Walton Co. School Board Meets about Blithe Spirit!!

Thanks TFT. This is what I am running into. As with many things in life designed to protect us and our privacy, it also hobbles us to do good things.

I think the time has come on this thread to maybe sum up and move on to the next level- which is quit the talk and start fixing, and that is on our agenda this week. We know this was a raw deal all around, we know there are communication problems between parents, students, and administration, we know that there are outside groups that tried and will continue to try and influence our school, and we know that these kids and the teacher need to get back to the business of learning and teaching. Continuing to hash on about the same stuff will not be productive and it is hard to find really helpful posts and ideas if it is buried in rants.

Let's maybe keep posts from here on out about suggestions of how to fix our problems instead of accusations and barbs. Now that we have all vented, it is time to pull in the reins and be constructive, not destructive. ;-)

Hear! Here! Well stated.

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?

I am new to this lovely little sowal network, so i suppose it is now my turn to voice my opinion on ther current subject!!!!!!

first of all the above quote is completely ridiculous and has nothing to do with the entire point of this message board! everyone on here could care less about your prior achievements because it is quite obvious you do not truly know what you are talking about. Blithe Spirit is a play, it is nothing more, nothing less. the fact that you call yourself a true thespian and then are completely against this play seems kind of hyprocritical to me. i think that there can only be two possible reasons why you and everyone you takes your position on the matter can possibly be enraged about blithe spirit being performed....

1) you all have run out of better things to do and must keep yourself busy with stirring up the commmunity with stupid things such as protesting a play like Blithe Spirit.


2) you yourself were not personally asked to be a part of the play and feel that voicing your immature point of view will help compensate for your shortcomings.

so, truethespian09, you might as well start raising hell about plays such as romeo and juliet and the sound of music, because they simply conatin "dark" material. mabye you should look up the word drama, because obviously you don't know the definition of that word!

Yes CC. You are amazing and me love you long time ;]]

And yes, agree with with you. Get a life protesters!

thanks so much, love you too!!!!!!

As Walton GOP stated, it should be fairly easy to get a list of email addresses from concerned parents, so that you could share ideas and thoughts regarding school stuff. As for the privacy issues, I'm fully aware of them, but you can have an opt-in list, so that only people who want to be on the shared list would be on the list. Anyone abusing the email system could be kicked in the booty by the other participants, kind of like SoWal.com/bb. The schools could even have a website and include a message board. Both students and parents could log in and participate.

As Walton GOP stated, it should be fairly easy to get a list of email addresses from concerned parents, so that you could share ideas and thoughts regarding school stuff. As for the privacy issues, I'm fully aware of them, but you can have an opt-in list, so that only people who want to be on the shared list would be on the list. Anyone abusing the email system could be kicked in the booty by the other participants, kind of like SoWal.com/bb. The schools could even have a website and include a message board. Both students and parents could log in and participate.

First you have to find the parents. High school is a little different than elementary and middle. In high school, the parents are practically invisible, not because they don't care, but because the kids are handling things themselves and other than signing a report card every now and then, don't really have to do anything. I can reach a few if I wear a sandwich board at carpool line, but I doubt I would be allowed to do that.

At the beginning of the year, we gave our e-mail address to the school because there was supposed to be an e-mail system for notices, announcements, etc. This was a piece of paper in the stack of start-of-the-year forms. I have yet to receive an e-mail about anything.

So here is my question- if you knew that most parents would want to know about things happening at the school, how would you find them and get their contact info if you don't know them? How would you organize the search? I am really at a loss on this one, and VERY frustrated.

Perhaps you could put an ad in the Sun and ask any parents of high school students who want to participate in a email communication get in touch with you.

You might talk to Gwen at the Sun and see if she can assign a reporter to the issue of no communication from the school to the parents; no PTO; need for communication.

Or write an Op-Ed piece for the Sum and the Beach Breeze (I will help you if you want, have lots of experience in this kind of writing.) detailing the problem as you see it and solutions you are offering.

I assume you have spoken with the principal and gotten no satisfaction about setting up an organization....

call a meeting (again an Ad in the paper, on SoWal, local bulletin boards, etc.)
of parents who are interested.

I am wondering if I missed something...why is there no PTA or PTO at the high school level? Are there no parent volunteers at SWHS? I only have experience in private high schools, where parent involvement does drop, but there are still opportunities for volunteers.

So here is my question- if you knew that most parents would want to know about things happening at the school, how would you find them and get their contact info if you don't know them? How would you organize the search? I am really at a loss on this one, and VERY frustrated.

Not sure if this is helpful or not, but I know of a middle school that uses this type of web based system. The kids and parents have user ids to log in. Notice the broadcast e-mail module, blogs etc.

http://www.schoolwires.com/corporate/site/default.asp

Here's another one. They have lots of samples.
http://www.rschooltoday.com/se3bin/clientschool.cgi

I am wondering if I missed something...why is there no PTA or PTO at the high school level? Are there no parent volunteers at SWHS? I only have experience in private high schools, where parent involvement does drop, but there are still opportunities for volunteers.

