Mo. Drama Teacher Resigns in Play Flap

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060318/D8GE1GLO8.html ^

[Lunatic Fringe]

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - 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.

DeVore chose Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," a classic romantic comedy with its own dicey subject matter, including suicide, rape and losing one's virginity.

DeVore, 31, a six-year veteran teacher, said administrators told her that her annual contract might not be renewed.

"Maybe I need to find a school that's a better match," she said.

Both Enderle and the high school principal declined to discuss DeVore's resignation, citing privacy concerns. The resignation must still be approved by the school board.

Publicity over the drama debate, including a front-page story in The New York Times, has cast an unflattering light on Fulton as an intolerant small town, several of DeVore's colleagues said.

"We have become a laughingstock," teacher Paula Fessler told The Fulton Sun.

[durasell]

It's stories like this that keep me moving to the South or Midwest from California despite all of its own problems.



It's also stories like this that keep businesses from moving to some small towns.

[socialismisinsidious]

you are right. This teacher couldn't win so that is why she didn't even bother to try (which, of course, is the real issue here)

[wildcatf4f3]

Miller a subversive commie one note Johnny,,,over-rated-won't be remembered.

[freedumb2003]

I did MND when I was in HS -- what's the problem here?

[raybbr]

...we should probably revive the ducking stool ...

There is something scatalogical about that...:>)

[durasell]

There's more at work here. Theater and those who participate in theater have always been suspect among very religious folks.

The only choice is for the community to stop amateur tax payer funded theater or for the religious folks to avoid it...

But this fuss over a play by one of America's greatest playwrights, makes the entire community look like a bunch of morons.

[MineralMan]

I just went and found a photo of Miss DeVore, the Drama teacher in question. Now, she's a LOT better looking than Mr. Mosely, my high school's drama teacher back in 1963.

[MineralMan]

"Miller a subversive commie one note Johnny,,,over-rated-won't be remembered."

You're right about his political views, but you're way wrong about whether he'll be remembered. Way wrong.

[durasell]

Yes, and I loved his Tropic of Cancer

[Lunatic Fringe]

Hot for teacher!

[durasell]

and who can forget these memorable lyrics...no doubt cut from Death of a Salesman...

Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah
Some call me the gangster of love
Some people call me maurice
Cause I speak of the pompitous of love

People talk about me, baby
Say I’m doin’ you wrong, doin’ you wrong
Well, don’t you worry baby
Don’t worry
Cause I’m right here, right here, right here, right here at home

Cause I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun

I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I sure don’t want to hurt no one

I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun

I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I get my lovin’ on the run
Wooo wooooo

You’re the cutest thing
That I ever did see
I really love your peaches
Want to shake your tree
Lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey all the time
Ooo-eee baby, I’ll sure show you a good time

Cause I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun

I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I get my lovin’ on the run

I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun

I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I sure don’t want to hurt no one

Wooo woooo

People keep talking about me baby
They say I’m doin’ you wrong
Well don’t you worry, don’t worry, no don’t worry mama
Cause I’m right here at home

You’re the cutest thing I ever did see
Really love your peaches want to shake your tree
Lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey all the time
Come on baby and I’ll show you a good time

[blowfish]

No one is saying that these kids can't or shouldn't study Shakespeare but she was asked to pick a play that could be appreciated by the family and she choose not to do that by her administrator's standards.

Perhaps they could have performed one of the Bob the Builder books. Or maybe one of those dramatic Barney episodes. That should be safe enough for all those tender little minds in that innocent little community.

[Swiss]

I wonder how far away is Blaine Missouri

I saw "Waiting for Guffman" again last night

If I recall an episode of the Andy Griffin show had Helen putting on a play or musical and some of the town folks objecting.

[skaterboy]

Publicity over the drama debate, including a front-page story in The New York Times, has cast an unflattering light on Fulton as an intolerant small town,

Seems like the truth to me...even a broken clock like the Slimes is right twice a day

[socialismisinsidious]

No by their standards she did not..she choose another play but not one that they found to be family-friendly.

Personally I don't have a problem with any of the plays mentioned (including JC superstar, MM)...this play was paid for by the community's tax money via school; she should have listened to her bosses.

Maybe the community is made up of a bunch of inter breeding, deliverance type hicks---it is their tax money so they have every right to ask for a play that they find more suitable.

[Politicalmom]

Well, leftists won't allow Huckleberry Finn or A Christmas Carol plays, so maybe we're all even. :)

[Just mythoughts]

The local paper doesn't exactly describe it the way AP does.


http://www.fultonsun.com/articles/2006/03/16/news/291news12.txt

[ozzymandus]

"Grease"? "The Crucible"? Sheesh! We did "The Crucible" in high school 35 years ago.

[MineralMan]

Yah, that's probably the one our correspondent was thinking of, eh? Ya think he was thinking of a different Miller?

Here's a fairly complete list of ARTHUR Miller's plays. Oh, I think he'll be remembered:

After the Fall
All My Sons
The Archbishop's Ceiling/The American Clock
An Enemy of the People
Broken Glass
The Creation of the World and Other Business
The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts
The Crucible: Screenplay
Danger: Memory!: Two Plays: I Can't Remember Anything, Clara
Death of a Salesman: Certain Private Conversations in Two Acts and a Requiem
Elegy For a Lady
Everybody Wins: A Screenplay
Incident at Vichy
The Last Yankee: With a New Essay About Theatre Language
A Memory of Two Mondays
Mr. Peters' Connections
Playing for Time
The Price
The Ride Down Mt. Morgan
Some Kind of Love Story
A View from the Bridge

[Melas]

I grew up in a small town and we did all kinds of things that would not be thought of as 'small minded'. Maybe it says something about you?

Yeah, it says that I absolutely hated living in a small town. If you're reading more into it, maybe it's YOUR problem. Your defensive response leads me to suspect that I hit a nerve of some sort.

The administrators asked her to pick a family-friendly play...you know that everyone in the community could comfortably enjoy. Not that hard a task really. This wasn't a bunch of parents screaming about what the teens were studying....they just wanted something that all could watch.

A Midsummer Night's Dream IS a family play. Grease IS a family play. Only the most strident members of the Church of the Easily Offended could think otherwise.