Mo. Drama Teacher Resigns Over Play Flap

[deadparrot]

COLUMBIA, Mo. - A central Missouri high school drama teacher whose spring play was canceled after complaints about tawdry content in one of her previous productions will resign rather than face a possible firing.

"It became too much to not be able to speak my mind or defend my students without fear or retribution," said Fulton High School teacher Wendy DeVore.

DeVore's students were to perform Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," a drama set during the 17th Century Salem witch trials.

But after a handful of Callaway Christian Church members complained about scenes in the fall musical "Grease" that showed teens smoking, drinking and kissing, Superintendent Mark Enderle told DeVore to find a more family-friendly substitute.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_on_re_us/school_play_flap

[Erika]

1. Theocracy on the move

The Taliban would be proud, uh, the American religious right Taliban, is proud.

[Hayabusa]

16. As a Missourian

I am almost ashamed of this. My community college drama teacher has frequently said that there are plays that she would like to put on in the community, but she knows that they would be far too controversial for a town like Moberly to handle.

And Grease!? What's so damn evil about that movie? Save for the horrendous (IMO) movie adaption?

[EFerrari]

31. Welcome to DU, Hayabusa.

:hi:

[fishwax]

2. well, that's irony for you n/t

[HuffleClaw]

3. GREASE????

a HANDFUL of people whine and the school caves? what a crock.

[Nostradammit]

4. Watching "Grease" is a sure road to hell.

It's in the Bible.

I think.

[MisterP]

5. The Crucible? hold on, I had a stroke from the MASSIVE IRONY

[Kurovski]

11. Burn the witch!

She did have a poppet wherein I found a pin!!

[WinkyDink]

26. She flies! She flies!

[Kurovski]

39. I'll not have such looks!!

[Robeysays]

59. MORE WEIGHT...

that's what i would have said.

[Kurovski]

63. She did kind of crawl out from under the stones, didn't she?

But it appeared to be causing her student's some difficulties as well, and High School is already difficult enough, I guess. It must be disappointing for some of them, I bet some were ready for any fight.

As for the hysterical townspeople of Salem, they'd even swoop down on a stage version of "The Telletubbies", Freaks of the twenty-first century that they are.

[Robeysays]

58. hahahhahahahaha....

[salin]

17. What - using the current witch hunt

as a means for personal gain - by self-righteous folks ... is ironic? Don't you know that there is no such word in the GOP lexicon... they are too busy giving living examples of it to actually allow the word to be used.

[Kurovski]

64. It's more like underlining a fact. (but I see that tongue in your cheek!)

:-) DeVore's choice of "The Cruicible" would have been the perfect fit, and not so much ironic. I think even the highly-strung townsfolk would have caught on. (it's likely that the brighter wags among them would have spelled it out for those of dimmer capacities.)

One deeply ironic choice would have been if DeVore produced "1776." And because, as you say "there is no such word in the GOP lexicon", most would have barely felt the stomping.

When the superintendent; "told DeVore to find a more family-friendly substitute", he also knew what was up. "Family-friendly" is certainly one of the creepiest euphemisms of this era. That phrase too, is ironic.

Something open-ended in the story is that the board has not yet accepted her resignation. It would be interesting if they turned it down. I don't know all of the ramifications of a move such as that, which is just one of the reasons why it would be interesting to me.

Hiya' salin! :hi:

[Toucano]

20. I'll call 911 for ya'!

As soon as I recover from my heart attack. :-)

[donco6]

34. Ha! Me too.

These numbnuts can't have possibly ever read or seen the play.

[Ishoutandscream2]

47. LOL!!! Thinking the same thing

ah, the irony!

[Erika]

6. email contact for this school:

[e-mail]

We need to stand up for our beliefs.

[Hardrada]

7. We would never do Grease here. Seriously.

I've mentioned it to HS teachers and they dismiss it as being socioculturally impossible. We are never going to get any more advanced than Rogers and Hammerstein. Similarly the plays put on around here are all around the time of Charley's Aunt ("I'm from Brazil where all the nuts come from!")although I think they did do Diary of Anne Frank one time. This is a blue county but one clue to Kultur here is that the acts at the county fair are always country hat acts which the unwashed masses love but which I think suck!

