Parents pan school musical

[TMB]

You people need to get a real problem!! Nowadays even the classics aren't any good. There is nothing in this world that won't offend someone sometime. Your child needs to learn to deal with life (the good and the bad) to become a responsible, caring adult. Get over it!!!!!

[a north bellmore parent]

ok Martin ave parent I have read your quote listed above about the program. So from you post I will assume that you are not just a martin ave parent, but a parent of one of the adopted children. The play sounds as if it did not meet the expectations of your PTA cultural arts committee head (a volunteer). Your children were upset and nobody ever wants that, as a parent I totally get that and wouldn't want my child upset either. What I don't get is what it is you still want? Your PTA cultural arts coordinator picked a BOCES approved program team. I don't know if you have ever VOLUNTEERED for your PTA before but I was once the cultural arts coordinator at my school. You look through a book, pick a program that sounds good (often through word of mouth from other cultural arts committee chairs in the district) and book the program. You do not ask to read the "script", that is not the common standard. Now your school had a problem with the program, I get that. Your PTA needs to let BOCES know they felt the program was not acceptable so they can investigate and remove it from their approved list if they agree (which it sounds like they would based on your description). I am suprised that the teachers would not have had some discussion about the topic (again through the grapevine I have heard the name of one teacher and she is an excellent teacher). I feel this excellent teacher would not have let this negative impression linger with the kids if she felt that was what was being said in the play so I am confused by what you are saying. You have EXCELLENT teachers at Martin from what I have seen and heard. Now you go to your administration and they agree to have a Manhattan based adoption agency come in to give sensitivity training to its staff regarding adoption so they certainly seem attentive to your needs. What else are you looking for? It seems to me that the district has handled this situation very well and maybe you have lost your objectivity?(I am not saying that to sound mean but when your child is hurt you can't see clearly sometimes). I think you need to take a step back and remember this program was booked by VOLUNTEERS who dedicate their time to HELP bring good things to the kids. This may not have happened this time but I doubt they did it to be mean and hurtful to adopted children. The distict has responded to your concerns. Have you volunteered to be the cultural arts committee chair next year so that you can monitor what gets brought into your school? It is very easy to condemn others (expecially if your child is hurt) but I think you need to take a step back, know that you did something good by bringing this to everyone's attention, and then move to make a positive change for all involved. I hope you will be able to volunteer your time next yr (maybe you already do) because it is easy to condemn those who do but harder to be the one always trying to make the school a better place for all the children. I am currently a PTA officer so I know how easily it is to be told by others that "you should have don't this....or that....when that person isn't doing anything at all. Again, I am not trying to be mean, I know that words can sound harsher than we mean them to be, I just think you need to look at it from ALL sides and make something good come out of this situation. Good luck to you and your family

[a north bellmore parent]

M-A-P wrote:

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?

Were you there too? Usually parents are not in attendance for cultural arts programs held during the school day. Did you actually see the play yourself? I am confused by your post based on my knowledge of what goes on in the schools

[What TMB]

TMB you are soooo right these kids need to get tough! By the age 5-11 they shouldn't be babied anymore! Let's put on plays that tell these kids how life really is, by the age 5-11 they should have to deal with the realities of prejudice and racism. Put on plays depicting fat people as funny, black people as drug dealers,that spanish people may stab you, jewish people are cheap, all mulims are terrorists! Change the laws so that we can once again paint our lawn jockeys black, change back the "classic" nursery rhymes to catch a "N" by the toe, write Bill Cosby to let us watch those Little Rascal episodes that he deems are inappropiate! Expose them to all the horrors of the world at this early age and see what kind of adults they grow up to be. Oops, that's right they might grow up to like TMB and we don't need anymore ignorant people in the world!( By the way have you ever seen the play?)

[Martin Avenue Parent]

Yes I was at the school and did see the production of Anne of Green Gables. So I can speak from first hand knowledge!

a north bellmore parent wrote:

<quoted text>
Were you there too? Usually parents are not in attendance for cultural arts programs held during the school day. Did you actually see the play yourself? I am confused by your post based on my knowledge of what goes on in the schools

[a north bellmore parent]

Martin Avenue Parent wrote:

Yes I was at the school and did see the production of Anne of Green Gables. So I can speak from first hand knowledge!
<quoted text>

Are you on the PTA? Usually the only parents allowed in a cultural arts program are the PTA officers so that they can evaluate if the program lived up to their expectation. If you were there why didn't you say something to your child's teacher like "wow, that really wasn't what we expected! I hope you follow up with a conversation about adoption in the classroom so that you students have a better idea about adoptees. A lot of what you guys are saying just isn't making sense, that's why so many of the posts are so negative about you guys, you seem to have no common sense.

[paddy wagon]

I am so offended. The persons responsible for this production should be beat like a red headed stepchild.

[Cabby821]

Are these parents kidding?

Idiots like these parents would have the literary world change every piece of literature to fit in their lily white world.

Puhlease!

