School production

Toad in trouble for speeding

The primary part of my school is into productions in a big way and this leaves one questioning the value of such an activity. Today I watched the year 5 production of Wind in the Willows for 80 minutes. That’s as long as some movies in the theatre. Each year group with the exception of year 1 and 2 do a production in my AP campus. An awful lot of productions per year. Today was obivious. An awful lot of unengaged students who can’t sing, dance and who didn’t get a role who just sung in 3 massed items in 80 minutes. For what??? There has to be a simpler way. Perhaps one production every 2nd year. Perhaps a short production 30 -45 minutes. Perhaps a Christmas sing a long. Our music specialists are talented people and they write songs to known tunes. What ever it is it has to be of some educational value and has to engage many students. Today there were about 20 in lead positions and the other 100? In fairness the poor teacher with production responsibility has really put in the hours, so this is not a criticism of her work. Instead I am questioning the hours spent x 5 year groups, the year 1 and 2’s are combined. Now the younger children are cute and each class has their own song and they have a few massed items and its quick and snappy. As you go up the school each production

About half the students

gets longer and more complex until it becomes as big as the filming of Ben Her, for what?? Today there were a few lovely moments. One of note being as the stage crew were quickly assembling a Christmas tree on stage for the banquet at Toad Hall, the music teacher was playing Jingle Bells, background music. Suddenly all the younger children in the audience started singing. Definitely audience participation.