Walton Co. School Board Meets about Blithe Spirit!!

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I haven't read "Blithe Spirit" and I'm not sure that I really want to; I'm not really interested in reading nonsense. However from the sound of things it apparently includes some witchcraft, and other controversial matter. My daughter goes to SWHS, and she tells of the problems there. Drug and alcohol use, fighting, teen pregnancy, pornography, and so on. It would seem to me that the students shouldn't be encouraged so much by the administration in rebellious behavior, which is what this play apparently is. The play makes a statement to the students, and the community of what is acceptable. If it's okay on the stage, then it's okay to participate in whatever outrageous behavior they can dream up in the school. If the play goes forward, then expect consequences to follow. For example, a pep rally is intended to stimulate the students for a sucessful game. The mind is like a very complicated computer, what ever we put into it is going to come out.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Reading and functional literacy are fundamental to the success of a democracy such as ours.

Read, it is patriotic, it honors those who founded this country, and more than anything it is fundamental to this discussion.

Please read and understand the play and then we can discuss the play all you want, but on another thread.

The issue on this thread has a great deal to do about outsiders being able to hamstring the school system at their every whim. It has more to do with getting the parents and schools together to fix the system so that such matters are quickly and appropriately resolved.

As a side note:
In a quick google search I found about 3000 hits for high school and blithe spirit. Of those, the ones I read, all were high school productions of the play. I added words such as censorship, banned, and several others to searches looking for other schools that might have had problems with the play. About 50 came up; of those none that I read actually connected censorship or any of the other words to the play. That is, the words and the play came up just as coincidence.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I believe everyone who cares about free speech and democracy (there are some of us left) needs to be concerned about what these people who are complaining are really up to.

What is their agenda? What is their relationship to the school? What prompted the complaint? If they do not have children in the school, then how are they involved to the point that they are dictating to the school system what can and can not be produced?

And, I believe that the procedures need to be reevaluated so that this kind of situation does not occur again.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I haven't read "Blithe Spirit" and I'm not sure that I really want to; I'm not really interested in reading nonsense.

If you haven't read it, how do you know it is nonsense?

However from the sound of things it apparently includes some witchcraft, and other controversial matter.

Apparently you need to read the play....there is no witchcraft in it.

My daughter goes to SWHS, and she tells of the problems there. Drug and alcohol use, fighting, teen pregnancy, pornography, and so on.

My son goes to a very rural high school..guess what, there is drugs, teen pregnancy, alcohol use, fighting, and I am sure porn. They are in every school. I am more worried about those things than I am a play for goodness sakes. Where are those people that are complaining about this play when it comes to the more serious issues in the school. Why are they not out trying to change those teen pregnancy numbers, getting the drugs and porn out of the school. huh?

It would seem to me that the students shouldn't be encouraged so much by the administration in rebellious behavior, which is what this play apparently is. The play makes a statement to the students, and the community of what is acceptable. If it's okay on the stage, then it's okay to participate in whatever outrageous behavior they can dream up in the school. If the play goes forward, then expect consequences to follow. For example, a pep rally is intended to stimulate the students for a sucessful game. The mind is like a very complicated computer, what ever we put into it is going to come out.

I am curious, does your daughter watch TV? If so, she is being exposed to so much more than what this play is about. This is a comedy for crying out loud. I really think you need to read the play before you cast your judgements. I don't think Blithe Spirit is going to turn good kids into evil beings. I know the ones that acted it out when I was going to school all those years ago are still fine and dandy. And, those of us that actually went to see the play didn't turn out so bad either. Sometimes, there just are no words.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

When my daughter was in HS, her drama teacher wanted to do it but school admin vetoed due to the ghosts and s?ance but this was a private Christain school.

I personally would see nothing wrong with it.

If you haven't read it, how do you know it is nonsense?
Apparently you need to read the play....there is no witchcraft in it.

"due to the ghosts and s?ance" qualifies it as witchcraft. Actually, I don't read fiction, and haven't for about 25 years. Don't have time.

