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Pittioni said the Sherwood School District has a process when it comes to reviewing controversial material and “the process wasn’t followed here.”
“I didn’t read the script,” she said. “I didn’t get the script until yesterday (Tuesday).”
She estimated that there were 36 original cast members. With those working on props, lighting and sets, closer to 50 students are working on the production.
Although Pittioni said parents had e-mailed their concerns about the play in recent days — including several parents who pulled their children from the production — it was her decision to postpone it. She said she was not sure when it will be rescheduled.
Parent Gary Horner, whose daughter usually is in school plays but skipped this one because of sports, said he supported the play in its current version.
“The whole play has just a fabulous message with it and it’s about bullying,” said Horner.
On Tuesday, Horner sent an e-mail to local media and said he supported addressing the topic, having been a victim of bullying himself.
“To think that ‘Higher Ground,’ a play that confronts the abusive reality of bullying, was canceled three days prior to the performance because of a reference to homosexuality and other contemporary topics that some may have difficulty acknowledging, saddens me,” he wrote.
Sarah Grant, whose 13-year-old son, Freddie, has a major part in the middle school production, she was upset with the late date of the postponement.
“I’m very disappointed on a number of levels,” she said. “The kids have worked really hard. The auditions were in October.”
Like Horner, she said the major themes involve bullying and labeling.
“It really comes together nicely and I thought it was a positive, wonderful message,” Grant said.
In addition to the scene involving the two boys, she said she thinks there may have been concerns about how teachers were portrayed in the performance and said there was a scene where a set of mean girls call another girl a “cow.”
“I think girls call each other far worse things than that,” Grant said.
Grant also said her mother, who lives in Seattle, had already purchased a train ticket to see her grandson perform this weekend.
rpitz@commnewspapers.com
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If auditions were in October and 50 kids were working on the production, why did the principal not seek out a copy of the scrip to review earlier than three days before curtain?
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Fire the damn teacher who approved it in the first place!
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:24 AM
As John Stossel would say, Give me a Break!!
If Principal Pittioni feels the content of this version of the play is inappropriate, I trust her judgement implicitly. Pittioni is, and has always, protected the best interest of what's most important in our school - our children. Teachers must be held accountable for inappropriate action - thank God we've got someone like Pittioni to do the right thing.
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:38 AM
The school counselors approved the content beforehand.
The issue of discrimination and bullying needs to be addressed in our schools and in every school. Children who are murdered (as the 15 year old last week in CA) based on their sexual identity should be reason enough to bring this subject into light.
Bigotry and discrimination is not a value that should be held up in Sherwood, and neither is censorship of these important issues.
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 01:07 PM
As a producer of plays in a secondary school setting, I have to say that once again an administrator is caught asleep at the switch.
These productions are not put together in a weekend -- I personally find two months entirely too short. If the principal doesn't trust the director, the principal should read every script before it is ever presented to the students. If the principal does trust the director, then the principal should be willing to let the director twist slowly in the wind if the director chooses plays for their audience poorly.
If parents of acting students don't like the script, I say too damn bad! If you don't like being slammed on the floor, don't wrestle. If you don't like talking about controversial issues, then speech is not for you. If you don't like portraying characters different from you, don't try out for plays. See? It's simple, really. Shakespeare is all about sex and violence and the only reason nobody complains is because nobody understands the language.
Get over your bad selves and put on a play that makes a statement and makes people think (and laugh and cry and sing and applaud).
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Principal Anna Pittioni has the right to quash the play even though some of us disagree with her decision. It really makes no difference when she found out about it or by what means, we need to respect her decision that will come back to haunt her in the long run.
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 08:16 PM
This principal sounds like she's asleep at the wheel. Not only is she missing a beat, she is also missing an opportunity to do something great--like allow this play and support its message.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 12:36 AM
Rarely do directors hold auditions for a play that hasn't been written yet. I think that saying "I didn't get the script until last Tuesday" is a complete cop-out. I find it extremely hard to believe that Mrs. Pittioni knew nothing of this play and what it was about until last Tuesday. And if that is the case, is she really paying attention to what is going on at her school? I personally am outraged that the town I chose to live in is not able to see that this topic is RELEVANT!
As for the topic being too mature.....have you seen what the kids are wearing to school??? Mrs. Pittioni has the right to stop the play, but shouldn't she have done that months ago? If the topic is "too mature" now, wasn't it "too mature" when the auditions were held? Since we would rather close our minds to everything that we don't find socially acceptable, let me be the first to suggest a new town motto.....
"Sherwood, where we'd rather put our heads in the sand, than educate our children."
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 01:28 AM
For a play that had been approved by school counselors to be cancelled by Principal Anna Pittioni mere days prior to it going on stage is ridiculous.
This is theatre. Theater is art and expression - in addition, this production happens to have a great message.
Sadly, the message that has been sent to the kids at the school by Principal Anna Pittioni cancelling it is the polar opposite of the message that is delivered by the play. It is a sad day for Sherwood Middle School, especially for the kids who get bullied on a daily basis for any number of reasons.
Shame on Principal Anna Pittioni.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 04:41 AM
Well, when they're done burning the books they need to cancel the spring production of Romeo and Juliet. It contains offensive material--underage sex, defiance of parental figures, and oh yeah...there's that suicide thing too.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 05:16 AM
Pittioni told a parent (immediately after she cancelled the play) that she was afraid that the homosexual content would make it appear as if Sherwood Middle School approved of that "lifestyle". She claims it had nothing to do with the gay reference to the press but she out and out admitted it to a parent. It is that kind of ignorance and bigotry that keeps bullying alive in our schools. Pittioni should step down from her position. Our youth need to be guided by a positve role model...not someone ruled by hate.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 05:48 AM
http://www.katu.com/news/15831262.html
Way to go kids!
Sherwood has some very dynamic and intelligent children.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 06:35 AM
Yes, the theatre is a place for art and expression. There are also "target" audiences for various productions.
We are talking about kids that are between the ages of 10-13. We are NOT talking about high school students or college students.
A few thoughts/questions...
