Honestly, I feel like this is why my children's school doesn't do cute little plays/shows anymore. Every little thing is over analyzed and criticized.

I actually agree with your thought process, but if I were a teacher and got flak for trying to do something that extends the curriculum beyond boring worksheets, I wouldn't do it anymore. It's just not worth it.

OP-I think the Thanksgiving plays are stupid and dated too. BUT people LOVE them! We talk out of both sides of our mouth as a society!

I have a hard time grappling with the fact that you are seriously concerned about this. Save your feedback for issues that are really important. For all you know no girls volunteered to be president.

I am sure the teacher in no way said to the class "only boys can be presidents because girls are inferior and should only be secretaries"

i am sure the kids did a great job and had a good time w/out giving it a second thought.

move on.

I don't believe that this play happened, at least not in this area. Bosses and quilters?? No way. How outlandish.

OP, did your daughter request to be one of the presidents and was told she had to sew a flag because she was a girl?

Were any girls the president?

Did your daughter WANT to be one of the girls?

Does she, like most five year old girls, have an aversion to wearing something so manish as a fake paper beard or would she find that yucky?

I think those are the questions you need answered first by your dwughter before you jump over the teacher about something likely to be very trivial.

I am a teacher and this would not be my reaction. I feel bad that I screwed up the lesson (this teacher clearly doesn't understand the separation of powers between the 3 branches), was insensitive to gender, and required parental intervention.

Well, I was a teacher, and it would have bothered me on something like this. When you are working hard and doing a good job, things like this are silly.

Anonymous wrote:My child was in a "Patriotic" class play today. Many different children had different roles. It was lovely and I appreciate the hard work the teacher must have put into it.

I was disappointed that only boys were in the group where the children pretended to be President and sang/talked about how the President is the boss of our country.

I realize it's historically accurate. But what does it tell the kids that the boys were in the boss group and the girls, instead, were dressed up and sang a song about Betsy Ross and sewing flags? How are little girls supposed to begin to think about the real possibility of being President if they get this message as early as Kindergarten?

Frankly, I'd be more pissed about the idea that the President is boss...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No

Can you explain why you think so?

Because I'm a teacher and if I get an email from you about this issue, I will roll my eyes, tell all my colleagues at lunch how sensitive you are, and not change a thing.

Unless your kid is hurt, being bullied, struggling with the material, anxious or otherwise in need of help, I don't need to hear from you.

Have you ever contacted the teacher when you thought a lesson was well done? Or when your DD came home and told you about an awesome lesson that day? So don't bother critiquing a lesson like this that hasn't harmed your child in the slightest.

I am a teacher and this would not be my reaction. I feel bad that I screwed up the lesson (this teacher clearly doesn't understand the separation of powers between the 3 branches), was insensitive to gender, and required parental intervention.

Or, like when I was in fifth grade and wanted to be in the minuet. Half of his had to dress as boys because the boys wouldn't participate in the minuet...............

Kindergarten?

Very likely the girls didn't want to be a BOY. Boys have cooties at that age and most kindergartners are very sensitive about being a boy or girl.

Very likely the teacher just let the kids be what they wanted to be and the majority of girls did not want to dress up like Abrwham Lincoln.

In my kid's kindergarten class they made pilgrim hats and Indian head dresses for Thanksgiving. The kids picked. Only one girl picked to be an Indian, and she said she wasn't a brave she was Pocahontas. All of the other girls dressed (by their choice) as girl pilgrims. Many wore skirts to school that day. The boys were split 40/60 Indian to pilgrim.

Don't complain about stupid stuff.

The teachers are less likely to bring parents in for fun stuff like this when they get a bunch of silly complaints.