MCPS Elementary school variety shows....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the bottom line is....what's the whole point of the exercise? To give elementary school aged kids the opportunity to experience what it's like to put on a performance, or to showcase the perceived talents of a few of the kids? To me, at a public elementary school the objective should be process driven and designed to provide kids with a learning experience NOT to be product driven and cater primarily to the audience by showcasing only certain kids who can deliver more"high quality" acts in a shorter amount of time.

We get it. Your kid was cut from the talent show. Sorry to hear that, but there's always next year!

NP.. My kid has never been cut from the show, but I agree with the other PP. It's a Variety Show, not MCPS's Got Talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your 8 year old's soccer team cut players?

Yes, my daughters U8 team has tryouts. What is your point?

Well this is off topic to the thread...but treating sports like that at age 8 is so unwise. 8 year olds should be in the DEVELOPMENTAL phase. Cutting kids at that point gives some kids an inflated sense of their abilities and could discourage others from continuing with the sport. What's going to happen to the little 8 year old whiz on the soccer field who thinks she/he is the best because they stood out at 8 when their small nimble size advantaged them...but then other kids grow big and strong and they stay small? Point is at 8 all competition should be is completely for FUN if it even exists at all. People in this area work so hard to feed their egos on their very young children's "abilities" that they lose all sight of reality.

Although it depends on each kid's DEVELOPMENTAL progress, IMO, 8 is old enough to do competitive activities. They will still have FUN by competing with each other (winning and losing, of course). 8 is not "very young children".

[Anonymous]

I love the suggestion to have two shows divided by age - there are a lot of kids who were in our daughter's school talent show last year and it was a long, long program for parents (and siblings). I want to think that only kids who weren't able to perform their act at tryouts were cut, with the idea being if you were too nervous to sing/dance/whatever in front of one teacher you were not going to be able to handle the full audience. There was also a limitation on piano performances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your 8 year old's soccer team cut players?

Yes, my daughters U8 team has tryouts. What is your point?

Well this is off topic to the thread...but treating sports like that at age 8 is so unwise. 8 year olds should be in the DEVELOPMENTAL phase. Cutting kids at that point gives some kids an inflated sense of their abilities and could discourage others from continuing with the sport. What's going to happen to the little 8 year old whiz on the soccer field who thinks she/he is the best because they stood out at 8 when their small nimble size advantaged them...but then other kids grow big and strong and they stay small? Point is at 8 all competition should be is completely for FUN if it even exists at all. People in this area work so hard to feed their egos on their very young children's "abilities" that they lose all sight of reality.

Well I started t-ball at age 6 and there were cuts in baseball and softball every year starting at 7yrs old. Back in the 80's when it was completely normal to get cut from sports and dance if you weren't good enough. Before the copter moms came to be in the 2000's

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your opinion on this: our elementary school has a variety show each year and does cut acts, many acts. They have to audition in front of a panel of teachers, and then a few days later the results are posted in the hall for everyone to look and see. If your name is up there your act makes it, if it's not up there you are cut. No further explanations given. Better luck next year. Quite a few kids are cut and they always come out crying while the kids who got in are celebrating around them.

I think this is inappropriate for K-5 (and every kid whether Kindergartner or 5th grader goes through the same process), but I want to know if other people disagree and how other schools handle a variety show.

Because every kid should get a trophy, right, OP?

:ro

To me this is less about every kid getting a trophy, than about keeping kids out of the game.

Talent should be the deciding factor. If they want to just be cute, perform for mom and dad at home. Or pay the $500 to enter those "vanity" casting calls. My DC's best friend does them every year. A half a grand to get head shots done and meet "talent judges" for a "chance" to audition for Disney, Nickelodeon, etc. I can't believe parents fall for that crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our ES does do cuts but tries to get kids in acts if another dancer, etc can be added. They tell them up fronts, only 3 piano acts will make it. It most cases the acts that don't make it did not oractice before tryouts and the teacher does not have to feel bad because they did not out in the effort like others. But I can understand how it is hard to get cut as a 7 year old. But hopefully they learn to try harder next year or try s different talent. The show is consistently amazing because of the teacher....