[Erika]

8. So you choose to be censored without a fight

Interesting.

[Hardrada]

10. Well, we did do Cabaret here one time!

Not in the high school but the adult theater group. The updating of our local culchah has not been a top priority of mine but maybe now that we have a new Performance Center, I may edge them along into getting up at least as far as Hair!!

[donco6]

35. Hair? No way.

Not if they figure out it's an allegory of Jesus, you won't. Those people will be burning crosses on your lawn.

[Hardrada]

37. Well, okay. Hairspray then?

They might go for that. Actually we have a MMC and a UMC here that drive to Chicago to see the most advanced stuff. Vagina Monologues etc but don't push the country lumpenproletariat from their (quite constricted) comfort zone. For biz reasosn of course. I suppose 'twas always thus.

[quaoar]

50. Maybe what you need to do

is suggest doing an adaptation of Brokeback Mountain. Then, after everyone goes apeshit, you can say, "OK, OK, I'll compromise. How about Grease?"

[knitter4democracy]

52. We tried it in college. Didn't work.

They threatened to pull all funding entirely. The prof was so scared for his job (three boys at home and a work-at-home wife to support) that he caved. Every. Freakin'. Time.

[knitter4democracy]

51. Hey, I resemble that remark. :-)

I was in Charley's Aunt in college, as was my hubby. He was Charlie, and I was the real aunt. ;)

We went to an evangelical college, and our drama club was censored constantly. I wanted to direct during my last year, and I lost count of how many plays I lost the battle on. I ended up getting Eugene Onegin through, but I was sick of it by the time it started.

We even did a temperance morality play that got attacked because there was drinking in it. :eyes: Talk about irony . . . Dumbasses.

[missouri dem 2]

9. Fulton has a desperate need to see Miller's play.

[tanyev]

12. They didn't approve of "Grease", so they canceled "The Crucible".

In what universe does that make sense?????????????????????

Better schedule The Sound of Music next. Find a bunch of adorable moppets that look like Hummel figurines. Aaahhh. Now that's entertainment.

[liberalpragmatist]

54. Even more ironic: They're going to perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

I remember read that in a previous article about this in the New York Times.

I guess they've never actually "read" Shakespeare.

[Demeter]

13. They Might As Well Close the Schools In Missouri and Save Money

It's much easier to raise a bunch of ignoramuses at home. Especially homes that support idiocy like this.

[Ian David]

14. How dare Goody DeVore perform The Crucible!

The Crucible

**** Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Michael Billington
Thursday March 2, 2006
The Guardian

Michelle Terry and Iain Glen in The Crucible
Metaphysical dimensions ... Michelle Terry and Iain Glen in The Crucible

Its last new production before their Shakespeare marathon, the RSC's revival of Arthur Miller's the Crucible is a riveting choice. Dominic Cooke's superb production not only brings out the play's political urgency but liberates it from historical naturalism.

First seen in 1953, Miller's study of the adolescent hysteria that produced the Salem witchcraft trials always seems disturbingly topical. In the 1950s it offered an ironic image of commie-hunting McCarthyism. Today it seems a warning against the dangers of a purblind fundamentalism.

In the desire to protect their community from devilish disruption, the Massachusetts Puritans sanction arrest on the merest whisper of suspicion and license torture and killing. Governor Danforth, who cries that: "a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it", chillingly anticipates George Bush's denial of internal criticism.

<snip>

A programme-note informs us that the Salem social experiment was always based on intolerance, and, when the doors of Bechtler's set finally swing open to admit the forest, it is as if nature is triumphing over Puritan denial.

More:
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1721164,00.html

[Hayabusa]

18. RE: Goody

That is classic. Who made that?

[Ian David]

60. 'Goodwife' (or 'Goody') is the Puritan form of address for any woman...

