Parents pan school musical

[Martin avenue parent]

and the facts are inaccurate. If you would like to discuss them in a civilized, mature manner contact me.

Mel wrote:

<quoted text>
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 wrote:

and the facts are inaccurate. If you would like to discuss them in a civilized, mature manner contact me.
<quoted text>

The facts are accurate. You are not interested in discussing anything. Just by you ignoring the facts presented and not responding shows that.

As I stated, the program is BOCES-approved. An elementary school principal gave it high recommendations, as did the chairperson of the Martin Avenue committee after the play was shown. In addition, the book is recommended reading on many adoption web sites. Why not respond to those facts?

We are now living in a world where everyone is offended by something. Instead of teaching our children tolerance, acceptance, and most importantly, RESPECT, for each other, we want to eliminate all that upsets us.

Children are resilient. It would have served these children much better to have said, "That was the way orphaned children were treated years ago. Times have changed." But no, the parents don't want to take that responsibility. Since the school didn't do it, there was no reason they should.

You imply I am immature and uncivilized. I am neither. I am just fed up and disgusted.

[Mel]

FYI, the evaluation submitted by the Committee Chairperson can be found at
http://www.nassauboces.org/artsined/main/reso...

The evaluation submitted by an elementary school principal can be found at:

http://www.nassauboces.org/artsined/main/reso...

[Martin avenue parent]

We will respond in person if you ever have the courage to speak to someone face to face, you know who the two parents are- contact us.

and for the record-
This play was never presented in Nassau County (with the exception of 3/07 in north merrick and 6/07 in north bellmore) refer to the boces web site as far back as 2004- now who was this recommendation given by at the time of booking in January 2007?

Mel wrote:

<quoted text>
The facts are accurate. You are not interested in discussing anything. Just by you ignoring the facts presented and not responding shows that.
As I stated, the program is BOCES-approved. An elementary school principal gave it high recommendations, as did the chairperson of the Martin Avenue committee after the play was shown. In addition, the book is recommended reading on many adoption web sites. Why not respond to those facts?
We are now living in a world where everyone is offended by something. Instead of teaching our children tolerance, acceptance, and most importantly, RESPECT, for each other, we want to eliminate all that upsets us.
Children are resilient. It would have served these children much better to have said, "That was the way orphaned children were treated years ago. Times have changed." But no, the parents don't want to take that responsibility. Since the school didn't do it, there was no reason they should.
You imply I am immature and uncivilized. I am neither. I am just fed up and disgusted.

[NJBeetle]

Wow this some scary stuff. People freaking out over an adaptation of a children's book that just might have some real-life themes to it.

[Kathleen Reed]

Mel just want to let you know how Happy you have made me!!! Knowing that this article has made you feel fed up and disgusted has made my day. Now you have just a small taste of what our children felt when they had to sit through this play.
I have identified myself,--- now how about you? The other parent made an offer and I will take it even one step further. Pick a time and a place,- public place, and I will gladly meet you to discuss ths FACTS about this issue,-- have a civil discussion. I'll set the record straight because alot of you are making up a lot of lies about what happened.
And as for you Artspower, you have the facts wrong about what took place over the phone. Just the other day you called looking for me, trying to intimidate me, well it didn't work.(if you forgot our conversation a cd version is available)

[Mel]

Kathleen Reed wrote:

Mel just want to let you know how Happy you have made me!!! Knowing that this article has made you feel fed up and disgusted has made my day. Now you have just a small taste of what our children felt when they had to sit through this play.
I have identified myself,--- now how about you? The other parent made an offer and I will take it even one step further. Pick a time and a place,- public place, and I will gladly meet you to discuss ths FACTS about this issue,-- have a civil discussion. I'll set the record straight because alot of you are making up a lot of lies about what happened.
And as for you Artspower, you have the facts wrong about what took place over the phone. Just the other day you called looking for me, trying to intimidate me, well it didn't work.(if you forgot our conversation a cd version is available)

The article itself has not made me fed up and disgusted. I am fed up and disgusted that we live in a world where people complain about everything. I will not meet with you because as far as you are concerned everyone is wrong but you.

Just wondering if you informed ArtsPower they were being recorded? Otherwise, it's illegal.

