To think that my DS, 8, should be spending his schooldays in the classroom learning interesting stuff, not standing around in the hall going through the Christmas production for the umpteenth time?

[Threadworm]

Do his teachers think they are Steven Sondheim? Are they aiming for a West End run?

He is eight. Long past the age where dressing up as a lamb and mouthing to Silent Night had any socialising value. He finds the whole thing boring and meaningless. He only has a singing role in the chorus. Whole afternoons are devoted to this day after day. Why?

YANBU

Think they should have extra rehersals for those with key parts. But people in the chorus etc - seems a complete waste of time to have them all standing around day after day.

It used to be a lot worse before the days of national literacy schemes etc where the school has to do an hour of maths, reading etc each day so time spent on rehearsal is limited. The song sheets were given out to be learned over half term week (and it began to get earlier)then it was none stop practice for a major epic taking up three whole evenings to perform.
Youngest DS hates it as he doesn't sing would rather be in class doing maths!

YANBU. Ds1 and dd's school are just as bad. Ds1 even said to me the other day that his teacher had told him that if he didn't get all his words right she would pull him off the stage during the performance .

I get a bit fed up with this too especially as the school also do a big whole school harvest festival production which takes a considerable chunk of classroom time out of the first half of term.

I like what DDs school do - the nativity play is always done by yr 2 with reception, yr 1 plus the junior choir singing. Minimal impact on the juniors, fun for the infants without being overdone cos no-one wants or expects perfection from little 'uns.

I think they are practising some carols for the carol service in their music lesson and theres christmassy stuff going on in Art and D&T but they are still mostly doing proper work.

That sounds a good balance emsmum.

I thought I was going to be judged unreasonably unfestive. But it seems there are quite a few of you who think that schools go a bit over the top.

Totally agree!

Long gone are the carols we sang as kids, my DS's song sheet he brought home to learn (he is also 8) consisted of about 6 songs that are more like pop songs than Christmas songs!

I think this stuff is just as important as 'proper' work. I don't think classroom time is the only worthwhile time. Surely the school productions are an introduction to drama.
Some children might prefer to be in class doing maths but there will be other children who would prefer to be in the hall practising the play.
I'm a bit at young Bagpuss' teacher's comment, though.

Juuule you aren't the only one!

well, I guess some schools do go OTT with this - ours only started rehearsals two weeks before the big event though (and it is pretty big - 100 children, in the village hall) and I just know it's going to be as ham-fisted and embarrassing as every other performance they've ever put on

I couldn't agree more, Threadworm. This was a bugbear of mine throughout Juniors. DS2 always had a tiny part in the performance, and as such was allowed to spend nearly every afternoon from half term to Christmas Watching DVDs! Luckily he has just started yr7 so its all over.......

Ds's school (junior school, so Y3- Y6) hold rehearsals for all speaking / dancing / choir parts after school, starting after the October half term. Then there is 1 rehearsal on a Friday during school, again only for those taking part.
Then on a Monday there is the dress rehearsal, and that is the first time that all children who are chorus are involved. On the Tuesday (today) is the grandparents' performance, then evening performances Wednesday and Thursday and that is that!

So those children who are not very keen, and are only chorus miss two afternoons of lessons only.

TBH I tend to agree with you. I don't think that much goes on here re christmas play for the whole school apart from practising a few christmas songs. I think that our school has got it about right...apart from this year when my DS is the star!! He's Joseph and has a whole 2 lines . So obviously this year the entire school should spend the remaining term practising...

Awww. I hope he enjoys himself!