The following explanation of the word "Goody" comes from what looks like an "Alternative History" fiction based upon Puritan culture:

<snip>

Puritans refer to one another as 'Brother' and 'Sister'. They may also address one another as 'Good Puritan', if they do not know the name of the other person. Arch-Bishops and Bishops are referred to as 'Your Grace', whereas lower members of the clerical orders are referred to as 'Sir Priest'. Deacons, Sextons and so on are referred to as 'Master' or, if of obviously lower economic status, 'Goodman'. 'Goodwife' (or 'Goody') is the Puritan form of address for any woman, even including those accused of witchcraft.

More:
http://www.clockworksky.net/puritan_world/ah_pw_world_nc.html

[Bozita]

19. good addition to this thread ... thanks!

[Atmashine]

15. Wouldn't want to learn about intolerance now would we

At least I don't try to stop them from dueling banjos over there in central Missouri. Sorry, that was uncalled for.

[davsand]

21. I am gonna step into the line of fire here...

I'm putting on my Kevlar panties and stepping out here into the flame zone. Here goes:

I think that "Director made a REALLY bad choice here.

At High School level, funding for theatre is usually pretty tough to come by. IF you even have a program, it probably is scrambling for funds by the time it competes with football, basketball and all the other sports that local school boards decide to fund.

While I love Miller, I also realize that particular play has been the subject of a LOT of literary challenges since its debut. I'm not being critical of the piece, I'm not saying it should never be performed in Missouri. I AM saying that maybe that drama teacher made a poor selection for this particular High School audience.

Look, that SCHOOL program continues based on the willingness of the district to fund it. Putting THAT particular play on the bill at the High School was just asking for trouble--especially when you know you have a fundy group on your butt already.

By all means have your kids READ the plays that you think are important. By any means necessary, get the kids to a place where they can SEE Miller performed on the stage. Hell, you can do a Community Theatre production of Miller (Outside the school) if you REALLY love the play...

My point is, there are any number of ways to expose the kids to some really kick ass writing that won't put the entire High School drama program at risk.

I realize that there is a knee jerk reaction to this (and trust me--I felt it too, initially) that screams in outrage at the inherent stupidity in ANY literary challenge. It pisses me off when the narrow minded try and censor art or literature.

It also pisses me off to see any High School "director" put something on the playbill that the local audience just isn't able to cope with--let alone understand. Those High School kids break their hearts trying to do a good job on those plays, and putting THEM in a position to fail with the local audience is just wrong.

That "director" set those kids up to fail with the audience by making that choice of plays, and she risked the loss of the entire program simply because she wanted to make a point about Miller, artistic freedom and The Crucible. Had this been a local Community Theatre group--I'd be ALL over this with as much outrage as any good liberal can muster. That isn't the situation. This is the local High School.

While I agree that the arts need to be free to express themselves, I also think that the local High School is not the place to make your last stand for artistic freedom. Leave those kids out of the whole ethical fight if it is a school sponsored thing and do Sound of Music (or even Shakespeare if you have to be "high toned" about it.)

Just my two cents.


Laura

[CBHagman]

23. I see a danger here, though, Laura.

Of course "The Crucible" is provocative, but I see the act of talking yourself out of one play by regarding it as a poor choice by the director as a sort of slippery slope. Is every work of literature to be put through some sort of a strainer each time a member of the community is exercised?

I can see people going nuts over A Midsummer Night's Dream (disobedient children defying their parents; man tries to get his fiancee to have sex before the wedding; depiction of magic and fairies), or Othello (interracial romance, murder-suicide), or Macbeth (witches, regicide), Brecht's Threepenny Opera (criminals going unpunished, and besides, commies wrote this version).

On edit: There isn't an actual rape in A Midsummer Night's Dream, nor does any engaged woman lose her virginity. There is, however, implied mortal-on-fairy contact (Nick Bottom and Titania), as well as an unenthusiastic bride (Hippolyta).

Where does it stop? Do we want to see professors and teachers and dissenting parents and students beaten down to the point where they can't do anything that isn't preapproved by a relatively small portion of the population? Do we want to forgo all discussions?