Do you teach your ten year old about sexual activies? homosexual or otherwise? Is your eleven year old ready to explore his/her sexual preferences? Do you encourage or condone your CHILD to participate in any form of sexual activity in your home?
Does your ten year old know what "gassing" is other than the random act of farting at the dinner table? Does your child know the history of Jewish Americans in this country and beyond? DO YOU? Oh and on the word Nazi - is this now a term to be interchangeably and/or casually similar to "jerk" or "ass"?
How would you feel if your child begins referring to others as Nazis? Is this okay with you? What about if swastikas begin to appear on school property - should Pittioni condone this as acceptable because it's a freedom of expression?
As it pertains to gun violence, violence against women, children, etc. - how much/how little do you share with your kids? When the shootings at Columbine destroyed the lives of children and teachers, did you encourage your children to watch the news? And did you, as a parent, take the time to talk about how this act of violence, in and of itself, affected so many? I cried, did you?
Do we want our kids to be immune to history, words, actions of violence?
Children need time to be children. If bullying is the issue, let's focus on that. If name calling is the issue, let's be frank about the names we hear in the hallways. Let's require our teachers to educate our kids based on appropriate academia.
Pittioni is doing her job. A job that I couldn't do. I see her in the school early in the morning and late at night preparing for OUR kids - more than 1000 kids to be specific. She is intelligent. She is thoughtful in her decision making. She is fair. She is generous with her time. She is committed to our children and we are lucky she hasn't stepped down from her role as our principal. Her untarnished career in education is far more than just commendable; she has earned the respect of this community.
A standing ovation for an excellent leader!
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Loyal Mom - I think you are missing the point...this play in no way, shape or form teaches sexuality. It teaches that "hate" is not acceptable and that one little word or comment can cause terrible damage to a child. DO you want your child verbally abused? Or any child for that matter...
You are sadly unaware if you think kids between 10 and 13 do not do these acts of bullying. I assure you as a former teacher - these kids know and use far harsher terms than those written in the play. The kids themselves told the news that the verbage was watered down - kids were far harsher in the real world.
You are right that children need time to be children. Unfortunately the child mocked and ridiculed at school is denied that right. Kids that are bullied become introverted or are denied access to the normal goings on of children by their abusers.
I truly wish the world was the fairy tale version you live in...but it is not. We have the harsh realities that Mayberry no longer exists. Not unless we take the time to teach children the correct lessons of love and fairness...
As for Pittioni doing her job...is it her job to infuse her homophobia into a Middle School? Come on now... Her untarnished career is blackened by her ugly remarks and poor behavior of this week.
Kudos to Miss Brown and the students of Sherwood Middle School for their couragious and intelligent work!
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 08:12 AM
To 'loyal mom', Yes I do teach my 10 year old about history, life, and acceptance. And to answer your question, yes, I am educated and well read and open minded. I encourage my child to ask and I teach. We together watch the news, read the papers, and discuss life. My child knows about diversity and hate, he know about violence and death. My child knows regardless of sexual preference, color of skin, or economic status all people are equal and valued. My child also knows that is real life not every is treated the same. Do your children have the same opportunity to learn and grow or are you simply passing gas at the dinner table?
This play would have been an excellent opportunity to teach and learn and share a message about our children and our lives. Shame on Sherwood for continuing to cave in to the opinions of a few. We need to educate the many.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Having been in several high school plays myself I remember performing one play in particular. It was about bullying, judging others and excluding others. It was a very serious and dark play and even as a 17 year old I wasn't completely comfortable with the fact that one of the characters was committing suicide due to bullying. But I stuck with it because I had already committed to it and tried to bear it the best I could.
Sometimes, when we are young, 10-13, or even up to 17 years old, we cannot enter into something knowing full well what we are getting into, because we trust our teachers' judgment, that our teachers will not use foul language in class, that they will teach us the correct information, that they will teach us the right way to treat people instead of showing examples of how to hurt them. We cannot pull out because we are start questioning our own judgment, and we trust that our teacher knows best.
If there were any students who were not comfortable performing in this play “Higher Ground” and pulled out I say CONGRATULATIONS to them. They took things into their own hands. They followed their gut. They didn't let themselves be pulled into the mainstream of a not-so-great society.
We can only hope that our teachers will not lead us down a path that takes us from our brief childhood. True, there is ugliness in school and life. I also seriously doubt that someone who is a bully will go to a play and be touched by it and rethink their behavior. It's a lovely idea: Bully sees play, Bully's eyes get all watery and suddenly feels remorse for the victims and regret for his/her own behavior and victims, Bully apologizes to those he's/she’s hurt and changes his/her ways. If only life were a Nickelodeon after school special.
Perhaps we should ask the disgruntled parents of the students to commit to learning this play and performing it in front of their children. How comfortable would they be THEN?
Just because these 10-13 year olds hear far much worse vocabulary on a daily basis and observe far more than we ever had to does not mean that we should condone it or give in to it. Should we give up on our children just because we've given up on ourselves? And for someone, such as Anna Pittioni, to stand up for common decency, self-respect, and for the innocence of our emerging children I am very grateful. Thank you for setting a better standard.
I can honestly say that it was a comfort to have other teachers who could stay above it all, to look up to as an example. If only we lived in a world where parents wouldn't become bullies themselves and pick on a principal for trying to protect our children where we have failed. I think those who are only good at complaining and getting attention by being a squeaky wheel should sit down and perhaps let our children teach us. We just might learn that they don't want to grow up as fast as we want them to.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Why did it take until three days before the play, rehersals started in October, for parents to decide their children should not be in the play? Where were these parents during practice time? Why did they not ask to read the script in advance? What else are they missing in there child's life? Take off the rose colored glasses and read the fine print!
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 10:11 AM
At 15 I knew a gay person, at 16 I knew somebody who had committed suicide and by the age of 10 I assure you I knew about the Holocaust was... if you want to shield your child from reality - try home schooling. Last time I checked - Sherwood is a public school. The political, religious and social views of administration and parents should not be imposed upon the student body.
