Walton Co. School Board Meets about Blithe Spirit!!

C'mon, now, JDarg--If you just leave out the parts that refer to sex and teenage pregnancy and drinking and smoking and cussing and more sex, Grease is a sweet little (5 minute) musical.

"Tell me more, tell me more....."

I really dont think it is any of your business where i go to school and it is really has no concern to this thread but just to make you happy i am attending OWC as part of dual enrollment full-time so that i will have my Acting Associates Degree when i graduate from high school. I am apart of SWHS International Thespian Society and i was in all three plays last year. I have been to two performing arts schools where i have majored in theatre and musical theatre. I have directed two full length musicals and i have been in four plays. I have also performed in Trumbauer music and theatre competition for solo comedic male song in the district and state competition. And yes my parent does know that i post stuff on this site and she doesnt have a problem with it. So there, are you happy? Any other questions?

For one, the nutcracker is not being produced by the school. But still the reason why we are against blithe spirit is not because of "magic" it is because of the "darkness" of the play.

I don't know what performing arts schools you've been attending, but you are going to have a VERY limited career if you are already trying to get "dark" plays banned when you are still in high school. You'll find that there's nothing the professional theatre community loves quite as much as censorship :roll:.

I don't know what performing arts schools you've been attending, but you are going to have a VERY limited career if you are already trying to get "dark" plays banned when you are still in high school. You'll find that there's nothing the professional theatre community loves quite as much as censorship :roll:.

I held auditions for a show tonight. I mentioned this mess to the director I'm working with, and we laughed about how it's nearly impossible to find a show that someone won't object to. Even Shakespeare is messy. (How many of his shows involve witchcraft and "dark" themes?)

I held auditions for a show tonight. I mentioned this mess to the director I'm working with, and we laughed about how it's nearly impossible to find a show that someone won't object to. Even Shakespeare is messy. (How many of his shows involve witchcraft and "dark" themes?)

You can't please everyone 100% of the time and if you try, you'll end up with such a watered down boring mess that noone will like it anyway!

Why do I have the crazy notion that plays & great literature are supposed to be thought provoking and have ideas and themes that challenge the mind and the status quo? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was educated with books that would apparently be banned and by wonderful teachers they would probably try to get fired.

If you don't like a book, you choose not to read it, you don't ban it and look for the lighter fluid.

If you don't like a play, you don't go see it. This is even easier to do when it is a school production and you don't even have kids in that school :roll:.

As far as dark or adult themes, I think I'll do a little reading before going to sleep. Should I read the Bible story about fratricide (Cain & Abel), voyeurism and adultery (David & Bathsheba), an angel of death slaughtering infants in their cribs (Moses), genocide (Esther) or one of the many passages involving polygamy, prostitution, slavery, or murder?

You can't please everyone 100% of the time and if you try, you'll end up with such a watered down boring mess that noone will like it anyway!

Why do I have the crazy notion that plays & great literature are supposed to be thought provoking and have ideas and themes that challenge the mind and the status quo? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was educated with books that would apparently be banned and by wonderful teachers they would probably try to get fired.

If you don't like a book, you choose not to read it, you don't ban it and look for the lighter fluid.

If you don't like a play, you don't go see it. This is even easier to do when it is a school production and you don't even have kids in that school :roll:.

As far as dark or adult themes, I think I'll do a little reading before going to sleep. Should I read the Bible story about fratricide (Cain & Abel), voyeurism and adultery (David & Bathsheba), an angel of death slaughtering infants in their cribs (Moses), genocide (Esther) or one of the many passages involving polygamy, prostitution, slavery, or murder?

BRAVO

Why are people complaining about these emails that were sent out?

To be quite frank, everyone could have sent out emails if they wanted to. That was your choice and to me it just sounds like jealousy.

It's not that an email was sent out to rally for a cause that I find disturbing - it's the sweepingly ignorant message contained in the email posted that I am absolutely blown away by. The tone is alarmist and paranoid and it preaches intolerance for other religions. It's a stellar example of what is wrong with organized religion and why it's become dangerous IMO.

I honestly - I'm serious here - don't understand how anyone can read something like that and not question the integrity of the church - or maybe on a grander scale the religion - they are affliated with.

As far as dark or adult themes, I think I'll do a little reading before going to sleep. Should I read the Bible story about fratricide (Cain & Abel), voyeurism and adultery (David & Bathsheba), an angel of death slaughtering infants in their cribs (Moses), genocide (Esther) or one of the many passages involving polygamy, prostitution, slavery, or murder?

Scooterbug44, I was thinking the same thing last night,. The Bible has many stories that others can view as :shock:.
Thanks for posting what I did not feel like writing...

It's not that an email was sent out to rally for a cause that I find disturbing - it's the sweepingly ignorant message contained in the email posted that I am absolutely blown away by. The tone is alarmist and paranoid and it preaches intolerance for other religions. It's a stellar example of what is wrong with organized religion and why it's become dangerous IMO.