[Mel]

Martin avenue parent wrote:

We will respond in person if you ever have the courage to speak to someone face to face, you know who the two parents are- contact us.
and for the record-
This play was never presented in Nassau County (with the exception of 3/07 in north merrick and 6/07 in north bellmore) refer to the boces web site as far back as 2004- now who was this recommendation given by at the time of booking in January 2007?
<quoted text>

Martin Avenue Parent, on the BOCES web site there are references listed under the Program References. Included are a teacher, cultural arts rep, and a principal.

[Mitch]

The heroine of this story is Anne. The message of this story is that Anne should be treated in a respectful and decent manner by all. Prejudices are the people who object to Anne and who in the end are found to be wrong. This is a very pro Anne story, pro orphan story, and to say it is not so simply misses the point. Your article misrepresented this play and the entire series of children's books about Anne of Green Gables.

[a north bellmore parent]

I have read all the posts (and wrote a few myself which you decided not to respond to) and find that you and your friends have a bone to pick with your principal and you are using this to attack. Most of the posts totally disagree with you, Have you considered that perhaps you have gone overboard. I would like you to respond to my previous post, addressing the comments that I made. If you had a problem with this program and it was discussed previously with your PTA why didn't you find the time to go the the meeting and voice your concern then? Even the Bellmore Life's Adoption expert things your group has lost objectivity. You need to end this for the sake of your children. The example you are setting is one of an angry, bitter person.

Kathleen Reed wrote:

Mel just want to let you know how Happy you have made me!!! Knowing that this article has made you feel fed up and disgusted has made my day. Now you have just a small taste of what our children felt when they had to sit through this play.
I have identified myself,--- now how about you? The other parent made an offer and I will take it even one step further. Pick a time and a place,- public place, and I will gladly meet you to discuss ths FACTS about this issue,-- have a civil discussion. I'll set the record straight because alot of you are making up a lot of lies about what happened.
And as for you Artspower, you have the facts wrong about what took place over the phone. Just the other day you called looking for me, trying to intimidate me, well it didn't work.(if you forgot our conversation a cd version is available)

[a north bellmore parent]

Mitch,

Stop being so logical!!!! What would people argue about if they looked at the FACTS.

Mitch wrote:

The heroine of this story is Anne. The message of this story is that Anne should be treated in a respectful and decent manner by all. Prejudices are the people who object to Anne and who in the end are found to be wrong. This is a very pro Anne story, pro orphan story, and to say it is not so simply misses the point. Your article misrepresented this play and the entire series of children's books about Anne of Green Gables.

[A concerned citizen]

For Ms. Reed to state that she secretly recorded a conversation with someone from Artspower, and that a "cd version is available," is reprehensible. How unfortunate that Newsday considered her a credible source for their story.

[Jim]

Isn't it something that she no longer has anything to say, since there haven't been any more posts supporting her position?

I feel sorry for the people at that school who will have to deal with her. She seems like she's really something.

[ESQ]

Ms. Reed did not break the law when she allegedly recorded her phone conversation:
**NY PENAL CODE 250.0 states "it is NOT ILLEGAL to record a telephonic communication if ONE is the sender or receiver, or has the consent of either the sender or the receiver."
Ms. Reed shows that her statements are factual and has legal evidential support to prove her claims.

[A concerned citizen]

Whether or not Ms. Reed broke the law is not at issue here. Rather, based on her posts on this site, she has expressed a sense of vindictiveness toward members of her own community that can only alienate her from them. Apparently, her statements and claims focus on a performance she never saw. What could be considered "factual" about any statement she has made in this regard?

[laurie]

well then i guess you should be boycotting the production you saw not the entire anne of green gables plight. geez, this stuff makes me sick. get some perspective. have a talk with your kids about the play they watched...you ever hear the old saying about throwing the baby out with the bathwater? give your kids a little more credit. i fear for your kids when they get out in the real world...

Sharon wrote:

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 &#8209; 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!

[Danielle]

What people are forgetting is the story about Anne. It does not have an over riding theme of negativity towards adoption, it is quite the opposite. Children say and do for worse things that they learn from their tv, video games, peers and even -gasp- parents. And to people who compare the story of Anne to the story of Kunta Kinte, in Roots, about their age appropriateness: one has a couple off hand comments that are noticably ignorant (and not promoted by the plot), the other shows unspeakable and brutal acts of rape, murder, tortur and other forms of abuse as repeated occurrences throughout the generations of a family.
People need to face the realities of adoptive life in America. Little attention needs to be paid to a 100 year old story and more to the current negative attitudes that adopted children face from their peers daily, without seeing a play.