Leah_Beno's Blog

I agree that they should not continue with the showing of this play. I am surprised that noone knew the content until after the students had been practicing for several weeks. Seems to me that this type of thing should have to be approved by more than one person before the play is even brought before the drama students. I am glad the principal has stopped this play, but he should have never let it in the school in the first place. As for the drama teacher, I think she should have used better judgement. There needs to be some type of guidelines that they must follow so this doesn't happen again.

I honestly think that everyone is completely overreacting. I was a part of this ensemble for two years in high school and know the amount of work that these students were going through in preparation for state competition. I was very unimpressed with the fact that no students who were actually in the play were interviewed and the administration banned something that they haven't even seen.
The students should have the opportunity to sit down with the principle and cut out what he feels in inappropriate. I understand that people were offending but the students did not say the f word on stage and penis is a word of anatomy and is allowed to be used on a high school stage. I believe that it is a shame that the program did not include a mature themes warning so that people knew what they were getting into however students here this stuff everyday. The teacher should of also had the play approved before, however, he might have had the impression that it wasn’t necessary because the school had already had the rights to the play and that was one of the reasons why he chose it.
Two of the actors are seniors and will never have that opportunity to be in the state competition ever again. One senior is experiencing his first main stage role and now its being taken away from him. He can never get that back. I understand why it is being banned but again I don’t think that 3 months of work should just be thrown away.
I am glad that the principle is now going to approve all of the shows, so next time when a parent does get offended it will be on him. I just cannot str

First of all, maybe the parents should have consulted the principal and the drama teacher before calling radio stations and fox news about their views on this play. Parents today would rather call their politicians than have a simple conversation with their child's teacher about artistic differences. It is also interesting how the principal didn't read the play when the teacher asked him to read and approve it. This play has been done in high schools and competitions before, and the teacher was well aware of this precedent. So, as usual, the community and administration failed a teacher who is just trying to open the minds of their children and actually try to address relevant social topics in the world. Instead of recognizing this failure, what do they do? They do what they always do; place all the blame on the teacher.

This is ridiculous! If a student were to mention any of these words, they would be put in detention, if not expelled from school. This is not an appropriate play to perform in a high school, where parents would be bringing younger siblings of the actors/actresses to see the performance. What a student says off school grounds is not the issue, this is what the drama department wants to be acted out on a "HIGH SCHOOL" stage. NO, this is totally inappropriate for high school material, period.

I think the teacher is the one to put ALL the blame on. This teacher knew that there was profanity in this play, and this teacher still decided to do it. Some kind of punishment should be taken, whether it be suspension w/o pay or something. Ain't teachers supposed to be some kind of role model? The principal should have asked to see the script from the beginning, but I guess he figured the teacher would use better judgment. This reminds me of when I was in high school, we had a talent show. A group of guys was going to do a rap song, and they rehearsed a clean song during tryouts. When it came time for the talent show, they did a totally different rap song that talked about sex. Needless to say, after their performance, they were taken to the principal's office and suspended. How many parents was at this play and had their small children? After all, children imitate what they see and hear. Maybe the next time, the teacher will use better judgment!!!!!!!

People honestly need to grow up. I have been apart of this ensemble at southwest for two years, walking around school we hear the same words everyday. This is ludicrous we should not be punished and neither should our teacher. If we couldn't handle the subject matter we would of said so.

This whole thing is getting blown way out of propotion. I was part of the crew, and we worked hard and did LOADS of editing. This play was very different from the original script. It was not a rated X play and it was not promoting any kind of profanity. Yes there was profanity, and a few curse words(by the way the "f-word" was not used if recall correctly). But this was not for elementary school, or middle school, it was for hgh school and people need to grow up. Go see any PG-13 movie and I can almost guarantee you'll find way more profanity and sexual references. The teacher should not be punished under any circumstances, and unless you saw the play there is NO WAY you can tell anybody how inappropriate it was. If the principal didn't think that people could handle it, then it's his fault for not caring about the drama program and looking at the play or talking to the teacher or even being half way aware of what it was about. I guess people were so busy going crazy over 3-second kisses on stage and a few cursing, they failed to see the message of the entire play, which is a positive one. The play was trying to get people not to change yourself by surgery, unhealthy pills etc. to try and fit the "holywood image" which is anorexic women and 800 dollar jeans, but be happy with who you are. I guess no one saw that part of the play. People and parents need to stop pretending like at the high-school level kids aren't exposed to bad language and sexual references. GO see the play YOURSELF and then tell me if it was inappropriate!

If this is an example of what our children are being taught, no wander more parents are "home-schooling" their children! What's next- Baby-making 101? From what I see, that's already being taught!!

I have read the script. It is totally not worthy of a production. The parents of the kids that act in this farce should be ashamed.
This is not acceptable.