Yes I can see that. At our school many acts that have worked very hard get cut. There is no time limit on the specific acts, but many kids who have practiced hard do not get to participate.

Repeat after me: Hard work does not equal ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our ES does do cuts but tries to get kids in acts if another dancer, etc can be added. They tell them up fronts, only 3 piano acts will make it. It most cases the acts that don't make it did not oractice before tryouts and the teacher does not have to feel bad because they did not out in the effort like others. But I can understand how it is hard to get cut as a 7 year old. But hopefully they learn to try harder next year or try s different talent. The show is consistently amazing because of the teacher....

Yes I can see that. At our school many acts that have worked very hard get cut. There is no time limit on the specific acts, but many kids who have practiced hard do not get to participate.

Repeat after me: Hard work does not equal ability.

That's ridiculous!! Hard work and practice is directly related to a person's abilities in any endeavor! Ability=possession of the means or skill to do something. But since we are talking about the elementary school I guess what you're saying is that the kids involved in the variety show should be those who have parents who can afford to put them in expensive lessons or prepare them well since only the polished performers should have that learning experience.

It's a vanity project for parents OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your 8 year old's soccer team cut players?

Yes, my daughters U8 team has tryouts. What is your point?

Well this is off topic to the thread...but treating sports like that at age 8 is so unwise. 8 year olds should be in the DEVELOPMENTAL phase. Cutting kids at that point gives some kids an inflated sense of their abilities and could discourage others from continuing with the sport. What's going to happen to the little 8 year old whiz on the soccer field who thinks she/he is the best because they stood out at 8 when their small nimble size advantaged them...but then other kids grow big and strong and they stay small? Point is at 8 all competition should be is completely for FUN if it even exists at all. People in this area work so hard to feed their egos on their very young children's "abilities" that they lose all sight of reality.

Well I started t-ball at age 6 and there were cuts in baseball and softball every year starting at 7yrs old. Back in the 80's when it was completely normal to get cut from sports and dance if you weren't good enough. Before the copter moms came to be in the 2000's

Well that's sad and misguided because a person's skill in a sport at 7 is not always a good indicator of their skill in a sport at 17.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here who directed variety shows for 10 years. The show will not be entertaining if cuts and changes aren't made to the original tryouts. We cut the acts that are inappropriate lyrics or music, or kids that are not prepared and just stand there and wiggle. I think it's good for the kids to learn that you need to be prepared!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here who directed variety shows for 10 years. The show will not be entertaining if cuts and changes aren't made to the original tryouts. We cut the acts that are inappropriate lyrics or music, or kids that are not prepared and just stand there and wiggle. I think it's good for the kids to learn that you need to be prepared!

Totally agree with you on making changes, and also making cuts if the kids have obviously come unprepared but that is not the situation in this instance. At this school many and multiple acts are cut and most of them are kids who have prepared well for their auditions. There seems to be a premium placed on limiting the length of the show, while allowing individual acts to take as much time as they need, and therefore many kids are cut. And some kids make it in year after year while others get to participate once or not at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here who directed variety shows for 10 years. The show will not be entertaining if cuts and changes aren't made to the original tryouts. We cut the acts that are inappropriate lyrics or music, or kids that are not prepared and just stand there and wiggle. I think it's good for the kids to learn that you need to be prepared!

I agree that you need to be prepared and appropriate. But other than that, I agree with the PP: this is not "MCPS ES's Got Talent". If you're willing to do the work, you should get a spot in the elementary-school variety show.

As for entertaining -- since when is that the standard? I don't find the orchestra or band concerts entertaining, yet there they are, twice a year (or more), so twice a year (or more) I go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your 8 year old's soccer team cut players?

Yes, my daughters U8 team has tryouts. What is your point?