My son goes to a very rural high school..guess what, there is drugs, teen pregnancy, alcohol use, fighting, and I am sure porn. They are in every school. I am more worried about those things than I am a play for goodness sakes. Where are those people that are complaining about this play when it comes to the more serious issues in the school. Why are they not out trying to change those teen pregnancy numbers, getting the drugs and porn out of the school. huh?

A mountain of serious issues begins with 1 step. How exactly do you suggest we tackle the issues plaguing our schools, if we don't examine what is being taught and sponsored? Garbage in, garbage out.

I am curious, does your daughter watch TV? If so, she is being exposed to so much more than what this play is about. This is a comedy for crying out loud. I really think you need to read the play before you cast your judgements. I don't think Blithe Spirit is going to turn good kids into evil beings. I know the ones that acted it out when I was going to school all those years ago are still fine and dandy. And, those of us that actually went to see the play didn't turn out so bad either. Sometimes, there just are no words.

Sure we watch TV. I do however talk with my kids about what's on it, and we really don't enjoy quite a number of programs. These are our children, they reflect us, and they learn from us. The problems in school are a result. As much as you insist that there is nothing wrong with the choices you've made, how can you complain with the results?

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

...what happens when the children grow up and have minds of their own?

Please excuse me for cluttering up this thread...it is an important one.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I have no horse in this race but since I did comment at the beginning, prior to knowing what race I was entering, I will go on record and say I see absolutely nothing wrong about this play. And the funny thing about my daughter's school was they vetoed Blythe Spirit and replaced it with Midsummer's Night's Dream. Which went from ghosts to fairies.

You can't teach history, literature, or drama without encountering some ghosts, etc. Surely no one would protest Macbeth, and if so that is truly sad.

One of my favorite high school memories is acting out parts of Macbeth and my 2 best friends and I did the 3 witches scene. It did not corrupt us in the least. Double, double, toil and trouble. Complete with a caldron and dry ice.

Students do not need to be programmed like computers they need to be given guidance and educated, so they can make decisions on their own.

If this controversy had not arisen most students would not have even given a thought to the possiblity of it being inappropriate. The publicity certainly will though.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

...what happens when the children grow up and have minds of their own?

Please excuse me for cluttering up this thread...it is an important one.

Let's hope that it's theirs, based on facts, knowing both sides of an issue. With strength and courage to speak for what they believe, regardless of popularity.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

... I don't think Blithe Spirit is going to turn good kids into evil beings. I know the ones that acted it out when I was going to school all those years ago are still fine and dandy. And, those of us that actually went to see the play didn't turn out so bad either.

To answer, the students in the high school today are the children of those who, "are fine and dandy and didn't turn out so bad" along with the children of those who did.
Have you never heard the saying, a root in the grandparent, a bush in the parent, a tree in the child? Our kids tend to take everything a step further. Yet, we have problems in our schools. Why? I think the answer is found at home. You made the choices to live and believe and act on what you did, and your children have learned those things and will go further. Why do we need birth control in middle school?

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

Let's hope that it's theirs, based on facts, knowing both sides of an issue. With strength and courage to speak for what they believe, regardless of popularity.

I call BS on this one.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I find it very peculiar that a play that was written in the early 1940s to much acclaim and made into a movie in the mid-40s should be causing such consternation to certain parents in the 21st century. I thought it was the job of the human race to progress not regress.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I find it very peculiar that a play that was written in the early 1940s to much acclaim and made into a movie in the mid-40s should be causing such consternation to certain parents in the 21st century. I thought it was the job of the human race to progress not regress.

It may be the job of the human race to progress, but after seeing commercials, I'm not sure that it hasn't regressed.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I wonder if there is some underlying reason why "concerned parents" are objecting to this play? I've seen this same thing happen when my children were in school, when the lead, the solo, the only slot on the team went to someone other than the "concerned parent's" child.


Too bad this energy isn't being spent to tutor, mentor, or make a positive difference in a child's life. After all, when has censorship ever had positive results?

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I went through Catholic schools for pretty much all of K-12, and we hit our fair share of big name supernatural literature over those years in required English class. Everyone in my 11th grade English Lit class was required to read and report on 'The Turn of the Screw' much to my dismay because it took me less than 30 pages to discover that I loathed the book because, well it sucked. And how can you cover humanities in the Western World without discussing the supernaturally-influenced Arthur myths?