I honestly - I'm serious here - don't understand how anyone can read something like that and not question the integrity of the church - or maybe on a grander scale the religion - they are affliated with.

They think it is a plank in the platform that keeps them outta Hell. Or so they are told.

And one more thing I thought about over the weekend...Jews and Christians alike accept the erotica in the Old Testament's Song of Solomon as an allegory of God's love of Israel...why is it so difficult to pound it through some noggins that not everything written is meant to be taken literally? Never read Solomon's Song? Google it; it is racy, way racier than anything in Blithe Spirit.

You can't please everyone 100% of the time and if you try, you'll end up with such a watered down boring mess that noone will like it anyway!

Why do I have the crazy notion that plays & great literature are supposed to be thought provoking and have ideas and themes that challenge the mind and the status quo? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was educated with books that would apparently be banned and by wonderful teachers they would probably try to get fired.

If you don't like a book, you choose not to read it, you don't ban it and look for the lighter fluid.

If you don't like a play, you don't go see it. This is even easier to do when it is a school production and you don't even have kids in that school :roll:.

As far as dark or adult themes, I think I'll do a little reading before going to sleep. Should I read the Bible story about fratricide (Cain & Abel), voyeurism and adultery (David & Bathsheba), an angel of death slaughtering infants in their cribs (Moses), genocide (Esther) or one of the many passages involving polygamy, prostitution, slavery, or murder?

The bold part is what we have been saying since we first heard about this whole fiasco.

But I agree with everything. I couldn't have put it better myself.

Truethespian will go far in church theater.;-)

He had mentioned that the school should have performed Grease instead of Blithe Spirit. I laughed out loud, then Googled to find out what I already knew- that Grease is quite controversial as a high school play choice, but didn't find any high schools having issues with Blithe Spirit.

But you can't call Grease "dark".

You can't please everyone 100% of the time and if you try, you'll end up with such a watered down boring mess that noone will like it anyway! ................................

If you don't like a book, you choose not to read it, you don't ban it and look for the lighter fluid.

If you don't like a play, you don't go see it. This is even easier to do when it is a school production and you don't even have kids in that school :roll:....................................

They could just send out e-mails to their congregation 'warning' them not to attend for whatever reason they believe it is not in the flocks best interest. In the end it is the individual's decision to look into the situation for themselves - if they were considering going to the production.

I would not want our public school drama departments presenting plays with a bunch of sexual innuendo, cussing, violence etc. but it is usually the case that plays can be tweaked and adapted a little so that they are appropriate for the audience intended.

With a protest against 'Blithe Spirit' you've opened yourselves up to pretty much having to protest most anything that comes around, but please just e-mail your sheeple not to go see it. The rest of us may want to go and enjoy!

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If nothing else, I hope this episode disabuses the flock of the notion (of which they are convinced by their leaders) that there is a well organized, well financed, homosexual agenda-driven secular humanist group out there which is out to drive all of Christianity out of the schools, kill Christmas and generally turn their kids into goths.

The book-burners were the ones with the well-organized campaign, financed by the churches, to bring out people who had no more idea what they were protesting than what they had been instructed to say by their leaders.

The freedom-lovers had to rely on word of mouth and SoWal to try to bring out the numbers. You saw the picture in the NWF Daily News - the freedom-lovers were badly outnumbered.

I believe this whole situation was covered in the movie "Porky's Two". It is rather funny when you apply that movie to real life.

I believe this whole situation was covered in the movie "Porky's Two". It is rather funny when you apply that movie to real life.

"So sayeth the shepherd!"
"So sayeth the flock!"

That movie is hysterical, and depicts a similar situation to what this community is going through, albeit with a lot more sex and really crude jokes (you all are showing remarkable restraint ), and of course, no great online community forum for discussion. In the movie, the school drama dept wanted to showcase several scenes from different Shakespeare plays.

Seriously, someone should host a movie night, it is worth watching... fair warning, it is definitely "R" rated for good reason.

this thread is truly eye-opening. but not surprising given the increased visibility and power of religious groups in America these days. I certainly do respect the faith of anyone from any religion. it is theirs and it is just as true as mine or anyone's.

but for any organized religious group to use the faith of their members to undermine schools, teachers, and ultimately the education of children is wrong on so many levels.

we need to trust our schools and teachers to teach our children and provide them with broad educational experiences. we need to trust ourselves as parents to teach our children about spirituality, faith, religion, making good choices in their lives, etc.

parents need to support educators, IMO. they are committed to our children. how sad that an entire group has undermined/taken away/shown complete lack of respect of an outstanding highschool drama teacher and program. all because of one person's objection which was taken and used to scare an entire group of faithful (well meaning, I am sure) people in our community. they know not what they do.