Well this is off topic to the thread...but treating sports like that at age 8 is so unwise. 8 year olds should be in the DEVELOPMENTAL phase. Cutting kids at that point gives some kids an inflated sense of their abilities and could discourage others from continuing with the sport. What's going to happen to the little 8 year old whiz on the soccer field who thinks she/he is the best because they stood out at 8 when their small nimble size advantaged them...but then other kids grow big and strong and they stay small? Point is at 8 all competition should be is completely for FUN if it even exists at all. People in this area work so hard to feed their egos on their very young children's "abilities" that they lose all sight of reality.

Well I started t-ball at age 6 and there were cuts in baseball and softball every year starting at 7yrs old. Back in the 80's when it was completely normal to get cut from sports and dance if you weren't good enough. Before the copter moms came to be in the 2000's

Well that's sad and misguided because a person's skill in a sport at 7 is not always a good indicator of their skill in a sport at 17.

Well obviously but there are teams for all different levels and abilities. And if you couldn't make the worst teams at age 7, that is a good indicator you need to A. practice more and better luck next time or B. Find a new sport that you could be good at.

Nowadays parents put their kids in sports as a social event and there are whiny brats out there that don't even want to play or be there. And somehow the coach must play them the same amount of time. Way too PC on the sports lately. All so uncoordinated, rather be home, Jimmy can play while his mom yaks it up on the sidelines and doesn't even pay attention. And then look - yay! We all got a trophy!!" Teaches such a great lesson.

[Anonymous]

Whatever "political correctness" means (and it seems to mean absolutely anything), I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean "sports teams for kids who don't want to play sports but their parents think they should and are willing to pay for it".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our ES does do cuts but tries to get kids in acts if another dancer, etc can be added. They tell them up fronts, only 3 piano acts will make it. It most cases the acts that don't make it did not oractice before tryouts and the teacher does not have to feel bad because they did not out in the effort like others. But I can understand how it is hard to get cut as a 7 year old. But hopefully they learn to try harder next year or try s different talent. The show is consistently amazing because of the teacher....

Yes I can see that. At our school many acts that have worked very hard get cut. There is no time limit on the specific acts, but many kids who have practiced hard do not get to participate.

Repeat after me: Hard work does not equal ability.

That's ridiculous!! Hard work and practice is directly related to a person's abilities in any endeavor! Ability=possession of the means or skill to do something. But since we are talking about the elementary school I guess what you're saying is that the kids involved in the variety show should be those who have parents who can afford to put them in expensive lessons or prepare them well since only the polished performers should have that learning experience.

It's a vanity project for parents OP.

So any kid can start shooting balls religiously after school everyday now and ten years make an NBA team? Sweeeeet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your 8 year old's soccer team cut players?

Yes, my daughters U8 team has tryouts. What is your point?

Well this is off topic to the thread...but treating sports like that at age 8 is so unwise. 8 year olds should be in the DEVELOPMENTAL phase. Cutting kids at that point gives some kids an inflated sense of their abilities and could discourage others from continuing with the sport. What's going to happen to the little 8 year old whiz on the soccer field who thinks she/he is the best because they stood out at 8 when their small nimble size advantaged them...but then other kids grow big and strong and they stay small? Point is at 8 all competition should be is completely for FUN if it even exists at all. People in this area work so hard to feed their egos on their very young children's "abilities" that they lose all sight of reality.

Well I started t-ball at age 6 and there were cuts in baseball and softball every year starting at 7yrs old. Back in the 80's when it was completely normal to get cut from sports and dance if you weren't good enough. Before the copter moms came to be in the 2000's

I also played t-ball at 6 years old in 1986, and continued playing baseball until 1994. Do you know how many hits I had in 8 years? TWO. TWO HITS. Somehow I was not cut from the team. So back in your golden 1980s, pre-helicopter moms, children were still allowed to participate in and learn from activities without being good at them.

I understand the need to limit acts for time and space, but if the kids follow the procedures, are prepared, and want to perform, they should be allowed. Are we no longer allowed to just do things because they're fun?