This too shall pass, but I don't think we have the right to cower or blame the victim.

[davsand]

24. To me it is the "high school" part that makes it an issue.

I fully agree that at any point beyond or outside high school the fundies can go piss up a rope if they dislike the play selection. Let them whine, and let them picket the performance! Hell--take the free publicity and RUN with it!

My biggest issue here is the idea that there is a line where I think the High School Directors have to consider the kids who will be working on that play and who are dependent on that drama program to expose them to live theatre.

These are KIDS still. This is not college, this is not community theatre--it is a SCHOOL project. I just can't reconcile myself to the idea that putting KIDS cross-ways with the local illiterate fundies is a good idea when it is matter of just picking out a play for the high school drama club to perform.

In this case, the teacher pulled the play selection and resigned. I give her credit for doing that, but now those kids lost somebody that obviously did enjoy theatre--and they lost her over a fight that was really not necessary in the first place.

Who REALLY wins in that situation? Surely not the kids, and THAT is who this is supposed to be about.

You are every bit as dead if you are buried on high moral ground--and in this case that is pretty much how this falls, IMO.

You have no idea how I long for a time when artists can be artists and teachers can be teachers--and the lunatics can't mess with them.



Laura

[EFerrari]

33. On balance, I think you are right. Keep the program going.

But, support this teacher no matter what. Because when we let them isolate an educator, everyone loses.

My .02

[CBHagman]

36. I still don't see it as in the best interest of the kids.

Although the teacher must have been under hellish pressure and perhaps resigning is better for her long-term mental health, possibly this is not good for the kids in the long run. Again, I see it as a slippery slope, where we let a minority micro-manage an educational system.

By the way, where are the other parents in the community?

For what it's worth, when I was in high school, I was in a play in which a character smoked, on stage. No controversy. And before you say that it was a liberal area, no, it wasn't. It was a small town in South Carolina.

[WinkyDink]

27. Oh, ferpetessake! I taught "The Crucible" to h.s. Vo-Tech students!!

What? We're going to teach only the "Left Behind" series??

[EFerrari]

32. Shakespeare uses to many dirty jokes for that audience.

And, he challenges authority too much.

And, he encourages sex among young people.

And, a lot of his characters AREN'T EVEN CHRISTIANS!

[saracat]

49. Excuse me? How backward do these people have to be?

I went to high school in the late sixities and "WE' did the Crucible. This is 2006. The Crucuible is a classic. And she was worried about Shakespeare?OMG. Why do they even have a drama dept.? If she can't do these plays, she can't do anything and it is pointless! I am a theatrical director, and I am quite serious. She shouldn't have buckled. She should have fought. If nothing else, the kids would have learned from the fight. Now, even if the drama department continues, it will be worthless.

[CBHagman]

22. It's not just in Missouri, unfortunately.

At my niece's high school, someone in the community got his/her knickers in a twist when a character in the school musical uttered the oath "Sweet Jesus!"

The godless, anti-family, filthy musical that inspired the protest? Why, "1776," a celebration of love, marriage, and patriotism, among other things, in which John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin squabble and discuss and hammer out the founding of the United States of America. My, my, what has the country come to?

So when the school mounted a production of the musical "The Secret Garden," staff was careful to announce in advance that the production included depictions of ghosts, spirits, magic, and charms. A refund was offered to anyone who had bought a ticket and was then concerned that the content of the musical might be "damaging." The staff announced this each performance with just the right degree of earnest concern and snarkiness.

[Quantess]

25. Ridiculous.

The Crucible, Grease, and A Midsummer Nights Dream. None of these are appropriate?! So, what to these fundies think IS acceptable at the High School level, Bible reenactments? Or a childrens' play?

You'd think they could give the teacher suggestions instead of shooting down every one of her ideas. Apparently, they really don't like this teacher and they want her out. She should be delighted to leave!