If a child can not handle the content - do not attend the play. The students in this play are enlightened and intelligent children. They can handle the content, that is why they chose to contact the media about the unfair censorship.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 10:29 AM
The kids have been practicing since October. Why in the world haven't the parents and the principal seen the script? Why is it getting called off now? It just does not make any sense. I don't think it was the kids not showing their parents the script, parents should have heard the kids practicing and the kids talking about their parts. How inattentive are the parents?
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 10:29 AM
"Sexual activities," Loyal Mom? It's two boys dancing. I've read your comment thoroughly twice and I'm still confused on the jump from calling someone a Nazi to swastikas appearing all over the school. Of course swastikas would not be acceptable, just like hate speech and bullying is unacceptable, ironically what this play is about.
I just don't understand how educating children about bullying and hate in public schools with a theatrical production, is going to make them "immune to history, words, and actions of violence." If you want to breed ignorance and "immunity" to social ills in the present and throughout history, keep kids in the dark, if you want to make lives in public schools better for all children, then we need to start educating our children about it. Like all matters of public education, it must be done correctly. Like the history of Jewish people and their oppression throughout history, it must be put into context to be effective. Kids and be kids and still learn. They do it every day in the classroom, let them do it on stage too.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I am a student at SMS. If our principal thinks that bullying like that does'nt happen everyday, then she is wrong. I know kids that get made fun of on a daily basis. Race, Sexuality, are things that I hear people make fun of others after every period.
To all the parents of other SMS students, it could be your kid who is getting bullied.
Life is not a Wallgreens commercial. I'ts not perfect. Instead of listning to the parents whom have dissapproved the play, listen to us. We know what happens.
I have a great amount of respect towards Miss. Pittioni. But I need to stand up in what I beleive in. LET THE PLAY GO ON
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Im an sms student and i agree with the girl above me.
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 02:35 PM
SO ... will some other community group step forward and allow these students to present this play as a community event, rather than a school event?
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 03:42 PM
It took courage for the principle to do the right thing. Why is everyone focused on the time frame? Mistakes were made, the play should have been reviewed long ago by more than just the principle. It is unfortunate and disappointing for the students. But you can't get mad at the principle for doing the right thing now. Of course, everyone is focusing on the gay issue but what about the other content, that I know my student didn't even understand, like the reference to Columbine. All the issues in the play are important and should be discussed in the home or at school. But I know I would not be comfortable bringing my younger kids to see what I thought was going to be a family-friendly play. We have a rating system on movies and video games. Are we going to need them on school plays as well?
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 12:33 AM
10 year olds do not attend Sherwood Middle School.
The median age is 12.5 years old. They are pubescent young adults who have their periods, shave their legs, wear make-up and are beginning to figure out who they are.
I am a mother of one of those girls and YES, I DO talk to her about the Holocaust, I DO talk to her about school shootings, and I DO talk to her about her own sexual IDENTITY (it's not preference, it's identity.)
And I most certainly DO talk to her about violence against women.
When do you think violence against women begins?
25-35% of the students of SMS have been sexually molested.
There are girls at SMS who have been RAPED. (21% of all reported rapes are against girls UNDER AGED 12.)
There are students at SMS who are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, or Questioning.
There are students at SMS who have gay parents.
My daughter tells me all of the time that she can't walk down the hallway without hearing the F word.
She also told me that a boy from a "nice Mormon family" was overheard calling a girl a "F'ing Wh*ore" and a "Lesb*o"
There are students at SMS who drink alcohol and do illegal drugs.
Oral sex is prevalent in middle schools throughout the country.
And bullying and homophobia KILL kids.
Does one of our kids in Sherwood need to die for people to realize that just because you drop off your kid and pick them up everyday in the carpool lane, you aren't there inside those walls to see what they are dealing with. And what they are dealing with is grown-up, real-life issues
THIS is reality people.
I'm not quite sure what fantasy land that some of you are living in, but let me tell you this: Education is what keeps kids safe, sheltering them and denying these things exist only make them vulnerable to being victimized.
It's time to put down the kool-aid and pick up the coffee. It's time to wake up.
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 12:48 AM
When a mom spoke to Pittioni the same day she cancelled the play she admitted she had not even finished reading it! She cancelled it based on three things: 1)gay reference 2)use of the word cow and 3) reference to a phone "vibrating" made her uncomfortable. A phone on vibrate? where is your mind Pittioni? That is what a phone does when it is put on silent! Please see quote below:
"I asked her {Pittioni} point blank to what extent the implication that Josh, the main character, is mistaken as gay and then bullied because of that assumption. She expressed to me that she was concerned that by keeping that component of the story intact it would imply that Sherwood Middle School supports "that lifestyle." I asked her if she also had difficulty supporting a "black" lifestyle, a "Norwegian" lifestyle or a red-headed "lifestyle," because people are no more choiceful about their ethnicity or natural hair color than they are about their sexual orientation. She then, oddly, stated she had no political agenda but that what people "do in the bedroom," should stay there.”
If there are kids still out there at this age that are not aware of these subjects...it is a good thing Miss Brown wrote the play. Someone needs to help the over sheltered before they become victims or abusers.
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 01:00 AM
Someone needs to make arrangements with the drama teacher and the remaining kids in the play to have the production shown in another venue in the area. I know many folks in the Tualatin-Tigard-Sherwood area who would be happy to attend such a production in support of these kids and an anti-bullying message.
For those who don't agree with the play's content, remember that you can't protect your kids from hearing bullying, disrespectful remarks. It's already out there, and if you're not actively teaching them true acceptance of others and how to stand up when others bully, then you're part of the problem. It's the silence of bullying witnesses that makes those words you're so afraid of take effect and gives bullies their strength.
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 03:55 AM
I hate to break it to some of you folks, who are doing so well by protecting your children from this play. But if you feel so strongly, I really hope that you have thrown away your televisions, since the sexual content in commercials alone are way over the top. And if your child has a computer, don't fool yourself into thinking that they aren't getting their young eyes and ears full of really juicy stuff. A simple email address falls victim to pornography, whether we try and stop it or not.....it gets through.
