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.

To play devil's advocate, last year a parent heavily hinted that her daughter with a lovely singing and speaking voice would like a role in the nativity. She learned her lines and sang beautifully (and told every other child how she was the star), but then got mad at the dress rehearsal and refused to do any part of it. We can't force a child to say lines and sing but we also can't tell the other 59 families it isn't going ahead because of a screaming 7yo diva. We gave her role to a quiet child who was wonderful (and really brave to take it on), but the mum still badmouths the staff to anyone who will listen. Now we do plays where every child gets one throwaway line.

This whole thread is nuts. My kid gets three words in her play this year. It's fine. Teachers can't work miracles.... even in the season when magic is in the air etc.

There are some parents and kids here who need to learn the gentle art of resilience.

One of my biggest fears that tormented me & is now etched in my memory from primary school is being 'selected' for a big part in the nativity play. Please spare a thought for children like me.

We had this - same child year in year out, until we got a new head who wanted to put on a children's Shakespeare production, got them all interested, auditioned, and it was amazing - loads of children doing stuff they had never done before 🌟

I didn't say I was ugly!

I'm writing a new production called The Never-Ending Entitlement Story. Who wants a part?

"WombatChocolate

I wonder if those who say ‘their face didn’t fit’ make this comment about everything to do with school?"

No, me personally, I don't.

The big problem for teachers is that many parents (not you, obviously) aren't interested in watching or listening to any other child but their own up on stage. I've had parents leaving half way through because they've seen their child doing their bit and don't fancy sitting through the rest. It's a nativity play, and every child on stage is a wee star, even the lobsters.

The nativity happens but once a year! Giving a child a speaking part for that one play is not what is going to 'give your child an opportunity' or 'build their confidence'. That's not what it's for: the nativity is something that has to be done- in most school's it's a tick off the list stressful marathon of a thing.The teachers struggle to even find time to sort it out, rehearsals are something that have to be squeezed into an already full timetable as the pressure of daily lessons cannot be abandoned for them in today's educational climate and having 'enough evidence in books' is a constant worry. They need kids that perform their roles reliably.

There are plenty of opportunities for drama and performance in the daily curriculum where your child will be encouraged to 'have a go'. There's hot seating in History, class assemblies, freeze framing in English, role playing in PSCHE, reading the prayer out in daily assemblies, volunteering to be a 'helper' when visitors come to speak in assembly, reading out your poem to the class, auditioning for the yearly talent contest/school council position/head pupil/prefect etc.

Thing is people do care. Look lots of posters with vivid memories of their own childhood nativitiez. I get teachers see it year in year out and get blasé but not sure it’s right to breezily say it’s irrelevant when for many it clearly isn’t.

And you'd think teachers who do it year in year out wouldn't find it tremendously stressful? Practice makes perfect and all that!

@TheaBrandt We do not get blasé, believe me.

Have you considered training if you think you could do the job so much better?

My DS had a lead part (one of two) in his Y6 play, there was total of 90 kids so naturally many of them had only a line or no lines at all. My DS said only two kids auditioned for the lead role, him and another boy but I did wonder how many parents were left thinking their child had been unfairly treated.

DS has never shown any interest in performing arts, not before and not after but he thought the big part in the school play could be fun so he went for it.

At my children's school old we watched the same 3 kids do the play for 5 years, whilst everyone else did nothing! So depressing. Moved my kids school and every child did something special...they were all chosen for something. They also 'saw' my children in so many other ways, including identifying a learning need!

Why not volunteer next year to see how it is put together. It takes hours of preparation in teachers own time as not paid overtime.

but as a teacher I watched the same kids for 6 years do the performance and nobody else was given a chance. The kids that acted were great but it is disappointing watching them sit there. However many children don’t want to do it. At my y6 performance I was shaking for my 2 lines and had a big paper mask on as didn’t want to be seen and still hate speaking in public.

Just been to 6yo Christmas nativity. Teacher wanted him to be a wise man. He wanted to be the donkey! So, donkey he was - and loved it.

For a main role, teachers need children who will;

Turn up even if it's a bit chilly or raining.
Turn up on time.
Remember the script.
Look up rather than mumbling into their chest.
Look up without crying, running away or freezing.
Look like they're not in a hostage video.
Not start loudly complaining that Ben isn't doing it properly in the middle of the show.

And hopefully be reasonably good at performing. Preferably without going off piste or terrifying the infants into hysterics by taking too much of the Method Acting approach when dressed as the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come.

There aren't as many children who tick all those boxes. And certainly not when you've got about 7 hours over the course of a month to get everything sorted.

My DD wanted a main part. But she is quiet so was never given one. But she is quietly confident and fine on stage. The teachers seemed to think only loud kids were capable.

@antelopevalley we actually know the children pretty well.

Be nice if they mixed it up a bit?

@Dottymug Not as well as the parents.

Btw I would thought an hour (including songs) is pretty standard

I think this is the problem. I remember not getting brig parts in school plays, but I was a villager, or a bit of a shrub or we all sat on a bench in front of the stage and sang. Or had to help Mrs Jones swap the road card board cut out for the inn. Or like all the kids together would say things in unison like “and the three kings bought gold francinsense and myrhh” or whatever
its one thing having a small part and being involved and another being an audience

Any production either at school or through a theatre company will ask a child to go for a part

through the years I’ve been amazed by my kids either being the lead with a huge amount of lines and a back up troupe of chorus singers or being a cat or alien in the nativity to the angel Gabriel doing a conga with a line of reception little ones
done years of theatre etc they are not visible and are part of the scenery and some years they are out there wowing the crowd