The parents at my public alma mater take things into their own capable hands, above-board and underground. One mama calls another mama, who calls another two mamas, and it's like that old shampoo commercial until the left out mamas are calling the proactive mamas to get in on the action. It's a good system, as far as I can tell.

As for privacy, no laws are violated when Mrs. Jones writes down her digits and email addresses for Mrs. Roberts and so on and they set up their own lists.

I understand that there use to be an active PTO at SWHS. The person I spoke to that was involved no longer has a child in the system. It seems you have several students reading this list that could gather email addresses for you from other students of their parents. And you could also start trying to form the PTO again. You should be able to supply information to the school that they could send home with students asking for contact information.

By the way: The following is quoted from asking How to Start a PTO.

"How do you start a PTO?

1. Consult with an attorney. Undoubtedly among the parents of children at your child's school, there will either be an attorney, or someone who works for an attorney, who will consider donating time pro bono to assist with the legalities of forming a PTO. Each state's requirements are different, and it is crucial to ensure that the technicalities are observed with precision, so as to avoid the risk of having your organization fail to qualify for tax-exempt status. The websites provided (see links) also contain information on achieving 501(c)(3) status.'

By the time we get thru all this BOTH my kids will be in college!

Not that I am against it mind you! But there ARE several other steps. This was just step ONE!

First you have to find the parents. High school is a little different than elementary and middle. In high school, the parents are practically invisible, not because they don't care, but because the kids are handling things themselves and other than signing a report card every now and then, don't really have to do anything. I can reach a few if I wear a sandwich board at carpool line, but I doubt I would be allowed to do that.

At the beginning of the year, we gave our e-mail address to the school because there was supposed to be an e-mail system for notices, announcements, etc. This was a piece of paper in the stack of start-of-the-year forms. I have yet to receive an e-mail about anything.

So here is my question- if you knew that most parents would want to know about things happening at the school, how would you find them and get their contact info if you don't know them? How would you organize the search? I am really at a loss on this one, and VERY frustrated.

Now that is funny. I have given my email to the school district every year since they started having email. I do not recall ever getting any information from a school about my children. The current email system the district has is such hit and miss about working that it is frustrating. You get bounces five days later with no rhyme or reason. Took them several weeks to get my email where it would come through the system again, only to stop days later for no apparent reason. Technologically challenged is an understatement.

I love how this thread has turned out.

First, there "once" was a PTO at SWHS but it folded due to lack of interest on behalf of the parents. Yes, there were a few parents who worked tirelessly to make the thing happen. They organized meetings, had administrators present, they made things happen only to have no one show up at the meetings.

Secondly, I know for a fact that getting accurate contact information about the majority of the parents is a near impossibility. Forms are not returned, not filled out correctly or the information changes with no updates. Yes, it is very frustrating when someone needs to contact a parent and the information is not available and even better, the student doesn't know how to contact their own parent! (allegedly)

Third, there is a way to be a volunteer at the high school. You have to fill out paperwork, have a background check and be fingerprinted at the district office. This is to keep undesirables from being in the school and making contact with the students. It's not foolproof but, it is better than nothing. It cost roughly $65.00 and a little effort on your behalf.

I don't disagree with everything I have read in this thread but it doesn't take lawyers, newspaper articles or a bunch of b.s. to be active in your child's life and school. It just takes your time and an actual trip to the school every once in a while.

Well, there is a difference between volunteering at the school and organizing a Parent Teacher association. :roll:

Well, there is a difference between volunteering at the school and organizing a Parent Teacher association. :roll:

Huge difference. Thank you.

Interesting . . . and now they're performing Harvey!

From Fox News:

An Ohio high school has canceled its student theater production of "Ten Little Indians" after local residents complained about a racial slur in the original title of the Agatha Christie novel, which never has been published under that name in this country.

The best-selling murder mystery originally was named "Ten Little N---ers" when it was published in England in 1939.

The name of the book was changed for production in the United States, and the school was using the name "Ten Little Indians" for the play's title. The book also has been renamed in some productions as "And Then There Were None," which is the closing line of the nursery rhyme with the novel's name.

The play was to be performed this week by students at Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, Ohio, about 20 miles north of Columbus.

Students now will perform "Harvey," scheduled for February.

Click here to view Lakota East High School's Web site.

It follows the mystery novel's storyline about 10 strangers invited as weekend guests to a private island. The guests share mistakes in their pasts that led to the death of an innocent person. Each guest has evaded punishment, but not for long.

Gary Hines, president of the Hamilton/Fairfield/Westchester branch of the NAACP, complained to school administrators about the production after a parent voiced concerns to him.

Hines, who has a child in the school district, said the play's historical context and original title were insensitive, and he said the school showed a lack of diversity in choosing it. He said Christie had "racist ideas" and presented a tale of genocide in the novel.

Hines said that when he met with school officials, the district already had decided to cancel the play.

"We never told them to cancel the play; we just gave them the historical context," he said.