The issues in this life are quite harsh. But they are a harsh reality. Please don't let your children go into life being totally niave. Go with them to the play, then encourage them to ask questions. Is that what you're afraid of?.....they may ask a question about something that you aren't comfortable in answering? Is that fair to them? Welcome to parenthood. To me, if the counselor checked out the play and approved it, what is the problem? Let the play go on, advertise (like on television) that there is mature content and let the people decide whether they want to go to it or not. No matter how hard you try and control what affects your childrens lives, life will touch them one way or another. Me, raped at 4 years old, molested for several years after that. No one talked to me, no one got me help, and I thought I was the only dirty little girl out there. Was that fair?
And maybe the bullies won't change from seeing the play, but maybe, the other children will learn that they don't have to stand for the bullying and they will stand up for each other. They will realize that they don't have to take it alone. Believe me, there are young people out there who have had terrible things happen to them and have not had the courage to talk to anyone. Maybe they will realize that they can open up. It's that or we end up with young time bombs in our schools. Don't let your fears (as parents) rule you and hurt your children.
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 04:12 AM
I'm a Beaverton parent, and we went through something similar regarding "The Laramie Project" several years ago. The play ended up going on, and it was powerful and life-changing in a very positive way for those who participated in the production and those who saw it. Even for the principal, who had originally canceled (postponed) it for many of the same reasons as Sherwood's principal, citing it as too mature, etc. for high-schoolers.
I have just read the Ms. Brown's play, Higher Ground, at http://justout.com/uploads/final_version_of_ms_play.pdf
and here are my thoughts: This is a timely and important discussion to have with middle-schoolers, who DO encounter this bullying and harassment on a daily basis. They hear much worse than is in this play at school, in movies, on TV, in song lyrics, on the Internet, etc etc. Your children ARE exposed to this, maybe not in your own home, but at school and friend's homes, etc etc. It's there, and that is their world. Help make that world a better place for them by confronting the problem and finding solutions, not refusing to have the discussion at all.
As far as the writing of the play, I find the language the kids use in it - for kids who seem to say "like" every third word - to be unnatural - for example, they would say "possible" not "plausible", etc etc. I don't believe even the brightest students would regularly say "quintessential", "degradation", "protocol", "cursory", etc. There are some references to adult connections that I don't think kids would know or make, for example, "Freudian twist to my sub-conscious activity", James Brown rolling over in his grave, "backwoods Barbie", and "Eliot Ness taking on organized crime".
There are spelling and grammatical errors: the PE teacher is Mr. H, not "Mr. Drew" (pg 8)- Drew is one of the boys - and on page 60, one of Schnizz's speaking parts is noted as Josh.
I don't believe Josh would go to class without looking at his locker; I don't believe his mom would so readily pull him out of school without the administration being far more involved, and it appears that Josh bought Schnizz an iPod Nano (pg 14)??? And why are middle schoolers texting in class, ordering pizzas with their own money, and going to tanning salons??? Is that not too mature for middle schoolers? Little sister Abby is not going to refer to herself as "Boo Radley's sister". And, eloquent as it is, kids are not going to say, "Watching her come down the hall is like seeing animals at a water hole flee for higher ground when they sense a tsunami is about it hit". WHAT??? And no school counselor has three hours to talk with a student who was "just fooling around" about a banana under her sweatshirt being a gun.
So reading the play, I find things that throw me out of the story, but I still think the content is right on, the message is important, and the issue must be dealt with.
I don't know how the auditions could have been in October, these kids rehearsing all these months, and parents not know what the content of the play be, that they only discover it three days before the show opens? These are parents who think their kids are sheltered from viewing this kind of stuff in movies and on their computers? They don't even know the content of the play their kids are rehearsing every day? Yet they allow their kids to play Halo, a first-person shooter game? Wake up parents! Why didn't YOU read the script months ago? Why did you sign the permission slip for your kid to participate, knowing the drama teacher wanted kids who would be willing to take risks, etc etc? Did that not raise a red flag for you? You have had so much time to complain and pull your kid out of the show; where have you been?
And you know what? I bet your kid has been just fine all this time, with rehearsals going on for months. No breakdowns from dealing with mature subject matter? I thought not.
And you should take your whole family to see it; many of the mature themes and references will go right over your 6-year-old's head - they will only know that big brother or sister is in a play. And then discuss it at home later. Make sure your smaller children know very simply that it's not okay to tease and bully others, and if they see it and don't feel comfortable stopping it, they should tell a trusted grown-up what they are seeing and hearing. We need to start with our small children on issues like bullying - you think it isn't going on in the classrooms and playgrounds of elementary school as well?
I think the play should go on. And I think there should be a disclaimer for the principal's comfort that the subject matter may not be suitable for all audiences. Let the theater-goer decide. Don't pull the show from everyone else because of your discomfort. Just don't go see it if you don't want to see it. It's as simple as that.
I recommend a "talk-back" with the drama teacher and all actors and stage crew folk, everyone who took part in the presentation of this show, with the audiences following each performance. That can be even more valuable than the show itself. The talkbacks were amazing after "The Laramie Project". You could also bring in some "experts" on school bullying and harassment - and have a panel discussion. There is so much that can be offered to supplement and enhance the lessons this play teaches.
The thing that should not be done is sweep this play under the carpet. It's a valuable teaching tool. Use it.
Your community needs it.
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 05:45 AM
I do not understand how anyone who has actually read this script can say that the content is too mature for these students. The students at SMS deal with these things on a daily basis and this play is a beautiful way to bring the topic to the forefront and help to show positive ways to deal with difficult situations. As a parent of young adults that have attended SMS in the past, I can honestly say that Mr. Emmert is naive to think that the play exaggerates the kind of taunting that goes on at Sherwood Middle School. I personally complained many times about situations my own kids faced and never heard a word from Mrs. Pittioni. This is just one more example of her unwillingness to deal with real life situations. I feel that our administration is taking a scary, narrow minded, discriminating stand against something that was written with the best of intentions.
