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Original poster

My daughter playing Donkey for school play

198 replies

sperit · 04/12/2019 10:34

Dear all,

I needed your advise.

I am extremely upset with the my daughter school teacher that has assigned my daughter to play the donkey on the Christmas school.

She was previously attending a different school where she was being bullied so I looked for a private school.

My daughter is a girl of colour and on the previous school she was being called ugly and that her hair was not beautiful. So I enrolled to a private school. I did this as I had the same issue when I was growing and my father looked for a suitable private where I was extremely happy.

When I enrolled My Ella to the private school I mentioned the issues.

So I found out 2 days ago that my daughter has been assigned to play the donkey and wearing a dark brown suit. I feel upset to the that they could not assigned Ella with a different role.
So I had a discussion with her teacher and I told her how disappointed I am and whether she could find a different way for Ella to contribute on the play such as being on the choir. Her response was no as at this stage she cannot find nothing else and I know it looks but is not what I am thinking and the that is going to be a funny show.

What do you guys think should I still allow my daughter to play the donkey????

OP posts:
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marcopront · 04/12/2019 19:19

One of the few regrets I have about my daughter not attending school in the UK is that she never got to be in a nativity play.

Bogoffrain · 04/12/2019 19:21

At least the Donkey has a name in its own right. It could be worse she could be “The Donkeys wife”

JuliaSevern · 04/12/2019 19:26

My DS was cast as Herod and then Judas in consecutive years Grin
Mine were a sheep, a donkey, the innkeeper's wife, a villager and "Lucy" who had quite a lot of lines

firstimemamma · 04/12/2019 19:26

@Bogoffrain that was a corker of a thread!

JuliaSevern · 04/12/2019 19:30

My ds was a pencil one year. I was shocked as I think it was a dig at his wooden acting Grin

Fweakout · 04/12/2019 19:32

Those of you saying "White people are being cast as angels, I expect you'd say that is racist too, harrumph" need to educate yourself on racism. That isn't the same at all. Can't believe we are still educating people about privilege.

And someone saying "playing the race card"...a phrase which says more about the user than anything.

Having said that - if it's a generally mixed culture/ethnicity school and other mixed race or black children are playing a variety of parts, it's probably not racially motivated. If she is the only little BAME girl and is the donkey you might have a point.

UrsulaPandress · 04/12/2019 19:33

Wtaf is wrong with being the donkey?

Seriously?

Some of you need to catch yourselves on.

ItsChristmaaaaaaaaas · 04/12/2019 19:40

I don’t think there were many 👎 for the donkey to be honest. These were even a few ex donkeys on the thread!

GrapefruitGin · 04/12/2019 19:44

Oh ffs! Does she have a problem with being the donkey? You’re being way too precious

GrapefruitGin · 04/12/2019 19:46

Let’s take a moment for the poor child who played a plug in last years saino’s ad Xmas Wink

OctopusNow · 04/12/2019 19:49

My DS is a sheep, I'm outraged and offended... just need to think of a spurious reason why... 🧐

--
I'm actually really excited, he's going to be the cutest sheep ever!!-- Grin

MimsyBorogroves · 04/12/2019 19:52

I was the arse end of a horse once. I had my own song and I can remember every bloody word!

"I'm the back legs
Of the panto horse
But no-one knows my name.
The front end gets the carrots,
The front gets all the fame.
But here at the back end
It's always stuffy and hot.
And all I do is swish my tail and
Trot
Trot
Trot"

PandasandRabbit · 04/12/2019 19:53

My DS was a sheep in reception - he kept peeking through and waving and saying Hello Mummy. Grin

Can't imagine why he didn't get a bigger part Smile He was a very cute sheep.

ineedaholidaynow · 04/12/2019 20:01

My son was an accountant in his nativity Xmas Confused

namina · 04/12/2019 20:02

I really can't see the problem here.

fallfallfall · 04/12/2019 20:21

This brings back fond memories of last months thread “the inn keepers wife”.
The politics of the school nativity is a real minefield, amazing the teachers survive.

Greysparkles · 04/12/2019 20:45

My DD was a camel 2 years in a row... Typecast 🤔

theoriginalmadambee · 04/12/2019 20:49

@corpsebrid3 sorry know it's a typo, but would have loved seeing this
My DH was a camel in the most unflattering suit whilst her friends were narrators, stars and Mary.

I'm beginning to think there will be an equal number of threads on MN about nativity casts as there will be actual performances.

Not the poor kids that are snowflakes, wonder if the teachers involved could claim some sort of hazzard allowance?

Love the creative parts you have all survived Grin.

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 04/12/2019 21:19

How can there be an accountant in a nativity play?!😂 Was he there to doctor the accounts of the 3 kings?That’s as good as a mince pie!

beckyvardy · 04/12/2019 21:31

My daughter was the donkey in reception. It was actually a really good role! Had a really fun song and it was a cute role for her.

She had to come in and dance whilst they all sang!

She loved it. Still sings the song now.

rc22 · 04/12/2019 21:36

Kids love being the donkey. As a primary school teacher, I find children beg me for the donkey role. Most of then would choose donkey over Mary or Joseph!

Lovemycat1 · 04/12/2019 21:58

I was an Ox with a brown balaclava and coat hanger horns. Dd was a skater, and Ds, someone who brought a sprig of holly and ivy onto the stage. The donkey is great- full of character.

Rockylady · 04/12/2019 22:58

If my DD was white and had been asked to play a snowflake, should I be upset?

BackforGood · 04/12/2019 23:54

...... and they wonder why nobody stays in teaching more than 3 years after qualifying these days Hmm

PurpleDaisies · 05/12/2019 00:03

This isn’t why people leave teaching.

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