Jeffrey Rubenstein, a member of the Lakota Board of Education, said the board was not involved in the decision to cancel the play, but he knew students and faculty were upset about the planned production.

School officials said the title and the content of the play concerned them. They said the murders portrayed in the play showed genocide, and administrators did not approve of showing violence in a school-sponsored production.

Students and faculty members also raised concerns about the racial context of the play's original text, which led school officials to make the decision to cancel.

Click here to watch a video report by FOX 19 Cincinnati.

"The play's history, we learned quickly, still has the power to offend, even now," said Jon Weidlich, a school district spokesman. "There was really a lot of emotion around it, around our staff, around some students, around some people in the community."

Rubenstein, a board member since 2006 with two children in the district, disputed Hines' claims about the lack of diversity within the district.

"I think the district has certainly been making more of an effort in recent years to include more diversity," Rubenstein said.

School officials hire candidates from a more diverse field and the diversity of the student population has increased in recent years, Rubenstein said.

"I feel that students are getting a good education in terms of diversity, in terms of student populations and being involved in school activities," he said.

Hines contends there is systemic racism in the Lakota schools and has urged the district to improve diversity by focusing on faculty, curriculum design and athletics.

"We're lacking serious leadership on the diversity issue in the district," he said.

The battle for political correctness has left some student players feeling injured.

Luke Hull, a senior at the high school, told the Enquirer that pressure from the NAACP forced school officials to cancel the play. Hull has rehearsed since September as one of the lead characters.

Click here to read the report in The Enquirer.

"I read the play as part of a class in the ninth grade," Hull told the Enquirer. "There are no racial undertones in it at all, and we weren't putting on the play under its original name from 1939. We were putting on the play under another name."

Joan Powell, president of the Lakota Board of Education, said she disagrees with the decision to cancel the play. Powell added that Hines has a history of making racial accusations against the district.

Said Powell in the Enquirer: "I'm concerned about censorship, and I'm concerned about the message it sends to other student productions that we are now in the business of censorship."

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I love how this thread has turned out.

I don't disagree with everything I have read in this thread but it doesn't take lawyers, newspaper articles or a bunch of b.s. to be active in your child's life and school. It just takes your time and an actual trip to the school every once in a while.

Unless some outside party takes it into their mind to come in like a "thief in the night" and steal away all your effort. DO you REALLY think anything would have turned out ANY differently no matter HOW many parents had shown up at that meeting on the STUDENT'S side OR who had intervened beforehand? I mean seriously....this was about as pre-scripted as I have ever seen.

Unless some outside party takes it into their mind to come in like a "thief in the night" and steal away all your effort. DO you REALLY think anything would have turned out ANY differently no matter HOW many parents had shown up at that meeting on the STUDENT'S side OR who had intervened beforehand? I mean seriously....this was about as pre-scripted as I have ever seen.

Another conspiracy I missed the meeting on.

I ordered a copy of Blithe Spirit for my boys last night...heh, heh...

I ordered a copy of Blithe Spirit for my boys last night...heh, heh...

Good for you! Bring them down here for a road trip in February- Seaside Rep will be doing Blithe Spirit, with a student cast.

Good for you! Bring them down here for a road trip in February- Seaside Rep will be doing Blithe Spirit, with a student cast.

Will defenitely be attending that one.

Good for you! Bring them down here for a road trip in February- Seaside Rep will be doing Blithe Spirit, with a student cast.

If I come to the beach, I'll be leaving the cadets at home...zounds... But I hope that I can bring myself down to see it! Do you know when in February? That's an awful month for me so far...

I think I'm gonna make 'em do "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" so that I can be Nurse Ratched... Last night I ordered it, along with about 25 other plays for mostly-male casts.

Someone suggested I do "Oedipus Rex." At an all-boys' military boarding school?! I also got a vote for "The Laramie Project." Not that there's anything wrong with either play--I just think I'd be asking for trouble in that environment.

If I come to the beach, I'll be leaving the cadets at home...zounds... But I hope that I can bring myself down to see it! Do you know when in February? That's an awful month for me so far...

I think I'm gonna make 'em do "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" so that I can be Nurse Ratched... Last night I ordered it, along with about 25 other plays for mostly-male casts.

Someone suggested I do "Oedipus Rex." At an all-boys' military boarding school?! I also got a vote for "The Laramie Project." Not that there's anything wrong with either play--I just think I'd be asking for trouble in that environment.

Good luck picking a play that is squeaky clean and trouble free on all fronts. People are looking for demons everywhere nowadays, and it's getting a little annoying.

Good luck picking a play that is squeaky clean and trouble free on all fronts. People are looking for demons everywhere nowadays, and it's getting a little annoying.

Double good news:

1. We won't actually be putting on a play--these are just to use in class. I may do some scenes for the Fine Arts Showcase in April, but they will probably be musical stuff.
2. The boys' parents will be thrilled with whatever might inspire them to behave and get into a good college. I could use "Steel Magnolias" or "Apocalypse Now" as long as Junior earns an A.

I just figured it was best to stay away from anything that involves homophobia or incest.