No Nativity play because of Muslims

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-109159 4/Primary-school-cancels-nativity-play-interfe res-Muslim-festival-Eid.html

Why could the school not have chosen an all white cast for the Nativity play, or would they then been accused of racism?

But then perhaps in this school it is the white children that are the minority, therefore there would not have been enough children to make up the cast.

[Quinlad]

AOG, are you seriously saying that it's good journalism to regurgitate a press statement without contacting the issuer for fact-checking or to get a quote?

You don't even get that in trade magazines.

[Gromit]

AOG

This is irrelevant, it is not a Nativity play. (the subject under discussion)

The nativity play part is a fabrication. An untruth. The journalist has misled you. There was never a christmas nativity play planned at this school. All along they were going to stage the pantomime 'Cinderella'.

'Cinderella' is nothing to do with christianity. It is a fairy Story (apparently based on one of the stories from The Arabian Nights).

[Gromit]

By the way, the school is going ahead with its Christmas Carols Concert as originally planned.

In a statement, the school said it planned to stage Cinderella on January 28 and 29.
It said: "The date of the pantomime was only set recently, once we were confident that pupils and staff would be fully prepared.
"Because of this, and the full calendar of events happening in the lead-up to Christmas, we were unable to fit it into the schedule.
The "full calendar" comprised a range of events, including a Christmas carol concert and Eid celebrations, a Nottingham City Council spokeswoman said.

[anotheoldgit]

AOG, are you seriously saying that it's good journalism to regurgitate a press statement without contacting the issuer for fact-checking or to get a quote?

If for example the Palace issued a press statement, would one then be knocking on the front door of 'Buck House' for fact checking or even to get a quote?

[anotheoldgit]

I will concede on the one point of it being Cinderella or a Nativity Play if it does prove to be a false report.

But either way it makes very little difference in the general run of things. Whatever the occasion it was posponed due to the Islamic celebrations.

Why couldn't it have still taken place, without the Muslim pupils, and why are they allowed extra days off school, why not close the whole school?

[Gromit]

At the stage when the article was written the school had not issued a press statement. The story was based on a letter sent out to parents. In that case, it would have been fair to ask the school to comment. But the Mail is not interested in being fair. If they had asked the school, they would have got a reply like the press statement issued after the story had appeared, (extract above) which would have revealed the whole story was untrue.

Its a bit sloppy not to know the difference between nativity play and a Pantomime.

[Quinlad]

"If for example the Palace issued a press statement, would one then be knocking on the front door of 'Buck House' for fact checking or even to get a quote?"

Yes actually! Do you know anything about journalism??

The royal correspondents will phone their contacts at the palace. They'll challenge them, ask for clarification, get a quote. No proper journalist just cuts and pastes from a press release. That's basic. Same with any subject matter you care to name.