocal coaching for years and a child who sings like a strangled pigeon got the main singing role in the school production? Or if your DS attended rugby training 3 times a week for years and a boy with no rugby training, whatsoever, got into the school team and your boy didn't?

Every child has a talent. It's up to the parent to encourage that talent. Once that talent is identified school will pick.up.on it, whether it's for King Herod in the school production or bowler in the school cricket team.

Exactly the same reason Boris Johnson seems likely to drift towards being PM, isn't it?

I’m putting on a school play soon- it’s bloody hard work. Lots of children want the same part, only 1 can get it; several children don’t want to do any part at all and become hysterical at the idea- they need to be found a job, or the parents become hysterical; others just want to mess about or totally dominate the whole thing.

I hope we’ve got everyone doing something that they are happy with- be it a solo song, a lot of acting or running the sound. Yes, I take the year’s work into account- if you are unreliable you don’t get a main part: I need you to learn the lines and turn up for the performance after school.

Every year I wonder if I can stop doing a play- but the children (as a group, at least) enjoy it and start asking about it soon after Easter.

I think this thread is a bit ridiculous.

I’m sure every parent thinks their child is amazingly talented but there are only so many parts.

What’s wrong with congratulating your child for whatever part they get?

As for teachers saying children have lovely voices etc - do you want them to tell you your child sounds like nails on a chalkboard?!