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Rules, regulations, and codes of conduct are written for reasons and when rules are broken there are consequences. In this case, the consequences have fallen upon innocent people – most particularly, these middle school kids who DID follow the rules – they did what their teacher asked, they regurgitated lines and phrases and innuendos they may or may not understand, and at the end of this day the kids are disappointed and discouraged.
We have a middle school drama teacher who knowingly and deliberately broke the rules. She’s the adult, she’s the teacher. She took time to write a 64 page script with references to important, yet often emotionally charged and controversial topics and yet choose not to follow through and do her job in its entirety. Her students have a right to be mad – they’ve been cheated, by her.
The play does indeed offer some strong messages to be explored but would the integrity or the message have really been lost with some minor modifications?
Will she be reprimanded? At what point is a lack of judgment NOT acceptable by adults in positions of power with children?
Because of her actions, the bullying of the school is worse today than it was yesterday. We can read and see parents placing verbal attacks on school administrators referring to them with hateful, derogatory terms, and we have a media blitz over a play in which one teacher has possibly managed to get her “big break”. Are congratulations now in order?
The Sherwood School District website offers this:
SCHOOL PUBLICATIONS, DISPLAYS AND PRODUCTIONS
Written materials, handbills, photographs, pictures, petitions, films, tapes or other visual or auditory materials may not be sold, circulated or distributed on district property by a student or a non-student without the approval of the administration.
Materials outside the editorial control of the district must be submitted to the principal or his/her designee for review and approval before being distributed to students. Materials shall be reviewed based on legitimate educational concerns. Such concerns include whether the material is defamatory; age appropriate to the grade level and/or maturity of the reading audience; poorly written, inadequately researched, biased or prejudiced; not factual; or not free of racial, ethnic, religious or sexual bias. Materials that must be submitted for review include advertising that is in conflict with public school laws, rules and/or Board policy; materials which might be deemed inappropriate for students or may be reasonably perceived by the public to bear the sanction or approval of the district.
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Loyal Mom - you speak too quickly. Miss Brown was never made aware of the policy. You angrily accuse her of "knowingly and deliberately" breaking the news. I am sorry Loyal Mom that is not true. Please heed caution with your words. There was no deliberate breaking of rules. Miss Brown was cautious and made a point of giving the script to someone who was educated, trained then hired to be a child counselor. Someone who specializes in the development of children. The counselor was given the play for review and okayed it.
Was Miss Brown reprimandedfor not following a rule she was unaware of? I do not know. I know that ignorance of a rule is no excuse for not following one...but is this the real crime? Was Ms Pittioni reprimanded for her hateful homophobic behavior as described by a few parents on this board? Does a person of power have the right to inflict their backward and ignorant views about sexual identity upon children? Not in a public school... I want o know what the superintendent is doing about this...
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 11:00 PM
huh
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 01:00 AM
Hasn't Brown been a teacher here for 7+ years?
Aren't teachers in our school district are required to read district policies. If not, we certainly have a bigger problem on our hands.
Annually my child receive a student handbook from the school - the aforementioned policy is clearly stated. I would think the teachers are not only told about school policies but are expected to enforce them as well.
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 03:49 AM
This is an afterschool drama club, folks, not a part of the regular school curriculum. I'm not sure the same policies apply in this case.
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 03:55 AM
The play was not cancelled because of a school poilcy...it was cancelled because the principal did not want to be associated with the gay reference and some other content was deemed too mature.
As for her reading the policy...how many people can remember and recite everything in their company handbooks?
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 04:05 AM
Exactly...Let's not be nit picky and find all the little technicalities that could make what Pittioni did seem ok. The reality here folks is that we have a teacher who was willing to teach our kids ways to handle situations that they WILL come across no matter how much we want to shield them. Hurray for Ms. Brown for being a true teacher! I feel sorry for Mrs. Pittioni because her phobias are keeping her from being able to really embrace what she could be learning and also be teaching our kids...that we are all different and that is what makes the world more interesting and that we can all contribute to a better community no matter what our race, sexual identity, weight etc. might be.
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 05:16 AM
Slinging names and making assumptions about Pittioni based on he said/she said comments? Seriously? Grow up people. It's no wonder your kids are having these issues at their school. Wasn't this script supposed to show how name calling, bullying, etc hurts people?
Remember that old saying "it takes a village to raise a child"...When did you last volunteer at the school? When was the last time you stepped in between two kids (or more) having an issue? Oh, it's not your job right? Perhaps taking greater daily care in our kids education/daily lives may have an impact.
The play was cancelled for the right reasons. SHE DID HER JOB. Had the Superintendent or the School Board felt Pittioni was wrong, the play WOULD have went on.
Pittioni, if you happen to see this...keep doing your job, truth always prevails and I certainly hope you stick with us and our kids.
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I am a frequent volunteer at the school. My kids both get straight As because I make sure I open backpacks daily and look through what's in there. You know why? Because I care about what is going on in my children's lives.
I have open dialogue with my children about right vs. wrong, bigotry, tolerance and standing up for what is right. My children embrace all lifestyles, religions, races and genders. We can understand the concept of "agreeing to disagree".
I am insulted to hear you say that because we back the production of this play and the message of its content that are presumably unaware of what is going on in our children’s' lives?? Get real.
I am still deeply saddened by the fact that there were parents that didn't even realize the content of this play until THREE DAYS before it was to be performed. You call this aware parenting?? And you chastise Miss Brown for not going directly to the principal? The principal has never taken an active interest in anything that doesn't make money for the school or raise test scores, so why would she start now? Miss Brown did discuss the play and its contents with school counselors to make sure that she wasn't saying anything in a way that would be hurtful or degrading.
Were you aware that there is a video produced by Oprah that the kids are shown to discuss bullying? That within this video there is physical abuse and cursing? The kids that had been made to see this video in classes agreed that it was far worse than anything portrayed in the play.
This is a clear cut case of knee-jerk reaction. Mrs. Pittioni had no idea that these kids would be so passionate about this play, or she would have solicited opinions and held a forum to discuss options before rashly choosing this course of action.