[wordygurdy]

One step closer to the world of "Harrison Bergeron."
How about using these concerns as an opportunity to TALK to your children about things? Or is that asking too much? Whether adopted or not, all children should be allowed to freely converse with their parents about the things they see in this world that either concern them or please them. It's called communication; which coincidentally leads to education.

[red headed step-child]

I am a red headed step child and take offense to people saying people should be beat like me. I was always made fun at as a child because of my red hair. I may not be an orphan, but teasing did hurt me all my life. Can't we all just get along?

[denise]

great idea. lets have no social responsibility anymore!

Cabby821 wrote:

Are these parents kidding?
Idiots like these parents would have the literary world change every piece of literature to fit in their lily white world.
Puhlease!

[Wondering]

Martin Ave Parents,

Where did you go? Realized everyone else was making too much sense and you were wrong?

[u cant argue ignorance]

dear wondering,
sometimes you have to realize in life that people are too blinded by their ignorance to have a civilized chat..
I could sit here all day and give you every reason in the world why the school was wrong in showing this production... and yet you will sit here and say we have to suck it up and teach our children to get used to dealing with the harsh realities of the world at age 5. We have differing points of view so whats the sense of bickering?

Wondering wrote:

Martin Ave Parents,
Where did you go? Realized everyone else was making too much sense and you were wrong?

[met]

A number of the folks complaining about the depiction of orphans seem to be missing the point. Are harsh, prejudiced, incorrect things said by some of the characters about orphans? Yes. But the whole point is that these characters are prejudiced and wrong, and susequently proven so.

In any classic work, especially for kids, there are going to be clearly drawn villians or others who are later either defeated or proven wrong by the hero character and his/her defenders. As noted by another poster, there are plenty of harsh things said about orphans in the musical Annie, too, but nobody is saying that it's wholly inappropriate.

In no way are the negative comments about orphans in the play presented as an accurate, correct, view by sympathetic characters, that the audience should take away as fact. Might this be too subtle for a 5 year old? Perhaps. But even elementary school kids should already have a good grasp of good vs. bad characters from all the other literature and media they've been exposed to. From the reporting on this, it seems a bit of perspective is in order, and the parents certainly seem to be way overreacting.

[Mel]

To clarify a few things: the parent on the committee who initially objected to the show, readily admits she did so without ever having read the story or play. She had the opportunity to do research. The individual who booked it did so after reading the BOCES reviews and speaking with an elementary school principal. This program was booked early in the school year for a June show. It was mentioned at monthly PTA meetings with no further objections being made.

We live in a world where people are offended so easily. I don't believe the children were as upset as the parents are making it out to be. For one thing, there were no comments from teachers after the show that children were adversely affected.

This was an opportunity for a parent to teach their children that the world has changed in the almost 100 years since that book was written. Instead, they chose to make it a huge issue.

North Bellmore Parent, thanks for the support of all the volunteers. Clearly, you understand.

[Dear Mel]

Now to really clarify some things. The parents who were on the committee and objected to the show had serious concerns about the play.It was then decided by two people on the committee that the play will be done. At no time did anyone contact the production company for the script, a simple two minute task which would have been easy to do. I did it and they
e-mailed it to me within minutes! The committee had the responsiblity to look into the situation properly.
As for it being mentioned at the PTA meetings,-- not everyone can make it to the monthly meetings. We join the PTA, the PTA should represent all of us, not only the ones who are able to attend the meetings.
We are not people that are offended so easily as you put it. These are children, children that were seriously effected! You are not in my home so how can you tell me how my children reacted??? Also, how do you know what went on between myself and my child's teacher?? I don't remember you being there when I discussed it with them and they told me of their concerns regarding my children having to sit through this play. You say it was my opportunity to address how the world has changed, no it was the school's opportunity, and responsibility to discuss it with our children and that never happened. Most families never knew their child even saw the play, no notice was sent home like they did with previous performances. By the way some parents are reacting, I don't hink much has changed. You still don't see how harmful, hurtful, and ignorant the words of the play were. If you had changed the characters to a different race or religion maybe then you would understand.
It is great that people volunteer to help especially when it helps children. I myself am an active volunteer in my community. But, being a volunteer doesn't mean you are not responsible for your actions,for the decisions you make. The egos and personal agendas of some adults get in the way of the purpose of volunteering, it's for the kids. The child should be thought of when decisions are made.

[francine]

THIS SHOW IS AMAZING! GO OUT AND SEE IT! YOU DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT AND YOU'RE MAKING SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT!

