School dumps Nativity in favour of Diwali

A scene from a school Nativity play.

11 December 2006 09:20

A row has broken out after a primary school decided not to hold a Nativity play this Christmas - preferring instead to replace it with a multicultural performance.

Knowland Grove Community First School has defended its stance saying the show will explore different religions and help youngsters understand other cultures while still learning about Christmas, but some parents with children at the school have been enraged by the decision.

Beverley Browne, 49, a housewife from Knowland Grove, whose four-year-old grandson is at the school, said: “The Nativity is an important story and I think it's disgusting not to do it. Christmas should be all about the little ones learning about Jesus. This is political correctness gone crazy.”

But single mum Stella Molesworth, 43, from Jex Avenue, whose four-year-old daughter is at the school, said: “It's nice to have all different religions represented. I am open-minded because I have got different religions in my family. It's something new and the children seem to be enjoying it.”

Another mother, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she was upset, because the play had been a tradition at the school since she was a pupil there.

She said many mums felt so strongly that they were threatening to not send their children to school on the day of the performances.

The school's new show mirrors the national trend in which more schools are replacing the nativity play with alternative seasonal shows, despite many parents' complaints.

But Knowland head teacher Trudi Sharred said: “Christmas is alive and well in our school - our children have been singing carols and songs in the Mall, our Christmas tree is up and we will be sitting down to our Christmas meal this week.

“We decided this year to take a slightly different approach with our end of term production to include a look at some of the other great cultural festivals of the world while maintaining the traditional Christmas message. All the children I know are looking forward to taking part in our Festival of Lights.”

While the pupils are doing Christmas activities in their classes, each year group at the 100-pupil school, in the north of the city, are studying a different festival for the show.

Some of the festivals examined in the performance are the Jewish holiday Hanukkah and the Hindu festival of Diwali. Mrs Sharred said: “We fully expect the festival will be a very positive experience for our children.”

Do you think the Nativity should be performed at schools or are you in favour of a more multicultural approach? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE, e-mail eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk or log on to eveningnews24.co.uk/forums

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