So I find it odd and a bad sign that a group of parents can shut down an afterschool non-compulsory activity at a public school because of the witchcraft complaints.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

As a Catholic looking at Rome from across the Rubicon, I am fairly certain the complainer's religious creed does not view Roman Catholics as true Christians. Some dangerous works I remember from good old St Paul High-The Hobbit(wizards!), Beowulf(violence!), Julius Caesar (ides of March, soothsayers, assasination!), Hamlet (ghosts!), Cathcher in the Rye (sex!), Canterbury Tales(too much to mention)...and while I never was in a play, I remember them doing M*A*S*H, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Odd Couple.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

Oh what a thread this has turned into!

Thanks everyone for your support- on this thread and by PM. The Walton Sun had a front page article, a full editorial, AND an editorial cartoon.

Our computer at home is on the blink, so if you try and contact me about Blithe Spirit, I won't be able to get back to you immediately. Please somone hold a seance for my computer and bring it back from the dead.

Bdarg has some great posts!

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

Oh what a thread this has turned into!

Thanks everyone for your support- on this thread and by PM. The Walton Sun had a front page article, a full editorial, AND an editorial cartoon.

Our computer at home is on the blink, so if you try and contact me about Blithe Spirit, I won't be able to get back to you immediately. Please somone hold a seance for my computer and bring it back from the dead.

Bdarg has some great posts!

That offends me. Please change it.

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

Oh what a thread this has turned into!

Thanks everyone for your support- on this thread and by PM. The Walton Sun had a front page article, a full editorial, AND an editorial cartoon.

Our computer at home is on the blink, so if you try and contact me about Blithe Spirit, I won't be able to get back to you immediately. Please somone hold a seance for my computer and bring it back from the dead.

Bdarg has some great posts!

Kudos to the Walton Sun!

This situation has given us an interesting topic of discussion with our 16 yr old. Opened her eyes to things she didn't know went on.

jdarg - get that computer back up and running pronto! Doesn't SoWal have a resident computer tech?? .

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

I checked the Walton County Board of Education website this morning to see if they had scheduled the special session that they said they required to resolve this issue. As of this morning no special session had been scheduled to resolve this matter.

Please continue to write the school board and the Newspaper editors to let them know that we are still concerned that the current school system policy leaves our children's education vulnerable to the whims of a fanatic few.


The board's website with email addresses and schedules is:

http://www.walton.k12.fl.us/

Re: Have questions about "Blithe Spirit"

Front page article in the Beach Breeze/Defuniak Herald. Thanks to Alicia Leonard, who really put a lot of time and effort into this article.

The kids are starting rehearsals for Harvey. We will keep you updated on Blithe Spirit. Thanks to everyone who has voiced support and recognized the importance of this matter.

Please please attend this meeting if you want to start the ball rolling to get this challenge process changed! Currently, anything taught in the Walton County Schools can be challenged by anybody for any reason. Once a book, play, classroom concept, etc. has been formally challenged, the students have to be "hands off" until the challenge is completed. We would like to change this challenge process to let the students continue work on challenged material until a FINAL decision is made by the board. The way the policy works now, only the party making the challenge has any rights or power, which is unacceptable.

Of course we want to see Blithe Spirit approved and performed at SWHS. We also want to make sure this situation does not happen again- please attend this meeting and let your voice be heard!

I will be attending with both kids- let's fill up that auditorium!!!!

Dang- i didn't realize it "took" the first attempt!!

Oh well- more exposure!!

:roll: :roll::roll::roll:

Just do "Oklahoma" and let's move on!

.

i think i will challenge algebra and biology, and the skirts that the cheerleaders wear are waaay too short.

:roll: :roll::roll::roll:

Just do "Oklahoma" and let's move on!

.

Who's to say that Oklahoma wouldn't be challenged...with the murderous song, "Poor Jud is Dead" and the scandalous "I'm Just A Girl Who Can't Say No"...?

Musicals are also expensive to produce, and I would imagine the SWHS drama department, like most drama departments, could use some increased funding...that's a different thread for a different debate, though.