Stone Bridge High School Play Sparks Objections

Interesting.
High school plays aren't what they used to be....
Now we have to have shock... just like tv, how nice...

I volunteer at SBHS in the main office and answer the phones.
Funny thing.... an elementary school teacher called me one Monday interested in taking her 2nd graders to a play given by the school.
I took the liberty in suggesting to her to go check out the schedules at the middle schools. I told her high school plays aren't what they used to be. I know what the plays are like at SBHS and at BR... they are not geared for 2nd graders. There is no My Fair lady or Wizard of Oz any more in high school. Everything is "edgy" now.
In my opinion, this recent play was over the top. And yes, it was clearly offensive for children and families attending the plays.
Think. Would you enjoy having your young child viewing this?

 

I'm sorry ... but when there is an announcement that states that the content of the one-act play may be offensive to some (not sure if they said it was unsuitable for kids or not) and you still stay in your seats, who's fault is it ??

<rant on>
These are high school kids, this is stuff they are going through on a day to day basis. Why do people want to hide their heads in the sand, and not realize that 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 year olds are talking about sex and sexuality; and that 'hooking up' doesn't mean that they're meeting their friends at the soda fountain for a Coke !!

<rant off>



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Maybe they should have mentioned it before the families paid for their tickets. These funds support the entire highschool. So now they have to leave the theater because of something that is offensive. a night out that they paid for??
This is PUBLIC high school funded by our tax dollars, not Arena Stage or even Shenandoah University.

It doesnt matter that it goes on at the high school every day... and yes, it does. That does not make it right. Most high school students do not act this way. Most high school students are not interested in this.

I am aware of the drama dept at the High School. Not all, but most of the kids are "goth" edgy, dark and depressed. The drama instructor, well, no further comments.....

 

This was ONE one-act play amongst many. They were told it may be offensive, and they could have left and asked for their money back. The play was not about Goths, the play was about a football player who discovers that he has doubts about his own sexuality. This goes on daily in the schools, but we don't talk about it, and we can't discuss it, and it doesn't exist.

Frankly ... I seriously doubt many adults know what high school students are interested in. This was one one-act play, in a bunch of one-act plays that were all written by students. From friends I've learned that the student writer is an excellent student, both academically and socially. Not a 'goth' ...

About public funding ... my funds go to support this school, as well as the state funded colleges of Virginia. I fully support this, my fund also go to support things I personally do not support ... such is the way of government.

But lets discourage students from discussions of anything that is or may be controversial or something that would make their parents squeemish. Lets teach them that we should follow like sheep and not question authority or our parents ideas. I question a society that will give their kids a new SUV to drive and a credit card, but does not want to hear about their problems with fitting in or their sexuality because it makes society uncomfortable.

Books and plays throughout history have pointed out social problems;
would you tell Dickens or Updike not to write books exposing the problems in their society ??


Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Maybe someone should do a play about Goth's to deal with their stereo types, struggles, and misunderstandings.

I am not sure how a conclusion can be made that Goth's are depressed. To me that shows either a lack of opportunties to really get to know a kid, or fear.

A former Senior Patrol Leader (SPL: elected position by fellow scouts and highest ranking boy in the troop) of my sons Boy Scout Troop is "goth". He's also an Eagle Scout. One of the most centered, and mature kids I know.

There are parallels here, fear sometimes get in the way of true acceptance or understanding.

 

Okay....
The school play that was presented to the public. This was not an in class presentation to be viewed and discussed by peers.
(Great and wonderful there are goth kids out there that are outstanding citizens. Thrilling news.)

The point here is the play. Not what should be discussed in high school class rooms or books to be read or not read.
It is about the play that was viewed by people that came to the high school for an evening of family entertainment, and not to be asked to leave the theater if they might be offended.

 

This brings up an interesting question ... how was this student-written, student-performed set of one-act plays advertised ?? Were they advertised as 'family entertainment' ?? Many plays, such as "Our Town" are not 'family entertainment', yet they are performed in our schools.




Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

There is not a prohibition on the mention of god in public schools.
Christianity and other religions are discussed in public schools.

The public schools are not allowed to preach religion - any religion.
That is for parents and churches to do.

 

My oldest son is in 9th grade at Stone Bridge. As part of his history class they are covering some of the major religions. The discussion is not in depth, they are only spending a week or two on each religon covered. Unfortunately, the quality of the teaching materials is somewhat suspect. My son has discovered a number of errors in the material on Judaics and has checked with our rabbi to confirm them. He says that given the number of errors he's seen, he isn't too confident of the accuracy of the material on Hinduism, Buddhism, and so on.

