Why do the same kids always get the main parts in school assemblies/plays?

[SomeEnchantedEvening]

What is the objective of putting on a class assembly? Why is it always the same children who get chosen for the main parts? Is it so that the teacher can show to his or her colleagues what a wonderful performance they can deliver so they play safe and choose the same children all the time? And why is it that there are 5 or 6 parts with loads of lines and the rest of the children have 1 or 2 lines if they're lucky? I know it's difficult to share parts out fairly - and teachers have more than enough on their plates anyway - it must surely be obvious to the teachers that they are choosing the same children again and again? I know some children will not want the main parts - but in my experience it's not that the slightly quieter children are approached and asked if they would like to be considered for a bigger part. My daughter practised so hard at home and the teachers told me she gave a really good audition - they could hear her at the back of the hall - and yet still she only got 1 line. I know this is a commonly expressed frustration and I just wondered if anyone's school operates a slightly fairer system or I just have to accept that this is the way of the world?? Thanks.

Really? My parents are both primary school teachers - state schools, and I was forever helping source resources for drama and music lessons, one hour every other week for the last 30 years across various schools! So of course they get to try it, and if your child school isn't teaching things that are on the curriculum then you should mention it to them.

What about sports day where there are kids who HATE sports and PE but have to do in front of the whole school? Or when they do Olympics week and the kids who aren't good enough and jumping or running to represent the class just get to be "cheer leaders" I don't see how that is any different.

It is just a school play, there are only so many lead parts if your child is that bothered about missing out put them in a drama club or get them to ask for a bigger part next time. If you are trying to build some confidence in them that would be a great way to do it!

I would rather sit through the same kids year after year then hear a kid with a voice quieter than a church mouse delivering a soliloquy, or a child freezing and forgetting lines or running off stage and bursting into tears.

And if your child did get picked and freeze or cry you would no doubt blame the teacher for giving them that part in the first place. They cant win, so they go for a safe bet.

In my kids school it's always been the children who's parents are on the governing body or pta?

I have a DS who is 8 - only child. Attends a one form entry school so plus point less children to find roles for at plays etc. He always volunteers for things and is always enthusiastic about new things and love taking part - not shy yet about speaking in front of audience etc. He hasn't had leading roles as such but has had several lines as a shepherd, wiseman (where he choose to ad lib !) and narrator. He has sometimes read in church services - pretty much all his class have which is lovely. It is easier I would think with only 30 children as opposed to 60 plus.

What I find surprising though is that at sports day even in reception year children could opt out of races. DS is pretty poor at running etc but is still enthusiastic and always put his hand up to take part - he invariably comes last because a lot who don't like running/ shy/ don't want to lose opt out. In his class of 30 last year only 5 boys and 4 girls chose to race - I found that quite sad - but perhaps I'm just outdated old Mummy ?

I never get this either! I don't get the point about the "good" or confident pupils. The school play is always going to be crap isn't it? That's sort of the point.

We don't tend to get many complaints, far more we hear from parents that their child doesn't want to do their part and are worried about it. I think at this age they're not at the point of seeing the same children get the parts though.

Before I post this I cower with my hands over my ears because my child is the one who always gets the main part in the school play and I am going to stand up 100% for her.

She never gets to play first team sports although is very passionate and always gives her all. She never gets the school prizes for academia because there's always someone cleverer. She never gets to perform on her instrument in assembly because someone else just got the grade higher than her. She never gets a prize for best effort as even though she gives her all there are some kids who have additional challenges to learning and are more deserving. She'a good with a paintbrush but she's not as amazing as the kid who paints like Picasso.

She is, however, very lucky in that she goes to a school where they find out what each child is good at and lets them shine. Assemblies etc are shared equally in terms of lines but the school play is where the talented kids get to take centre stage.

So for every time she takes to that stage that's her moment. The one time each year when she can feel amazing about her abilities and be applauded for it. She'a not taking that moment from another child - she has 100% earned and deserved it.

It's wrong that in some schools roles are given to children with parents with influence in the school. I get that. But not all schools are the same. Don't hate my child because she's good at something....

When my kids were at primary school it was always the kids whose parents were part of the church going clique (it was a CofE school with very strong links to the church). I'd say that it was also those whose parents were on the PTA or governors but they were all part of the clique too.
They also seemed to always be the big winners in the fundraising raffles too....

