Canvey Island Nativity

[Gob]

A primary school has been criticised after they ditched the traditional Christmas nativity, opting to stage a 'cops and robbers' themed play.

Parents have been left fuming by the school's decision to choose the modernised play, in which their children sing Away in a Manger with a completely different set of lyrics. The play, which will be performed by 11-year-olds at Canvey Junior School in Essex, gets rid of traditional characters Mary and Joseph, instead focusing on the tale of two violent robbers.


Headteacher Janet Vaughan said the play, which has been previously published and was downloaded from the internet, is 'fun' and 'lighthearted'. She said: 'The outcome is the robbers are caught and banged to rights and the true meaning of Christmas comes across very strongly with a nativity at the end.' 'It is nice to have a fun element to any sort of Christmas production and we always have a religious basis to it as well. 'It is very, very funny and nothing more than a light-hearted version of events.'

Referring to the updated lyrics to Away in a Manger, she said: 'It's nonsense to say the words are anything other than tongue-in-cheek and the children understand that.'

After receiving a parent's complaint, Mrs Vaughan wrote to all parents saying if they had similar concerns their child could be withdrawn from the play. However, she said despite one child not taking part, other parents have been supportive of the production. She added: 'Our productions are always absolutely excellent, the kids get such a lot out of it.'

HOW THE SCHOOL HAS DONE IT
Away with the manger,
Two robbers stole it,
They were called Bob and Bill,
And they were both big twits.

The story you will now hear,
Will amaze and astound,
As you see how these two fools,
Did much clowning around.

Our brilliant story begins,
Not very long ago,
A week before Christmas,
With the streets filled with snow.

The two twits decided,
To rob a jewellery shop,
Stealing rubies and emeralds and avoiding the cops.

They knocked off the jewellers,
Though it was broad daylight,
They stole loads of diamonds,
To their utter delight.

But soon the two twits were,
In complete disarray,
As they'd given no thought to,
How they'd get away

[MajGenl.Meade]

Written by a school teacher with no sense of rhyme, rhythm or reason I'll be bound. Durn thing doesn't even scan.

[rubato]

My ILs (Episcopal) church in Portland staged a Christmas pageant one year which involved a dog and spiders ...

Some things should be left free of innovation.

yrs,
rubato

[dgs49]

As I have explained in this space before there are two (2) unrelated holidays celebrated on December 25. One is a holy day, when Christian celebrate the nativity of the Son of God. The other is a festive holiday on which many exchange gifts.

Unfortunately both holidays have the same name, which confuses some people.

A secular school has no business celebrating the Nativity, which is a purely religious occasion. How they choose to celebrate the secular holiday is entirely up to them. The problem here is that they have absurdly commingled the two feasts, making a mess of it entirely. "Sung to the tune of Away In A Manger?" You gotta be kidding me.

[Lord Jim]

As I have explained in this space before there are two (2) unrelated holidays celebrated on December 25. One is a holy day, when Christian celebrate the nativity of the Son of God. The other is a festive holiday on which many exchange gifts.

Unfortunately both holidays have the same name, which confuses some people.

A secular school has no business celebrating the Nativity, which is a purely religious occasion. How they choose to celebrate the secular holiday is entirely up to them.

Dave, you really are a kill joy, aren't you?....

[dales]

[Lord Jim]

We can celebrate The Birth Of Christ and the whole Santa Claus thing....

Simultaneously...

It really isn't all that complicated; we've managed to do it for over a hundred years....

I suspect we'll be able to do it for another hundred....

[Lord Jim]

there are two (2) unrelated holidays celebrated on December 25. One is a holy day, when Christian celebrate the nativity of the Son of God. The other is a festive holiday on which many exchange gifts.

Is that how you explained it to your kids when they were little, on Christmas morning?

I doubt even you were that big a Scrooge...

[dgs49]

Christmas (Nativity): Creche, Church, Christmas carols (e.g., "Away in a Manger," "Silent Night"), family dinner.

Christmas (holiday, "Winter Solstice"): Santa Clause*, gift-giving, Christmas songs (e.g., "Here Comes Santa Clause"), decorated Christmas tree (a pagan symbol of life in mid-Winter)

Keep the creche away from the tree. Don't put an angel on top of the tree, make it a star.

We all know people who have birthdays on Christmas, New Year's, the occasional Thanksgiving, and so on. It is not impossible to celebrate them separately, even though they fall on the same day.

It is simply a matter of keeping them separate. Don't connect Santa Clause with "Baby Jesus."

There is nothing un-American about removing religious symbols from government property. If they want to have a decorated tree or even Santa Clause paraphernalia that's fine, but keep Jesus out of it.

_____________________
* Santa Clause is arguably a religious figure, but I don't think kids who are young enough to believe in Santa Clause will independently make the connection with Saint Nicholas. Hell, if they believe he can come down the chimney they are not logicians.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I celebrate the season of giving for purely selfish reasons as has been pointed out to me. My wife however, gives and gives and gives and never needs nor wants anything in return. She is a Saint as far as I am concerned.

[dales]

[rubato]

"...

There is nothing un-American about removing religious symbols from government property. If they want to have a decorated tree or even Santa Clause paraphernalia that's fine, but keep Jesus out of it.

_____________________
* Santa Clause is arguably a religious figure, but I don't think kids who are young enough to believe in Santa Clause will independently make the connection with Saint Nicholas. Hell, if they believe he can come down the chimney they are not logicians.

It's a Christmas Miracle! dgs is turning liberal right before our eyes!

yrs,
rubato

[rubato]

He's got that naughty-nice list going on so you know he's pretty smart, and hey, he's wearing Chinese Red. I'm guessing he's one of the three wise men from the east. Am I right?

yrs,
rubato

[Sue U]