As you clearly said... it takes a village. NOT a dictator. And, as we all know, there was no village involved in the cancelling of this play. She made the choice, now she needs to live with the repercussions.
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 12:11 PM
I have volunteered (almost full time)for this school district for the past 11 years, I stepped in between 2 students just this past Thursday and helped them resolve a problem and I am very active in the daily education and lives of mine and many other children in this district. Do not assume that the people who stand in support of this play are uninvolved. Tell me why the parents who wanted their children pulled only did so 3 days before it was to be performed. Wouldn't an "involved parent" have known from day 1 whether they would want their child to participate? If Pittioni was doing her job so well then why is this just now an issue for her too?
No one was forced to be in the play, no one would have been forced to see the play. This is America and the last time I checked Freedom of Speech was still one of our rights!
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 01:46 PM
These past few days have been such a great learning experience for me. I have collected copies of articles, blogs and the play to share with my daughter when she is older. (She is only 8 months old) This incident is a great tool for me to educate my daughter about some very important topis: bullying, intolerance and censorship.
Reading these blogs and watching this story unfold has caused me to do some real soul searching. Am I always kind to those who are different from me? Do I use appropriate language to describe those who are different from me? I would like to think so, but now I am more concious of my words, thoughts and actions.
I plan to be an active volunteer and parent like my sister. My sister is a SMS mom who participates at school as well as at home. She atively talks to her kids, goes over their homework and talks to them about their day. She knows the content of the books they are reading, the web sites they visit and sure as heck knew what play they were in long before the final week. Perhaps this is why her kids are such loving, thoughtful and insightful children.
I guess...if more moms were as active as my sister and some of the moms on this blog - plays like "Higher Ground" would not be necessary. What a shame that a teacher like Ms. Brown has to parent some of these kids who are not getting this lesson at home. What a shame that adults are condoning intolerance, homophobia and censorship.
I hope that when my daughter is old enough to go to middle school, ignorance and intolerance will not be so prevalent. I know if Pittioni is still principal - we will not be going to school in this community.
(email verified)
Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 11:41 PM
This is a "new Sherwood". We are no longer the small town,right-wing, conservatives that we once were. So, the blanket statement made by Mr. Emmert is ridiculous.
My son went through daily abuse by bullies when he was in Middle School. I pulled him out and put him in an alternative program to protect him from the harrasment. My almost daily contact with the school did nothing to make his life easier. In high school he was a member of "Breaking Down the Walls" which was a program designed to do just that--break down the walls of bigotry, racism,and to teach not tolerance, but acceptance of all people no matter what the color, race or sexuallity. We do have a real problem on our hands. It's witnessed every day in the hallways of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and at our jobs. When a public servant doesn't understand why his nine year old son can't tell racist jokes at a full lunch table, when nine year old girls write that another 4th grade girl is a lesbian on the whiteboard, when a teacher calls an African American "Brownie" then we know we have a huge problem. This problem isn't new, it's been going on for years. If a play such as Ms. Brown's had been available sooner, then maybe we could have made changes so that a situation such as this could have been avoided. If parents and other adults had been doing their jobs in teaching about diversity and acceptance, then maybe this situation could have been avoided. It is too bad that Ms. Brown felt strongly enough about stopping the bullying that she had to put her job on the line. The good news is that she brought a very ugly situation to the forefront and people are now having dialogues they should have been having for years. This is not a matter of Ms. Brown vs Mrs. Pittioni. This is a matter of making our schools safe for ALL children. Students, parents, teachers, principals, and even the superintendent need to be a part of making our schools safe. I applaud Ms. Brown for having the courage to bring a very ugly situation out in the open. She may not get to direct her play in Sherwood, but she gave voice to a very real, very ugly problem in today's schools. Her agenda shouldn't be questioned. It's very clear: she sees these behaviors on a daily basis. Unfortunately she now understands what it feels like. It seems to me that she is being "bullied" by the administration. How ironic.
(email verified)
Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 02:01 AM
wow! I guess after all of this has come to light and Sherwood has made headline news all over the country, we will no longer be a "smalltown, right-winged, conservative" community any longer. Good for Miss Brown for bringing to light that Bullying is an ongoing persistent and damaging reality in every single school in every single city in the US. I applaud her courage!
Too bad more schools don't have teachers like Miss Brown to give voice to all the victimized children in their schools.
(email verified)
Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 03:52 AM
Im getting so tired of all these parents arguing!!!!!! PSU has offferd to let us use there stage!!!!
SO SHUTUP!!
(email verified)
Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 04:19 AM
Wow Tualitin Parent - maybe the next play should be on anger management.
Kudos to the parents who are using this blog as a sounding board and a place to voice opinions and concerns.
(email verified)
Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 04:36 AM
I was bullied throughout my early education. Elementary school was where most of it started. High school was where it began to end. Middle school, however, was the middle of the war zone.
Children have an amazing capacity for cruelty. From my experience, middle school seems to turn into a proving ground for young boys and girls to practice bigotry and intolerance. Not all children by any means, but enough. Weight, skin color or condition, physical development, attractiveness, gender-- All are used as vicious tools to disparage and demean another. Every aspect of identity can be used to hurt. Some children simply do not have any point of reference or immediate enough of a consequence to deter their behavior.
An unwillingness for some adults to open their eyes and accept a natural stage in development, where children begin to move from “angelic innocence” towards early bids for independence, compounds and exacerbates the problem. Burying one’s head in the sand has an amazing ability to NOT fix the problem. Rationalizing away childhood behavior as “boys will be boys and girls will be girls” is utter negligence. An inability to face the facts is completely at odds with the principles of fairness and equality that our society stands for.
I applaud Jennie Brown in her desire to openly communicate to middle school aged children about hatred and intolerance. Creating a play that could open up dialog on a serious issue that has lifelong ramifications is brilliant. That she stands up for herself and her ideals even amidst a hell-storm that has garnered far more attention than is reasonable is admirable. A trait that is a shining example of integrity for not only children, but the community at large.
