Parents pan school musical

It made Robbi Reed uncomfortable to watch a play at her Bellmore school last month where orphans were being called mean things and she worried about how her younger sister would react.

[whatever]

this is another example of the "me me me" egocentricity of people nowadays. They have absolutely no knowledge of the past and what kind of times their ancestors lived in. Let's just dumb down children and breed yet another generation of me-first adults who see the world thru rose colored glasses.

[Lynn]

Oh please, give me a break. I guess these children can't ever see Annie either. As an adopted child myself I find nothing wrong with this play or book. As a matter of fact Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorite books growing up. This story is absolutely RIDICULOUS! Grow up!

[get a grip]

Give me a break! While we are at it why don't we re-write history so that we don't offend anyone who may have been harmed in the past. Lets only talk about pleasant things lest we hurt someone's feelings. Like, lets outlaw teaching about the holocaust, slavery in the US and any other unpleasant incidents from the past. After all we might make someone feel bad for what their ancestors did to others 400 years ago. Then everyone will feel good about themselves and no one will feel bad.
He who does not study history is destined to repeat it. The concept is to learn from our forefathers successes and mistakes, not re-write them and repeat them.

[Sharon]

Well, Whatever and Lynn I guess you never saw the play in question. Here are just some of the lines of the play the actors said to our children at Martin Avenue.It's a shame you don't see the danger in telling children that orphans-adoptees are murderers, arsonists,people that poison other people. If this was said about your race, religion,etc. I think you would be offended also.

JUST TODAY I WAS A READIN'
WHERE THIS COUPLE WAS A NEEDIN'
A BOY TO HELP WITH
ANYTHING THEY MIGHT REQUIRE.
THEY ADOPTED THIS JEROME
AND THEY BROUGHT THE ORPHAN HOME
AND HE TURNED AROUND ‑ ON PURPOSE.
SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE.
(They freeze)
(They unfreeze)
BURNT TO A CRISP AT NIGHT IN BED!
NOW MAYBE YOU'LL THINK 'BOUT ALL I SAY
THE ENDING COULD BE TRAGIC!
(RACHEL sits/again hiccups.She again tries to hide it.)
AM I TALKIN' T00 MUCH?
IF YOU PREFER THAT I STOP.
I 'LL TRY.
ONLY THINKIN' BOUT YOU.
MARILLA:(annoyed)
(RACHEL again crosses to MARILLA)
RACHEL
THERE'S THIS OTHER CASE I KNOW:
NEW BRUNSWICK: SEVEN MONTHS AGO.(aside) WHERE THESE ORPHANS COME FROM WHO CAN TELL!
WELL ...
RACHEL

WHEN THE AUTHORITIES CAME TO SEE;
THE FAMILY DIED IN AGONY.
YEP. THE CHILD HAD PUT
(They unfreeze) STRYCHNINE IN THE WELL!

[Martin avenue parent]

This is NOT an example of the "me me me" mentality, it’s about a parent that is concerned that her children are being portrayed as "different and evil" based on their birth history.
It is about a parent that loves her children and wants her children to live in a world where all are treated equally.
Keep in mind this is ELEMENTARY School (ages 5-11), the harsh realities of the world especially the racist past are not acceptable teaching tools for children this age.

[Martin avenue parent]

yes our children need to learn all the awful racist things that have occured in the past but NOT at ages 5-11.

[laura]

do you honestly believe that children have no idea of their past or of the situations in which they came from? are you telling me that if there was a play put on using the 'n' word in refernce to african american children at a grade school that the entire black community wouldnt be up in arms? its the same situation.. degrading adopted children by calling them worthless orphans. Why is it that 'Roots' isn't allowed to be shown until atleast Jr. High because the students must be old enough to understand the idea behind it, yet this is allowed to be shown when its actually much worse? No 6 year old is going to understand any underlying themes from this play, just as they wouldnt understand the concept behind Roots.

its a matter of social responsibility to not encourage our children to condemn others because of their background. we're supposed to teach our children acceptance and equality, and this play clearly does not do that.

whatever wrote:

this is another example of the "me me me" egocentricity of people nowadays. They have absolutely no knowledge of the past and what kind of times their ancestors lived in. Let's just dumb down children and breed yet another generation of me-first adults who see the world thru rose colored glasses.

[Evelyn from Merrick]

I am adopted myself, and have lived through these ignorant times. I am now in my sixties and still remember being a child and having to deal with prejudice and ignorance. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't know of any ancestors or times in history where orphans went around killing people! To say that it is a part of my past or the past of any adopted child is absurd! This play was put on in front of these children as entertainment??? You have to be kidding me!

[Realist]

First of all, if there's anything to be learned in "Anne of Green Gables", it's that the people who make those comments about orphans are wrong. The story depicts Anne to be bright and honest with a great deal of integrity. She proves herself to be a wonderful daughter and great friend. It is a wonderful story. We have taken political correctness to a ridiculous point.

