Walton Co. School Board Meets about Blithe Spirit!!

[Teresa]

Did the system really work? Maybe the process of gov't worked, but it seems to me that two things really happened here. 1) The kids lost out on their education in performance arts, and 2) The kids got a lesson in Local Gov't. Maybe #2 outweighs #1.

it seems to me the system did not work. hopefully the kids learned something, but I don't like the stress and negative pressure placed upon the school, teacher and children.

thanks to parents like jdarg who have the energy and ability and determination to be such leaders in our community. you make a tremendous difference. and the children learn good things from your actions.

another good thing that may happen here: drama department and students working with the Seaside Rep, and perhaps performing the play in the community where they will receive even greater experience, visibility and support. an alliance with our professional community theater sounds like an excellent opportunity for highschool students serious about drama.

 

[Smiling JOe]

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As for the alcohol on stage, around here I think it has to do with the drug/tobacco/alcohol-free campus issues. There are usually pretty serious consequences for possession (by anyone, but particularly students) on campus, and the temptation can be too great for the kids to have realistic "props" and then say, "But it was for a play I'm doing!"

Props are only symbolic. Reminds me of the kid who drew a picture during class which had a guy holding a gun. He was removed for school for breaking the No Gun on Campus policy. I guess they should also ban American and World History from the curriculum.

I understand the idea of not glorifying alcohol consumption. The truth is these kids learn more about drinking from tv, music, and their parents, than they will learn about it in a play. It is a freaking play.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Going back to WaltonGOP's comments about participatory gov't. I, too, am amazed at the lack of interest (scratch that), make that "energy," in our citizens regarding their input in gov't. Attending County meetings is exhausting, but if you want to create your community, get involved and keep up with what our local gov't is doing. If you feel crazy enough, run for office to fight for your cause. These "leaders" only hold an office of leadership, but that alone doesn't make a leader. Too often, I see people show up for one item on the agenda. They do make a statement about their opinions by just showing up, but there are numerous important decisions being made at every meeting. I am still surprised that we don't have a local tv channel broadcasting every County Mtg, like they do in other towns.

It does sound like much energy has gone into this one issue, and that is a start. I know it can get exhausting, but keep up the fight and "always question all authority." Get involved and stay involved. It is OUR gov't and let's remind the elected officials of this very often.

 

[NoHall]

Props are only symbolic. Reminds me of the kid who drew a picture during class which had a guy holding a gun. He was removed for school for breaking the No Gun on Campus policy. I guess they should also ban American and World History from the curriculum.

I understand the idea of not glorifying alcohol consumption. The truth is these kids learn more about drinking from tv, music, and their parents, than they will learn about it in a play. It is a freaking play.

All that you said is absolutely true. The plays are not a problem, nor is the kid who drew a picture of a gun. That's just plain ridiculous.

But I've known too many kids to count who will bring their liquor bottles in for a play without emptying them of the original product first. Like I said, the temptation is too great.

I love kids, and think that every one of them is amazing. But out of every 20 who would read this and say, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, and I would never do that!" There is one who has had a momentary lapse of reason and has done something like that.

As a teacher or administrator, it really is simpler to take alcohol and firearms out of public school theatre altogether. I know it's a slippery slope, and I know I'm being the devil's advocate here. (And I'm also preparing myself for my upcoming stint in military school! They can't even have aerosol deodorants there...)

 

[Smiling JOe]

So it sounds like your "fear" would be that the actor might actually get drunk on stage. That is lame. No one ever said they had to actually have anything in the bottle for a play. The focus should be on the acting, not the props. They don't even have to have a liquor label on the bottle. They could even use a drinking glass as the prop.

 

[NoHall]

So it sounds like your "fear" would be that the actor might actually get drunk on stage. That is lame.

I hardly fear that, and it truly is lame. (Although I have a friend who was suspended back in the early '80s for getting drunk on stage when GHS did Grease! It was the last show of the year, and he was a senior, so he was celebrating...) But I fear that one of my kids will get suspended for bringing alcohol on campus a few days before the play, which is a fear that I've seen turn to reality over and over.

No one ever said they had to actually have anything in the bottle for a play. The focus should be on the acting, not the props. They don't even have to have a liquor label on the bottle. They could even use a drinking glass as the prop.

Usually in plays like Harvey, that's exactly what they do. The director supplies the water/apple juice. But most directors won't mess with a bottle at all, label or not.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I cannot help but think about ShallowsNole telling us that in Defuniak Springs, the females working in County offices are required to wear dresses or skirts.

If a kid is going to get drunk and show up at school, I don't think anyone can blame it on a play. There are numerous things which could happen to any of the actors anytime up to and including during the play. That should not be a fear. I'd be more scared of one of them getting in a car crash, but that too seems senseless worry.

 

[NoHall]

I cannot help but think about ShallowsNole telling us that in Defuniak Springs, the females working in County offices are required to wear dresses or skirts.

If a kid is going to get drunk and show up at school, I don't think anyone can blame it on a play. There are numerous things which could happen to any of the actors anytime up to and including during the play. That should not be a fear. I'd be more scared of one of them getting in a car crash, but that too seems senseless worry.

But I think that the title of this thread shows that people will do dumb@$$ things and place blame whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Like I said, I'm just playing devil's advocate. I agree that it's an awful way too look at things.

As for the other hazards, the kids in my upcoming college play are already getting speeches on wearing seatbelts, washing hands, not sharing food/beverages, getting enough sleep, taking care of their voices...

 

[Smiling JOe]

...

As for the other hazards, the kids in my upcoming college play are already getting speeches on wearing seatbelts, washing hands, not sharing food/beverages, getting enough sleep, taking care of their voices...

You should include, not eating poultry which has been sitting out for more than two hours. Gobble, Gobble!

 

[Rita]

Questor, I have a question. If the play has been left in the curriculum, can't it be taught in the classroom? I understand that the school has a set curriculum to be taught, but let's say an English teacher choses it for a Jr. level class and she had 5 sections. He/She would be reaching a large amount of students with this work. Heck, a teacher could offer it as an extra credit reading to their students.

I also wonder if the real truth of why this debacle began in the first place will ever see the public? Things aren't always as they seem...just like in "Blithe Spirit".

Care to share what you know? Is there a grudge held by someone who has decided to make the whole school along with the drama department suffer because of it?

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