Bullying should be an open subject. We should not shy away from teaching our children about serious subject matter that deals with hurt and intolerance. If anything, Miss Brown’s play pulls its punches. The watered down drivel that is typically force-fed to children is ineffective. The problem with bullying has not disappeared after thousands and thousands of years of human development. Innovatively approaching these kids on a level that is not condescending might have better results.
(email verified)
Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 06:18 AM
I hope that this discussion will help to open up the idea of the SMS forming a Diversity Group or a Gay Straight Alliance so that ALL kids can feel that their school is a Safe Zone.
(email verified)
Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 09:23 AM
An excerpt taken from gayrightswatch.com:
Must we submit letters of reference with a rainbow flag that Pittioni is NOT homophobic?
There is by far too much "he said/she said" discussion going on. Does the media expose the whole truth? Do parents that are pissed off exclude details?
Pittioni is one of the very reasons anti-bullying curriculum is included in the district - no one has mentioned this. This is not a gay/straight issue folks, it's just not.
(email verified)
Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 01:17 PM
This is about gay rights (as well as bullying and freedom of speech). Pittioni chose to cancel the play becasue she did not want to be associated with that "lifestyle". She stated that that reference had to be removed from the play. I found four different gay/lesbian web sites that reference this incident. All of them seem to have issue with Pittioni's behavior. The web site listed above included. The blog you reference was only added last night - 20 minutes before you posted on this site. It is also the only posting that is "anonymous"... hmmmm....
By the way - Tuesday on ABC - Primetime is doing a piece on "Mean Girls". Looks like the topic of bullying is pretty relevent.
(email verified)
Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Please, get over yourselves. Just because you are all fired up over this issue, which people can't even correctly identify anymore, is no reason to stop life from moving on. If you are gay/lesbian or exceedingly defensive of gays/lesbians you sound like you have nothing to back yourselves with. Facts get twisted to benefit the person who is stating them. Leave the poor woman alone.
The issue is that a play, inappropriate for this age range, was postponed by a very responsible principal. The drama teacher did wrong by not realizing that this is not Broadway in NYC. Case closed.
A choice was made by a very intelligent and concerned principal; revisions need to be made in order for it to be suitable for the intended audience. The superintendent is backing her up; several people are backing her up, people who probably have a more well-rounded perspective of the situation. It sounds to me like everything is going as it should.
The only remaining problem is the parents who are creating an even more hostile environment for our children by clinging to their own over-rehearsed pedestal ranting and, simply put, bullying. Way to be the example ladies and gentlemen.
It's sunny out. Go wash your cars or something.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 03:53 AM
Well it is probably best she is "movin On"...If the world followed her example the black community would have had a week to vent and then been told to go to the back of the bus and find their own drinking fountain. Under her logic women should quit their grumbling...they have had their time to discuss the glass ceiling and being paid 75 cents on the dollar. If we left it up to "movin on" the handicapped would not have wheel chair ramps and accessible bathrooms. I think it took more than a week to fight for those rights.
Case closed? Not until the play is performed and the rights of free speeech are given to Ms Brown and her students. Case closed? Not until bullying is addressed and kids can feel safe at school. Case closed? Not until the public school system starts making decisions based on children's welfare rather than the social or religious beliefs of an administrator.
A hostile enviroment is one where children are afraid to go to school becasue of bullying. I am sorry that "moving on" thinks that those of us who do not give up and roll over are creating a hostile enviroment for kids.
Facts get twisted...this is true. Since Pittioni's homophobic comments quoted above were said directly to my sister. I am pretty close to the story.
So "movin on" I am sorry that I can not agree with your opinion that it was an intelligent decision. I see nothing intelligent about being homophobic or denying the freedom of speech. I am sorry that in this day and age...that you do...
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 05:18 AM
Comment taken off of another website:
The references made in this play are offensive and scary. It's kids hazing another kid who is suspect of being gay but this isn't even stated. The script clearly depicts homophobia but doesn't give it a name - if this play is to teach children wouldn't it make sense to be as clear as day on this? In this scene,other kids are holding him down, won't let him go, you aren't sure what will happen to the poor boy - the dialogue is scary and made me feel nervous and scared that he could potentially be raped. How scary this could be for children (and others) in the audience. There is not an explicit message naming the issues going on here and this is wrong. The principal was quoted somewhere acknowledging bullying is a big issue and it must be addressed. She also stated the play would be postponed until parts of the play could be revised. This is only one piece of the play that made me as an adult reader feel very uncomfortable. The "retard" scene, horrible. The "cow" scene, horrible. While the fundamental messages in the play are good, the presentation does not seem appropriate for many.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 06:08 AM
Well, you found something from the 2% who think the topic is mature or do not understand it. I have googled this story and read every article and blog. Easily 98% of the response out there is in support of Ms. Brown.
You know, Jesus being tortured and crucified on a cross is violent, scary and disturbing. We teach children from infancy this story. Why do we give these same kids credit to handle all the hoRrific violence in the Bible? Jesus was bullied an awful lot in his life...
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 06:47 AM
Nice try but moot point, Jesus is not discussed in public schools nor are children (or others) allowed to pray in school. If the following - taken from above - is accurate (and per the district site, it is) then there is just no need for further discussion:
SCHOOL PUBLICATIONS, DISPLAYS AND PRODUCTIONS
Written materials, handbills, photographs, pictures, petitions, films, tapes or other visual or auditory materials may not be sold, circulated or distributed on district property by a student or a non-student without the approval of the administration.
Materials outside the editorial control of the district must be submitted to the principal or his/her designee for review and approval before being distributed to students. Materials shall be reviewed based on legitimate educational concerns. Such concerns include whether the material is defamatory; age appropriate to the grade level and/or maturity of the reading audience; poorly written, inadequately researched, biased or prejudiced; not factual; or not free of racial, ethnic, religious or sexual bias. Materials that must be submitted for review include advertising that is in conflict with public school laws, rules and/or Board policy; materials which might be deemed inappropriate for students or may be reasonably perceived by the public to bear the sanction or approval of the district.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 07:21 AM
Oh, and another thing, if the content of this play WAS about Jesus...it would not only have been postponed, I'm guessing it would have been cancelled in its entirety.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Really? Then why are there two signs in Pittioni's office that say "the Lord is my Master" ? Why does she hold a prayer circle at school each morning? Seems like she has forgotten about the seperation of church and state.