BTW, it is most likely that the children mentioned in the article are not orphans, but rather were adopted out due to China's one child policy. The perception of these children has nothing to do with Anne of Green Gables. To the contrary, these children are seen as a treasured gift to the families they help to create.

Get over yourselves!

[gng]

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE help your children learn to deal with such things!!!!

[denise]

the adopted children may have had their feelings hurt..but isnt it equally important that their peers saw orphans being degraded? Therefore, its not a far leap to believe that they may start looking down upon the adopted children and start calling them names just as they saw done in the play...

[doogie]

Another over the top reaction by the 'it's all about me' school of parenting - what is even more bizarre, however, is that the parents are given a 'heads up' when the circus come to the school so that they can discuss it with their children. Wait - I feel a sneeze coming on - quick send a letter to the parents!

[Realist]

denise wrote:

the adopted children may have had their feelings hurt..but isnt it equally important that their peers saw orphans being degraded? Therefore, its not a far leap to believe that they may start looking down upon the adopted children and start calling them names just as they saw done in the play...

Are you for real? Only bullies would think that way and they don't need an orphan to do their stuff. If your kid would do that, then you've got other problems.

[Realist]

Hey - I've got an idea. Why don't we disfigue attractive people so that unattractive people don't feel bad. And while we're at it, why don't we force feed thin people so that those of us who have a few extra pounds on our frame feel better about ourselves.

[michelle]

Let's see now, our children cannot sit "Indian style" in gym class,(but have to call it criss-cross applesauce), so as not to offend anyone, but these kids can be called names in front of their classmates. Yes, Anne was a good kid, but she had to withstand all the names being yelled at her. And the one time she stood up for herself she was punished! This book and or play would be good for a high school level english class, to teach ignorance of the past and how far we have evolved as a society! Not as entertainment for ages 5-11 yr.olds.

[a north bellmore parent]

My kids go to a different school within this district but I really don't understand why this is so upsetting. Anne of Green Gables is a classic book that many children read in the elementary grades. The program, from what I have heard through the grapevine, is a BOCES approved program that was offered through the PTA. This gives the school a chance to show this play and then the classes could (and may even have had) conversation in the class about what the play discussed. This is a good teaching opportunity to discuss what was said, how different things were viewed in the past (another example is slavery) and then discuss why we no longer think like this in the 21st century. I know many children adopted, my child's good friend is adopted from china, and she has always felt "special" by her parents and many classmates in school think it is "cool" to be adopted. I think the parents are blowing this out of proportion. This is more their issue than the childrens probably.

[Grace Lin]

Realist, I just count my blessings that I wasn't adopted by you! Luckily I was adopted by a wonderful loving family back when I was only a toddler. I was one of the lucky babies that survived being abandoned on the street, and was taken to an orphanage. I don't know any thing about my birth family,not even my real birthday. You will never know what an adopted child has to face in just ordinary everyday life. Instead of judging and picking on the people in this story why don't you support them? I'll tell you why because you have been fortunate enough never to have had to deal with the issues of abandonment! I have grown up and dealt with the many issues of my adoption, I did it at my pace when I was comfortable enough to talk about it. If I had to endure this play at such a young age, surrounded by my peers, I think I would have had a hard time also.

[Martin Avenue Parent]

The production Company was recommended by the Boces program, not the play. The play was NEVER discussed in any of our classrooms as a "learning tool." The PTA, Cultural Arts Comm., never looked into the production themselves, even after parents both of adopted and non adopted children requested it not be shown. A script could have been requested from the production company or another production could have been picked. Our children do feel good about themselves and like any other child feel special and proud of who they are. However, a production that consists of name calling to any group, race, etc is not appropiate and should not be accepted as entertainment for children. This wasn't used as a learning tool it was put on to be "entertainment" and it failed miserably!!!

[M-A-P]

Have any of you who think these parents are wrong ever seen the play or even read it? Not the book, the play in question? I don't think so, so how could you even begin to reply to something you have no knowledge of?

[denise]

would a play about overweight children in which they are called 'fatties' and are ridiculed for their weight be a suitable form of entertainment? sure, theyre good kids on the inside but theyve got those few extra pounds you were talking about.. so how about we put a play on infront of their entire school bad mouthing fat kids for their weight issues and see what happens. i'm sure nobody would look down on them, and im sure the overweight children wouldnt feel uncomfortable at all.

thats a great idea for entertaining our children while theyre at school 'learning' about life.

open your eyes and understand what school is like for children in todays society...

Realist wrote:

Hey - I've got an idea. Why don't we disfigue attractive people so that unattractive people don't feel bad. And while we're at it, why don't we force feed thin people so that those of us who have a few extra pounds on our frame feel better about ourselves.