He and my younger son (age 10) both saw "Offsides" and find nothing offensive or worrisome about it. They didn't find it important or interesting enough to even mention when I asked about their evening. It was only after "Offsides" became news that I was aware of the (faked) kiss. I asked the boys if they saw the kiss and they both said that there was no real kiss, but an implied kiss. To them the play was just entertainment, nothing more.

--- John B.

 

To use an oft-used truism:

As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in schools !!


Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

The public schools have become a major battleground in the war on Christmas ("Lookout, Santa, incoming!") and, by extension, Christianity.Last year, a kindergartener at a school near Portland, Oregon was told he couldn’t bring cards with a religious message to a school Christmas party. When a teacher noticed that little Justin Cortez’s cards contained the dreaded J-word (Jesus), she confiscated the offending items and forwarded them to the principal who sent them to the superintendent. Thus was the school’s secularist early-warning system activated.
The New York City school system allows menorahs and Islamic symbols in holiday displays, but not nativity scenes. Christians thereby are excluded from inclusiveness, presumably in the name of sensitivity.
n 2002, the mother of a student in the Del Mar Union School District in San Diego was told she could no longer read a Christmas book to her child’s 4th-grade class. Also, at the Sage Canyon School, teachers were ordered to remove jewelry with a Christmas theme. First a flashing Santa pin, then a state church.
Same year, instructors at an elementary school in Sacramento were told not to use the word "Christmas" in the classroom or in written material. A la 1984, in public education, Christmas has become the un-holiday.
In Yonkers, New York, public school employees were ordered to purge holiday decorations with religious themes. Silent-Night sanitizing?
According to Rev. Jerry Falwell, a New Jersey middle school cancelled a field trip to attend a performance of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. One supposes there was a fear the Ghost of Christmas Past would cause mass conversions – or worse.
When a school displays a modicum of common sense here, secularist vigilantes threaten dire consequences. Last year, the Elbert County Charter School in Elizabeth, Colorado had a holiday program that included such proselytizing anthems as "Jingle Bells." The ACLU and Anti-Defamation League threatened to sue unless the program was cleansed. A joint letter from the censors to the principal claimed, "Jewish students no longer feel safe or welcome" at the school. Islamist pogroms are going on across Europe, but in Colorado Jewish kids are threatened by jingle all the way.

These things may not be happening here in Ashburn yet, but it's just a matter of time.

http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=16091

lyo

 

I'm with Black on this one. Kind of seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

I have to agree Brooks. I don't think it was just the supposed kiss. I think the statements afterwards to the audience was a bit over the edge and not needed. Personally, I don't want my kids thinking that being homosexual is okay. I teach them not to be mean or hate people that claim to be homesexual. I don't care if they are friends, as some of mine are...but I don't want my kids believing its normal and a healthy lifestyle. I don't agree with it and don't want it forced upon my family in public school setting. Just as I wouldn't want hetrosexual situations forced on my kids in a public school setting. When it comes to tax supported entities, there has to be some neutral boundaries drawn. Is it okay to promote drugs because that's what kids are dealing with today? Same type of situation in my opinion.

 

It's not ok to promote drugs, but you can't keep your kids in a bubble either. Drugs and homosexuality are all things that are part of life. I guess it's ok for your kids to absorb all of the straight sex in the movies and tv and the objectifying of women?

I think it's good to make people think about things, and not just subject them to the status quo... It's how we grow as people.

 

Actually I think I stated that I didn't want to sit through a play with hetrosexual activity going on.

No it's not okay with all the crap on TV and there are a lot of programs that my kids aren't allowed to watch. I also don't have them living in a bubble and have discussed all the issues facing kids today. Drugs, Sex, Violence, etc...

I still don't think a high school one act play is the place to deal with teenage homosexual issues. The great thing about America is that we can all have our own opinion and I'm just stating mine as the rest have.

 

The students involved with this play have accomplished what they set out to do and everyone fell for it. Being typical high school students they didn't produce this play to promote the "Gay Agenda" they wrote it because they new it would stir up controversy. They just wanted to shock people. The final line in the play proves that. Basically saying to everyone in the audience that there is a little homosexuality in all of us. The only reason that line is there is to shock and anger. It's the same reason they get strange face piercing and dye their hair purple. That's what teens do. Have you all forgotten what it was like to be a teen?
People are reading way too much into this whole thing.

 

Op_dude-
You hit the nail right on the head! I extend kudos to the kids for their thought-provoking performance and exposing how narrowminded the "adults" and, especially, political leaders can be!

 

The only people it's going to shock and anger is the prudes, but I'm sure they knew that... Some high school play isn't going to make anyone turn gay or anything like that.. people need to chill =)

 

Actually, after reading about all of this, I find myself strangely wanting to sing show tunes...

Seriously, not so long ago, if this were a play about inter-racial couples, the public outcry would have been just as loud. Hopefully things will get better for this minority as well.

Gregg

 

not if the republicans have their way....

=)