Sticking up for School Nativity Plays

A vital role of schooling in the UK is to make sure that all young people are equipped to get along with people different from themselves – in terms of age, gender, race, culture, language, political affiliation and religious belief. We all need to understand other people's ideas, beliefs and values – by which I mean we all need to make a conscious effort to properly understand why other people think and do things the way they do – so we can get along together.

Rupert says: “At a time when schools have become increasingly focused on narrow  measures of academic attainment – sometimes neglecting anything which doesn't overtly contribute towards helping children improve their literacy or numeracy skills – Nativity plays value other subject areas and different kinds of learning.”

In the wake of the 7 July London bombings, it is vital for the UK to move beyond shallow phrases like ‘tolerance' (which implies a begrudging acceptance of people different from ourselves, just as long as they and their families don't live next door to us!) and, instead, rise to the challenge of building a society where genuine understanding, mutual respect and a joyful acceptance of difference is the norm.

To this end, every child – regardless of her/his parent's religion – is entitled to be taught about key religious and cultural events such as Chinese New Year, Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hanukkah and Guru Nanak's birthday. Hence, every school has an obligation to make sure that every pupil – not just those from church-going families – hears and understands the Christian stories of Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. And, what better way to learn about the story of Christmas than to put on a Nativity play?

Rupert says: “Being in a Nativity play helps children to understand that the effort and energy invested in rehearsals, costume design and prop-making results in a finished performance which brings pleasure and a sense of achievement to everyone involved. This, in turn, builds self-esteem and – far from diminishing children's attainment in the 3Rs – actually helps them learn more in all areas of the curriculum.”

School Nativity plays are a cultural treasure. They give children permission to have fun as they learn (by dressing up as Mary, Joseph, an inn keeper, angels, kings, shepherds, sheep, etc); they give adults licence to coo, dewy-eyed with pride, as Away in a Manger is sung to the accompaniment of a dozen discordant triangles; and they remind us all that there is something very special about coming together as a community to hear a story worth telling well told. And what a wonderful story it is! Christians believe that God chose to be born as a human baby in order to save the world. Nativity plays remind us that baby Jesus is God's present to everyone.

Perhaps, from time to time, we all need to be reminded that the birth of a child is a cause for celebration, and that each generation brings with it a new hope. Likewise, we all need to be reminded that there is much, much more to the Christian festival of Christmas than shopping, feasting and watching TV.

Rupert says: “I honestly don't think most people from non-Christian faith communities are offended by Nativity plays. To the contrary, I am sure most people are glad to see that the Christmas story still has a place in school. After all, if Christian festivals are deemed inappropriate or unworthy of recognition in schools in the UK, what hope is there that Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Sikh festivals will be treated respectfully? The overwhelming majority of people from all faith communities want to see religious freedom and religious education valued in every school in the UK. I do not think it is a healthy state of affairs when misguided-but-well-meaning white, middle class intellectuals try to second-guess what Muslim, Jewish or Hindu people might find objectionable.”

Nativity plays don't force Christian beliefs on families who don't follow that faith but they do encourage all people – young and old – to appreciate our rich human culture and to ponder truth-claims which are both profound and sacred. Nativity plays – and other such religious and cultural landmarks in the school calendar – have an important role to play in promoting the mutual understanding and trust that is a prerequisite to building a future where all people of all faiths (and none) can live and work happily together.

Posted by Rupert Kaye, ACT Chief Executive, on 31 August 2005