Nativity disappointment why do teachers do it

[Bucketheadbucketbum]

Want to key stage 2 nativity today. It was 1 hour long! Approx 40 kids in it. Some children had multiple lines throughout the hour, on the stage for the bulk of the time, solo songs the works. Others had just one line and spent the rest of the time sitting to the side apart from group songs where they all stood up. I understand all parts cant be equal and it must be a nightmare to try and be fair but this was shockingly poorly distrubuted. Why would you do this as a teacher? So disappointing for the children and parents unless you happen to be one of the "stars" of the show.

Because not all children want to be the star of the show.
Because not all children are good at learning their lines or saying them loudly enough at the right time.
Because it is actually quite a good thing for child development for them to learn to cope with disappointment.

Not all children want to be stars of the show. At DD's school, the children were asked whether they wanted a large or small speaking part, a narration role, a non-speaking role or just to sing in the chorus. Children all got what they asked for, but it might not be what their parents expected.

OP I know what you mean. DS is in Y4 in a small school, this year his only part in the Christmas play is singing one song with the choir. Last year he had one line as a narrator. Obviously I am still going to go and watch him but he told me not to bother as his part was so small! I felt so sad for him.

The only bonus was only having to send him in with a Christmas jumper and not a full costume!

Many kids don’t want many lines, and just aren’t up to it, tbh.

Some children are shy AF and don’t want to be the star.

DS was like this. Happier in the chorus.

Not every child is a future Judi Dench.

This is a good way of looking at it.
Ensemble performances are still teaching kids lots of skills.

While some schools do it fairly DSs school always picked the most confident kids.Same kids always for the main parts right up to the final year (to be fair that year they did so proper auditions so fair enough).

Yes I get all that but I'm talking 45 minutes on stage vs basically non participation it was wildly uneven and some of the non starts would have loved to be bigger parts- on stage for a chorus etc . Doesn't have to be learning lines or individual part. Just not sat off stage doing nothing

Most plays are bought in (you buy one which has a cast size to fit your class size) and this is how they are. Of all the jobs I'm capable of doing, writing a play for 45 children isn't one of them. Can you genuinely imagine a play where everyone gets an equal sized part? If it were possible surely they'd be written like that more often.

I asked my class who wanted a speaking part and only about five children put their hand up. Stardom isn't for everyone. Anyway how do you suggest teachers give 40 children a main part?

An hour long 😲 I think I would have died of boredom

As long as they’re all involved in singing the songs at regular intervals it sounds fine.

As others have said, not all of them want to be the stars. Not all are capable of learning lines or saying they audibly - nice if there are some dancing parts or similar for those who aren’t into speaking if possible, but can’t always have everything.

Just congratulate your child at the end, tell them they sung beautifully etc and you were proud of them. Job done.

Some children don't want a large part
Some children wouldn't cope with a large part
Some children's attendance is so poor you can't risk giving them a big part and them not turning up for enough rehearsals

A child telling you his part is small so don't bother could well be catching your expectations. Maybe he didn't want a big part, but knows you'd have liked him to be centre of attention?

Oh no! How sad. This isn't teaching the quieter ones anything. I understand for older ages when they are more self conscious but the young ones love to feel involved even if they're not eg be on stage for the songs etc

Agree with some of the others
Not all children can learn lines..or have enough parental support to help the, learn .
Not all children like to be on the stage ,front and centre.

In our school the older children get the talking parts ...it's like a right of passage as they move up the school.
Trust me organising a school nativity ( or play ) is bloody hard work - please don't give the staff a hard time

My ds desperately wanted a good part and he got one bloody line 🙄 the usual favourites got the big part its ridiculous

I’d agree with those PP defending teachers, except we all know full well that plenty of kids would like to be the stars, but because their faces don’t fit they don’t get the chance. The same kids get the good pets tear in year out.

good parts year in year out

Sitting at the sides for 45 mins would be DS1’s dream. DS2 is the opposite.( Sadly he has scarlet fever so is missing all his nativities this week!)

KS2 is old enough to realise that not everyone can or wants to be front and Center, and know that sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to, whether that be participate at all or sit at the sides instead of be the lead. Had just this conversation with year 3 DS1 this week re. carolling at old folks home.

I’ve just had our play. Mine is year 1 and didn’t have any speaking lines but did all the songs.

she looked very relaxed and happy singing the songs and I did think she looked happier than the kids who had lines, 2 of them cried!

That's sad ..have you brought it up with the school ?

Faces don't fit? Favourites? You're not serious are you?

Faces don’t fit what?

Yes I understand that not all children are equal and thr play can't have 45 equal parts but it was the way those who didn't have big parts were basically just sat at the side for an hour while the main characters performed that was so uninclusive.

@bridgetreilly well put. Especially learning about disappointment, perhaps if more children had experienced it and learnt to cope with it, maybe there would be less of a mental health crisis for many teenagers.