There is only a very limited time to practise a school play. So you have to go with the children that you know can do it. It's not only being a good speaker, but being able to concentrate and follow the story.

You do realise that teachers see your children 'speaking in public' every single day in our classrooms and know who hates it/ loves it/ mumbles/ will get stage fright/ will cry etc.? Speaking and listening is a massive part of the curriculum, we encourage and teach them to speak audibly and with confidence day in, day out. The school play really isn't the time to be 'bringing children out of their shell'. I would never put a child in a position.

*that position

I don't actually believe that in the average primary school year group there are so few children capable of performing well that the same two or three faces have to be used term after term.

my criteria was always will they turn up for the evening performance, this after one year having two leading characters NOT turn up without warning.

When my kids were at primary school it was always the kids whose parents were part of the church going clique (it was a CofE school with very strong links to the church). I'd say that it was also those whose parents were on the PTA or governors but they were all part of the clique too.
They also seemed to always be the big winners in the fundraising raffles too...

You do realise how pathetic and childish that makes you sound?

Here's a little suggestion for people whose children want a part and never get one. Our children (who never got picked for big parts) used to do a little family show at Christmas before the present opening.

It was their idea, they started it when they were tiny and they used to hide away rehearsing from December. Sometimes they acted out a book, like The Night before Christmas, or a poem, or it was made up completely. They all play instruments and it morphed into a concert as they outgrew the 'plays'. We have some great films of them and the grandparents loved it!

I want to point out another negative side to this, I was used to getting a good part in the school play, I then went to high school and my confidence took a battering because suddenly there were 100s of kids trying out for each role, older years were favoured and the drama and dance teachers had their favourites. Most children went away with nothing

I think my primary school did a lot right though, I'm not sure about normal assembly, I think we stood in a line and said one line each. Our school play was really good though, including props, smoke machines etc. The younger classes would stand up together and do a song or something, dressed as flowers or something so they were scenery too. The older years would do this too but you could also audition for a part, everyone who auditioned would be given some sort of speaking role.

The cast would audition at break time, the occasional unimportant lesson etc, the rest of the school would have a few lessons practising their bit and entering / exiting but that was It. There was no sitting around, even the main cast would only be there if you were in the bit they were rehearsing. We did maximum of 3 full rehearsals

The choir always sung too, and that was open all year to everyone, you could even have a speaking role and join up for the choir bits if you were normally a member

I think including all years meant you grew up a part of it so it wasn't as scary auditioning later, and as all of Y1 might be daffodils (for example) singing together, everyone was equal

MoreCoffeeNow

It was something that was noticed and talked about by many parents, not just myself! Even a friend who worked within the school had mentioned it.

My dd used spend ages learning her audition pieces, was generally the only child who knew the words by heart and was always complemented on her performance by the teacher and other kids. She once got two words to say but that was it. She doesn't bother trying now. The parents of the few kids who always got the main parts year after year are teachers at the school. The rest of the kids didn't even get to sit on stage.

My ds attended another school for a while. The teachers were told they were only allowed to practise the Christmas show for two weeks and no more and all the kids were up on stage. I only saw a few performances but the kids with the main parts were different each time. They had understudies in case they froze and kids from the SEN base were also given main parts (sometimes with a supporting child sort of two for one part). Watching it, a bit more practise might have been nice but generally it was sooo much better as you got the feeling that this was about EVERY child.

There's a whole heap of kids in between the "ME!!! Pick ME!!!" ones, and those who are painfully shy or can't remember lines and would do anything to stay out of the limelight. They deserve their chance to prove what they can do.

Yes, the best singers and those with the biggest egos loudest voices do tend to be given the main parts in school productions (which is actually fairly necessary IMO), but in class assemblies everybody ought to have something to do if they want to. How else will potential talent ever be noticed?

Schools plays aren't exactly West End productions, but when one's dc actually has performed on stage in the West End, one does tend to wonder why they don't get cast in the school play

I like the kind of class assemblies/plays where everyone gets a line each and it's well shared out. Sadly both the school events ds is currently involved in are not like this this year and a few children have huge chunks to say/do while the others hang around and say the odd line. To be fair though they are all doing something at least. And yes one of them (not mine!) has acted professionally and isn't doing a main part.