[mbperrin]

28. YES, Bible re-enactments! David peeping at Bathsheba bathing,

Lot's daughters getting him drunk and seducing him; the ever-popular Salome's dance of the seven veils ending with the beheading of John the Baptist; the slaying of Goliath by a young boy; Cain's murder of his brother; the whole Job routine of the deaths of wives, children, servants, and cattle; and lots lots more!!!!

Yes, BIBLE RE-ENACTMENTS! Family fare with a healthy religious message: Obey the old man in white robes or burn in hell.

[TroubleMan]

48. or how about the part with collecting all the foreskins of the enemy

nt.

[mikeytherat]

29. OK, I'll look back to my High School days and see what passes muster

(I was president of our Thespian chapter)

Up the Down Staircase:
Misguided teens
Girl develops crush on male teacher, gets suicidal
NO

David and Lisa:
Difficult teens, and the scene where two boys in the park assault Lisa
NO

You Can't Take it With You:
Mocks the accumulation of wealth
NO

Once Upon a Mattress:
Where to begin with this? Mattresses and a princess, things placed under mattresses?
NO

mikey_the_rat

[1monster]

30. Wonder what will happen when the Fundies find out that THE CRUCIBLE

is in the Florida edition of the Prentiss/Hall book of Literature for high school seniors. In most senior lit classes in this county, THE CRUCIBLE is required.

In all honesty, though, the story of the Salem Witch Trials as told by the PBS mini series THREE SOVEREIGNS FOR SARAH (more factual and more dramatic) is extremely compelling.

Several of the Senior Lit classes which I have been in have both read and viewed the movie, THE CRUCIBLE, and watched the mini-series THREE SOVEREIGNS FOR SARAH.

The message is clear in both that mass fear and mass hysteria are used as control tools for those in power who wish to keep power or as tools to gain power.

Too bad that those who protest such works are often to dim to understand the message and who certainly don't understand that they themselves have become tools of power.

Irony, indeed.

[happyslug]

38. Lets get the facts straight on this topic

1. The Crucible was canceled NOT do to pressure from Parents or even Fundamentalist But that the fact the TEACHER leading the drama RESIGNED.

2. Why did the teacher resign? Do to complaints of of previous section of GREASE and more to do with scenes of teenagers drinking, smoking and kissing than anything else. IT had been replaced half-way through by a Mid-Summer Night Dream, but the complaint was in regards to Grease NOT the Crucible or Mid-Summer Night Dream.

I mention this for people are going on and on about how can the School cancel the Crucible? When it is clear the School DID NOT, the Teacher did with her resignation over her previous selection of Grease.

Lets keep this debate on track and talk about Grease NOT the Crucible.

[fugop]

40. Pretty sure it was about "The Crucible" ...

whose spring play was canceled after complaints about tawdry content in one of her previous productions will resign rather than face a possible firing.

I read the article as saying the teacher was told to choose a different play than the Crucible. She chose "Midsummer NIght's Dream" as the replacement. She then was told her contract might not be renewed, so she decided she should resign.

So I think it was about "The Crucible," as the spring play was canceled prior to the actual resignation.

[juajen]

42. Unfortunately, my red pencil is handy today, and you're DUE

"Do unto others as you would have them do to you."
"Your credit card bill is DUE."
".....due to pressure......"

I'm terribly sorry, but my spelling police license and red pencil were staring me in the face as I read your post. You're due retribution, of course.

[RayOfHope]

53. Nope, superintendent told her to pick another play n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

41. you can reach them here

[e-mail]

such a nice place. Edukashun kums in sekond heer!

[sakabatou]

43. WTF?

My high school did this about 6 years ago. And no complaints. Even though there were cigs (fake), booze (water and Dr. Pepper) and kissing. Man, those people are wacky.

To the drama teacher: :yourock:

[VegasWolf]

44. Are these religious batshit crazy nutcases fucking kidding me? nt

[bobbieinok]

45. time to bring back Bowdler?????

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05.

Bowdler, Thomas


(boud´lr, bd´–) (KEY) , 1754–1825, English editor. He is best known for his Family Shakespeare (10 vol., 1818), an expurgated edition for family reading that, although attacked for its prudery, was reprinted many times. Bowdler also edited (omitting passages of an irreligious or immoral tendency) selections from the Old Testament (1822) and Gibbon’s History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (6 vol., 1826). His editorial activities gave rise to the term bowdlerize, which means to expurgate a book by deleting sections considered indelicate.