[ArtsPower]

As the founding co-directors of ArtsPower National Touring Theatre, we are responding to the July 13th article by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher entitled,“Parents Pan School Musical.” On June 8th, our nonprofit theatre company was contracted by Martin Avenue School’s PTA in North Bellmore to present a performance of “Anne of Green Gables,” one of ArtsPower’s national touring, Equity musicals for young and family audiences, at the school.
Following the performance, a parent from Martin Avenue School called our office to request that we stop running the play because she claimed it “caused harm” to her two adopted children who saw the performance.
ArtsPower’s musical is very closely based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic American novel about Anne Shirley, an orphan who, despite poor treatment by a few adults she encounters, triumphs in the end and is adopted by an elderly brother and sister who truly love and respect her.
The Martin Avenue School parent who called ArtsPower never saw our performance of "Anne of Green Gables." Nonetheless, she called Newsday to complain about it. Newsday decided to give voice to her complaint. To date, this parent is the only person who has contacted ArtsPower to share her concern about the performance at her children's school.
After reading Ms. Kelleher’s article in Newsday, we called her and those sources whom she quoted in her article. In addition to Ms. Kelleher and the parent who called Newsday, two other quoted sources, namely the superintendent of schools and the president of the National Council for Adoption, admitted that they, too, never saw the performance.
Ms. Kelleher printed a portion of the show’s copyrighted script in her article without ever requesting or receiving ArtsPower’s approval to do so.
In addition to speaking with Ms. Kelleher, we spoke with her editor, Monty Young. We brought to Mr. Young’s attention that: 1) Ms. Kelleher’s portrayal of ArtsPower and our production of “Anne of Green Gables” was based solely on hearsay and conjecture as not one adult who wrote about or commented on the play ever saw it; and, 2) Ms. Kelleher included a portion of the play’s copyrighted script in her article without ArtsPower’s permission.
For Ms. Kelleher to write about ArtsPower and the performance of “Anne of Green Gables” at Martin Avenue School, given the fact that neither she nor any of her quoted sources actually saw it, is unfair and irresponsible journalism.
We have requested that Mr. Young and Ms. Kelleher provide an immediate apology to ArtsPower in Newsday for the potentially damaging comments about our performance as well as the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in the article.
ArtsPower National Touring Theatre, celebrating our 22nd season this year, stands solidly behind our work and invites anyone who would like to comment about our performances to first come out and see them. Your e-mails to [e-mail] are welcomed.
Mark Blackman and Gary Blackman
ArtsPower National Touring Theatre
www.artspower.org

[Mel]

Dear Mel wrote:

Now to really clarify some things. The parents who were on the committee and objected to the show had serious concerns about the play.It was then decided by two people on the committee that the play will be done. At no time did anyone contact the production company for the script, a simple two minute task which would have been easy to do. I did it and they
e-mailed it to me within minutes! The committee had the responsiblity to look into the situation properly.
As for it being mentioned at the PTA meetings,-- not everyone can make it to the monthly meetings. We join the PTA, the PTA should represent all of us, not only the ones who are able to attend the meetings.
We are not people that are offended so easily as you put it. These are children, children that were seriously effected! You are not in my home so how can you tell me how my children reacted??? Also, how do you know what went on between myself and my child's teacher?? I don't remember you being there when I discussed it with them and they told me of their concerns regarding my children having to sit through this play. You say it was my opportunity to address how the world has changed, no it was the school's opportunity, and responsibility to discuss it with our children and that never happened. Most families never knew their child even saw the play, no notice was sent home like they did with previous performances. By the way some parents are reacting, I don't hink much has changed. You still don't see how harmful, hurtful, and ignorant the words of the play were. If you had changed the characters to a different race or religion maybe then you would understand.
It is great that people volunteer to help especially when it helps children. I myself am an active volunteer in my community. But, being a volunteer doesn't mean you are not responsible for your actions,for the decisions you make. The egos and personal agendas of some adults get in the way of the purpose of volunteering, it's for the kids. The child should be thought of when decisions are made.

Two parents objected, but not seriously enough. They weren't outraged! One of the parents who objected then gave the show RAVE reviews on the BOCES web site! That parent on the committee could have brought it up at PTA meetings to bring out a public discussion. They did not even choose to solicit the script fromthe company until after the performance. If it was so quick, why didn't the person on the committee objecting to it, get further information to support their objection? It is standard procedure to rely on the BOCES reviews. However, a school principal was contacted for their feedback. Apparently, he had never had such complaints about the show.

I'll tell you why, they just wanted to go on a crusade! They even tried to solicit other parents/guardians to go to the principal and complain, but those individuals wanted no part of it! These are all facts that I know.

[Mel]

Martin Avenue Parent, obviously the concerns were not serious enough! If they were so concerned, they could have solicited the script themselves to support their objections. THEY CHOSE NOT TO! In addition, they did attend the monthly meetings and it would have been an opportunity to open the discussion to others. If that couldn't work, they could have raised their objections to the principal beforehand. AGAIN, THEY CHOSE NOT TO.

The PTA cultural arts committee relies upon BOCES and the reviews placed on its site. Again, an elementary school principal was contacted for their feedback. He didn't indicated he had any complaints of the show. I'm sure he must have at least one adopted child in his school.

These parents chose to go on a crusade. It is a fact that they tried to solicit other parents/guardians of adopted children to approach the principal. These people wanted no part of it. But of course, someone obviously knew someone at Newsday in order to get such a one-sided article published.

Everyone should also know, Anne of Green Gables is in the 6th grade Spotlight Reader, and it is recommended reading on MANY adoption web sites.