I'm not a pushy parent so my son didn't get a part in the school play - again

“Two of his mates have; one who's had some issues and was excluded from playtime twice in the last few weeks!”

A mum has shared her frustrations online after her child was "once again" denied a part in the school play. 

 

She asked whether she was right to feel disappointed on behalf of her son, because it wasn’t the first time he has missed out on a speaking role.

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"Child didn’t get a part in the school play"

“Child is in Year 1, they do their play with the reception class too. Last year he didn’t get a part, but we were told it’s because most parts go to the Year 1s. Just found out he’s not got a part again - just chorus,” she wrote.

She expressed confusion over why her son was being excluded from an opportunity many of his peers seemed to have.

“It’s a small school, so most kids do [get parts], and I’m not sure why he didn’t. He's generally well-behaved, confident, and doing well academically, so it’s not like he couldn’t manage a line or two.”

She added how her son’s enthusiasm made the situation harder for her to accept.

“Just feel a bit sad for him as he's chatting away about the parts his friends got. There's nothing I can do really and I’m obviously not showing him I’m annoyed,” she explained.

Image: iStock

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‘Be that pushy parent’

Commenters were fairly divided over whether the mother was being unreasonable. 

“I would ask the teacher and explain he didn’t get a part last year either. I’m pretty sure he could be given a small written in part with a line to say,” one parent suggested. 

“If he really wants a part, I think you need to be that pushy parent that asks that he gets one,” another offered. 

The mother responded to one suggestion, saying she might ask in “a careful way” to understand the teacher’s reasoning.  

She explained that they had received a note detailing what her son should wear, while children with speaking parts were given additional instructions—which her son did not receive.

She explained that her husband has struggled to see the situation as an issue.

“My husband thinks it’s not a big deal, but it’s really annoyed me. They don’t even do plays after Year 1—they do a carol service—so this is his last year,” she said.

She expressed additional frustration, feeling that other children may not have been as deserving.

“Two of his best friends have parts, one of whom I know has had some behaviour issues this term and been excluded from playtime twice in the last few weeks!” she added. 

Some commenters expressed that her son was lucky to be given a part at all and that he would eventually move past the rejection. 

“Well someone has to be in the chorus,” said one commenter. 

“I feel sorry for primary school teachers. They have enough to do without dealing with stuff like this,” another added.

A teacher chimed in with their perspective.

“I'm a primary school teacher and when we give out parts it's definitely not favouritism,” they wrote. 

“At this young age we generally choose the kids that are confident and who we think will do a good job. Sometimes we get it wrong (our Joseph broke down in a flood of tears last year) but we try our best.”

Originally published as I'm not a pushy parent so my son didn't get a part in the school play - again