Well said, Tootsie. I agree. What I don't understand, though, is where the principal and superintendent come down on this issue.

Why are they not more supportive of the drama teacher and the students? Why did they let this get so out of hand?

There will always be the "fringe" elements of religion and politics among us; I would have thought the principal and superintendent would have been more reasonable and professional in dealing with this.

Well said, Tootsie. I agree. What I don't understand, though, is where the principal and superintendent come down on this issue.

Why are they not more supportive of the drama teacher and the students? Why did they let this get so out of hand?

There will always be the "fringe" elements of religion and politics among us; I would have thought the principal and superintendent would have been more reasonable and professional in dealing with this.

I agree with you goodwitch, where is the support from principal and superintendent? my guess is that they are afraid. afraid of controversey. afraid for their jobs. I may be wrong. I don't know enough about their responses, or how they may feel about the subject. But, it does seem they have not been very supportive or else it wouldn't have gone so far. perhaps they are trying to be fair. perhaps they are afraid. perhaps they are people who agree with censorship of this nature (please let this not be the case).

Well said, Tootsie. I agree. What I don't understand, though, is where the principal and superintendent come down on this issue.

Why are they not more supportive of the drama teacher and the students? Why did they let this get so out of hand?

There will always be the "fringe" elements of religion and politics among us; I would have thought the principal and superintendent would have been more reasonable and professional in dealing with this.

SWHS is lucky to have a drama teacher as high quality as Don Goodrum. There is no doubt- he would be a successful teacher in a competitive college prep private or public high school in a big city. His job would be easier there- matters of religious censorship and book banning are not tolerated in bigger towns and competitive schools. You can't ban books and say you are preparing high school students for university.

Oh yeah- the "Concerned Parents" have filed a complaint against Mr. Goodrum. You can read about it in The Sun. They handed the complaint to our principal before the meeting even started, so you can see, they had every intention of being nasty before the meeting even started.

A few other thoughts....we have some smart kids at SWHS and their parents are going to get really frustrated if this sort of disruption continues. I am concerned that if our school heads in the direction of giving these "fringe" groups any attention at all, they will have too much influence. As a consequence, parents will look to alternatives- home schooling, OWC while registered as a homeschooler (so no smart kid FCAT scores going to SWHS!), or a school outside the county. We have to the chance to build up our school and make it competitive and a good prep for college and beyond.

And finally, there are some kids that are really hurting. Kids on both sides of this debate were really used, and that is disgusting. High school is hard enough, and as parents, we don't mind the occasional parent-teacher meeting, minor disagreement over a grade, etc. We certainly never expected this- an ugly, misguided, and misplaced attack.

If you read the Daily News Editorial Today you will see that somone has already considered that there WILL be poeple who are going to protest Harvey as well, based on the fact that it contains "imaginary charactors"

Based on this, the next logical step would be to protest plays. Any and all plays, which is to say acting in general, which by its very nature is imaginary by definition. :angry:

Well, that will save a lot of money for the schools, they can eliminate drama all together. Art, music and phys ed are already approaching token status, this will fit right in.

"Oh yeah- the "Concerned Parents" have filed a complaint against Mr. Goodrum. You can read about it in The Sun. They handed the complaint to our principal before the meeting even started, so you can see, they had every intention of being nasty before the meeting even started."



I hope the school administration has a backbone ..... :angry:

We talked with our Sophomore about how fortunate she is to not be dealing with something like this. I admire you jdarg and the other parents and students who are willing to come forward and challenge this. The school should not have to be going through this!

.

Based on this, the next logical step would be to protest plays. Any and all plays, which is to say acting in general, which by its very nature is imaginary by definition. :angry:

Well, that will save a lot of money for the schools, they can eliminate drama all together. Art, music and phys ed are already approaching token status, this will fit right in.

Don't even think about it! That is exactly what they are trying to do. I was told the expense for buying the "performance rights" to the play came from Mr. Goodrum's own pocket as the School said they did not have the funds.

Based on this, the next logical step would be to protest plays. Any and all plays, which is to say acting in general, which by its very nature is imaginary by definition. :angry:

Well, that will save a lot of money for the schools, they can eliminate drama all together. Art, music and phys ed are already approaching token status, this will fit right in.

Good Lord. Personally, I hope they DO protest Harvey. As we've had to alter it to the point that it borders on fluff, there's simply nothing to protest. Maybe they'll discredit themselves enough that the school board will see what a ridiculous farce (there's that word again!) this is and they'll have to leave us alone.

Good Lord. Personally, I hope they DO protest Harvey. As we've had to alter it to the point that it borders on fluff, there's simply nothing to protest. Maybe they'll discredit themselves enough that the school board will see what a ridiculous farce (there's that word again!) this is and they'll have to leave us alone.

Are you kidding me? In its original form it bordered on fluff. What the $@#! did you take out?