Comments on: Banned in Sherwood, sold out in Portland http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/ a Portland-centric arts and culture blog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:07:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Bob Hicks http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-173 Bob Hicks Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:16:06 +0000 http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-173 Thanks, all, for your comments. Satchel, you make good points. While I do think this episode probably has deepened cynicism about the adult world among Sherwood students, this sort of thing isn't reductive: I'll bet that at the same time, the experience has been liberating for the kids. (And by the way, I'd like to draw a distinction between cynicism, which becomes an excuse for doing nothing, and healthy skepticism, which is the basis for critical thought.) As to your second point, I'm not surprised. In public discourse things become polarized quickly, and people who thought they were in the middle sometimes find themselves standing for something in public opinion that they had no intention of standing for. Parents have every right to withdraw their children from projects they don't believe are right for them. That's a far cry from wanting to kill the project outright, but all too often that leap gets made -- and not necessarily by the person directly involved, but by someone else who has an ax to grind. I sympathize with the mother whose private decision appears to have been turned into a political weapon against her wishes. Ria, if you'll let Art Scatter know details of any performances coming up this weekend, we'll spread the word. -- BH Thanks, all, for your comments. Satchel, you make good points. While I do think this episode probably has deepened cynicism about the adult world among Sherwood students, this sort of thing isn’t reductive: I’ll bet that at the same time, the experience has been liberating for the kids. (And by the way, I’d like to draw a distinction between cynicism, which becomes an excuse for doing nothing, and healthy skepticism, which is the basis for critical thought.) As to your second point, I’m not surprised. In public discourse things become polarized quickly, and people who thought they were in the middle sometimes find themselves standing for something in public opinion that they had no intention of standing for. Parents have every right to withdraw their children from projects they don’t believe are right for them. That’s a far cry from wanting to kill the project outright, but all too often that leap gets made — and not necessarily by the person directly involved, but by someone else who has an ax to grind. I sympathize with the mother whose private decision appears to have been turned into a political weapon against her wishes.
Ria, if you’ll let Art Scatter know details of any performances coming up this weekend, we’ll spread the word.
– BH

]]> By: Lisa Pomeroy http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-171 Lisa Pomeroy Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:40:10 +0000 http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-171 Alert: Sherwood administrators confiscated Ms Brown's computer last week (before play was performed in Portland). When the computer was returned, Ms. Brown's email was changed to: jebrown@sherwood.k12.or.us If you have tried to contact her, those emails are probably going to the administration. It would be a shame if messages from well wishers and friends of "Higher Ground" are not being received by the proper owner. Please make a note of her new address. Thanks! Alert: Sherwood administrators confiscated Ms Brown’s computer last week (before play was performed in Portland). When the computer was returned, Ms. Brown’s email was changed to: jebrown@sherwood.k12.or.us

If you have tried to contact her, those emails are probably going to the administration. It would be a shame if messages from well wishers and friends of “Higher Ground” are not being received by the proper owner. Please make a note of her new address. Thanks!

]]> By: Ria Torricelli http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-168 Ria Torricelli Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:21:43 +0000 http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-168 Ah... but there's a rumor it will show again this weekend! :) Let me know if you'd like us to set aside a ticket if it does. I am sorry you missed it on Sunday- it was great. Ah… but there’s a rumor it will show again this weekend! :) Let me know if you’d like us to set aside a ticket if it does. I am sorry you missed it on Sunday- it was great.

]]> By: Satchel http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-165 Satchel Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:29:12 +0000 http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-165 Thanks for a thought-provoking post, bringing up several points that I haven't seen discussed before. As someone whose child was in the play and who has followed this issue from the beginning, however, may I clarify a few things? <i>Kids learned that when they’re faced with an unreasonable ban, the best thing to do is an end run: They learned to be a little more cynical about the adult world.</i> Mmm, maybe. Frankly I think these kids are plenty cynical already. But what I heard the cast say on Sunday was that they learned that they have some power to change things. Nothing wrong with that! <i> Parents learned that if three or four of them put up enough of a fuss they can put a stop to common sense and common discourse. </i> At least one of the original three parents who withdrew their child(ren) from the play has said publicly, in the Oregonian and at a recent Sherwood School Board meeting, that she never intended for the play to be cancelled. She made a decision to withdraw her child from the play, but she was basically horrified at the ensuing events. Overall I don't believe that the parents were a vigilante group, but rather that the decisions were made by the administration for its own reasons. Thanks for a thought-provoking post, bringing up several points that I haven’t seen discussed before. As someone whose child was in the play and who has followed this issue from the beginning, however, may I clarify a few things?

Kids learned that when they’re faced with an unreasonable ban, the best thing to do is an end run: They learned to be a little more cynical about the adult world.

Mmm, maybe. Frankly I think these kids are plenty cynical already. But what I heard the cast say on Sunday was that they learned that they have some power to change things. Nothing wrong with that!

Parents learned that if three or four of them put up enough of a fuss they can put a stop to common sense and common discourse.

At least one of the original three parents who withdrew their child(ren) from the play has said publicly, in the Oregonian and at a recent Sherwood School Board meeting, that she never intended for the play to be cancelled. She made a decision to withdraw her child from the play, but she was basically horrified at the ensuing events. Overall I don’t believe that the parents were a vigilante group, but rather that the decisions were made by the administration for its own reasons.

]]> By: Recovering Straight Girl http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-162 Recovering Straight Girl Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:34:20 +0000 http://www.artscatter.com/general/banned-in-sherwood-sold-out-in-portland/#comment-162 Very good post and very true. I was able to see the play and I am glad that I did; it's just a shame that the people who SHOULD see it, probably did not. Very good post and very true. I was able to see the play and I am glad that I did; it’s just a shame that the people who SHOULD see it, probably did not.

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