[DrZeeLit]

46. Ironic... talk about witch hunt. Here's an idea....

I hope that some famous actors and actresses roll into town and put on this play.
Larger than life, twice as much media attention, lots of focus on censorship and witch hunts and false witness/imprisonment.


Arthur Miller's play LIVES beyond those petty minds that want to censor and judge.
I'm thrilled that this is the play which forced the teacher's hand. Folding over Grease wouldn't have had so much clout.
I don't want to see any teacher lose her job or feel pressure to resign, but if that had to happen (and sounds like it did) The Crucible is the perfect vehicle.

I hope this story causes others to revisit the issue.

[liberalpragmatist]

55. Instead, they're performing "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Seriously. That's what I read in a previous piece on this topic in the NYT. The whole story is just dripping in irony. I guess nobody there understands Shakespeare.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

56. That's absurd!

When I was in HS, we did all sorts of controversial stuff (granted this is in NJ)...

"The Last Leaf" -Essentially a lesbian love story although it is never specifically stated.
Assorted absurdist plays -Plenty of references to a lack of a god and homosexuality
"A Midsummer's Night Dream" -Done very sexually suggestive and using the soundtrack from the "Romeo & Juliet" movie.

Imagine if this teacher was subjecting her students to these lyrics (not full length songs, just the "offensive" parts...
"Whatever (I Had A Dream)" by Butthole Surfers
I had a dream last night
'Cause it looked just like a dream
I had a dream last night
But it looked unlike a dream
...
I had a dream last night
And it fit me like a glove
I had a dream last night
And it fit me like a glove, the Hell one
...
...
Juliet is up in Heaven
A pocket full of pills
And Jesus drives to Mexico
To get her prescription filled

I had a dream last night
And it fit me like a glove
There was a scream last night
It was gettin' kind of fun, yeah, rock out, whatever
...
...

She was on fire last night
And I was breathing gasoline
I had a dream last night
And it fit me like a glove

I had to scream last night
Lord above

I didn't know where to shake my butt
Walked backwards, fucked like a fox
I was more fucked up than your sister's tackle box
Three AM at 5 o'clock

And one of us leaves
And I got shot
Shot me down
Yeah, whatever, rock out

That's it, this is my rhyme
Take it to the street, biyatch!

Or some of this lyrics from the song "Pretty Piece of Flesh" by One Inch Punch
I will split you in two
Shake shake shake boom
I strike, quickly being bold

You're all, you're all dogs
You're just dogs of the house
You're weak, weak, weak, weak slaves
The weak slave goes to the wall, oooh

'Cause I am
I am that pretty piece of flesh
I am a pretty piece of flesh
I am a pretty piece of flesh
I am a pretty piece of flesh, I am

Guess what? No one cared. The students loved it. Everyone involved had a great time.

[bleedingheart]

57. I wonder if she is in a Union....

I read that she has an annual contract...

Now a friend of mine here in PA told me years ago that before there were unions...teachers didn't know from year to year if they were going to remain with a district. They all had these annual contracts and if you were either making too much money or if you were too controversial or if you politically didn't have the right friends...you lost your job but instead of firing you...they just wouldn't renew you for the following year....

[WinkyDink]

62. That was at least 40 years ago, if a day!

(retired PA. teacher here!)
But that IS the raison d'etre for unions.
Kind of why Republicans hate them.

[GRLMGC]

61. When I was in high school

my drama teacher refused to do Grease because he objected to its moral content and how Sandy had to change for Danny. However, once he was going to put on Brighton Beach memoirs which has a scene discussing masturbation. The school told him to cut it out and he refused so he just cancelled the whole thing. Interesting, eh?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

65. Kissing? Oh, no, not KISSING!

:eyes:

[LeftHander]

66. Dramatic versions of Davey and Goliath allowed