That is another subject entirely...
I still stand by my question of why some violence, murder, torture etc is acceptable and a story of bullying is not?
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Well again..seperation of church and state...
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 07:31 AM
Oh and by the way - the play was cancelled. When the children called the media - Pittioni changed her tune and claimed it was postponed.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 07:34 AM
I'm sorry that the play did not go on as written.
I think the principal could have made a stronger statement in favor of free expression, but the real problem is with a vocal minority whose primary objection appears to be homosexuality. Doesn't this objection speak to the necessity of a public discussion of bullying and homophobia?
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 07:44 AM
“Overly Defensive”, you are true to your name. I am a very firm believer in equal rights for everyone. And I can understand why you would jump to conclusions and think that I want everything to go back to the way things were, when no one was treated equally. Today we still aren't. But that’s another topic entirely.
Please don't mistake me and accuse me of being what I'm not. I was merely stating that the issue here is NOT about gays/lesbians or even the fact that a boy is portrayed as gay in the play (although never actually stated).
It is about a play that was already practiced by kids before it was even approved by the principal, and that the scenes should have been written appropriately for the age of these kids. Yes, kids are bullied and not prepared to handle accusations and ridicule. To be honest there are a lot of disturbing people out there who do inconceivable things. And we will never really be ready, no matter how hard we try.
But is it right to lower the bar of our schools? Should we say anything goes and we can do whatever we want, as long as it feels good and we feel we’re being heard? It is not fair of us adults to assume our kids understand the seriousness of the Holocaust when throwing around a word like “Nazi”. I have read this play and after I was able to get around all the typos and grammatical errors I saw plainly that this was a play written at the expense of the students involved. It was written as an adult dumbing down our kids by making every other word "like" and at the same time making it look like they somehow have a job to pay for ordering a pizza.
Also, I want to make sure you, “Overly Defensive” understand that due to all this misunderstanding of what Ms. Pittioni said to whom is also based on ONLY one side of the story. While it is very unfortunate that there are homophobic people out there in the world it is also just as unfortunate that so many people are chastising a fantastic, misquoted principal for simply doing her job.
Tell me, do you sit next to Ms. Pittioni at the end of the day and ask how she’s handling all of this? Do you feel good about how this very simple issue has been blown WAY out of proportion? Do you realize the impact this has had on her and her family? Have you thought outside of yourself and considered what it might be like to walk in her shoes when things she says are taken out of context and enhanced to sound like the perfect defense against her?
If you had or ever do then I’m sure you would be a little more sympathetic and understanding and not be so overly defensive and realize this has all become about people wanting to stand up for something. It’s great that we believe in our opinions SO MUCH. That’s why I love America. But when I see how a community is complicating the actual issue, it’s hard to support the ones who overreact and are overly defensive.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Moving on - The "policy" was not the initial reason for cancelling the play. If the Principal had stated from the beginning that the play must be cancelled because a policy had not been adhered to - that would be one thing. Pittioni's first words were that she had a couple of parents complain....she had not finished the play but did not want to be associated with gay content, did not like the cow comment and did not like the reference to a phone being on vibrate. This is fact.
If she had simply stated she thought the verbage was too strong... Then I would simply have a different definition of what is too strong of content for this age group. We would simply have a difference of opinion. We would just be discussing freedom of speech. She did not! She stated she could not have the play go on because she did not want to be associated with that "lifestyle". This makes it ABOUT gay/lesbian rights. This is homophobic. If that is how Pittioni thinks - she needs to keep that out of the school. She can not make decisions at a public school based on her social or religious beliefs. This is bigotry. We can not have leaders pushing their backward views upon our schools.
Policy? Okay it ws not followed. Ms Brown as well as many of the faculty were not aware of it. Now they are...I would like to know why the Oprah bullying video that is very violent and has extreme language did not have to adhere to this policy? Faculty did not get this okayed and nor were they repremanded for not having it reviewed. Of course...it may not have had gay content...
You worry about Pittioni's feelings and that of her family? What about the gay/lesbian families in Sherwood that she has shunned? How are they feeling tonight? How do their children feel going to school tomorrow knowing their principal judges them? If they have a problem at school - will the principal help them? Or will she be afraid of associating with that "lifestyle". Why don't you think about what it is to walk in their shoes.
Ms. Brown and the bloggers did not make this be about gay rights...Ms Pittioni did when she publically shared her hateful views. There is NO misunderstanding. It came from her mouth...now she has to be accountable.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I couldn't have said it better myself! I would add however add that most of us here are voicing our OPINIONS. "Moving On" is assuming that people have mis-quoted Mrs.Pittioni or misinterpreted her intentions. How can "Moving On" assume that we have heard incorrectly or are being overly defensive without sitting next to her themself. Many of the people here have had prior difficulties with Mrs. Piitioni including myself. I have tried very hard for many years to be "understanding". This was the last straw.
And please... picking at grammatical errors and typos? A little oversensitive I think.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 11:36 AM
to "parent who doesn't let their children use ugly terms like shut-up".
KUDOS to you!!! I agree with you about using this board as a place for concerns and comments. Not using it to use crude words.
I am grateful that we have some well brought up people in our town
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 11:37 AM
GOOD!! LET THE "SPOILED BRATS" STAY AT HOME!
It was the right thing to cancel this play, it should have never been proposed in the first place!
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 12:18 PM
liberalism is a mental disorder? there is so much I could say...but I am above the age of six and do not play that way.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I think maybe Ms. Pittioni was right - the kids AREN'T mature enough. You know why? Because it appears from the way some people are talking here that their PARENTS aren't very mature themselves. God help us all.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Liberalism is a Mental Disorder...wow
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Why put blame on people? She was only doing what she felt in her heart was right.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 01:09 PM
First, in short, I agree with Pittioni. This play, as written, is not appropriate for the general audience in which it would have been performed. As these kids and many parents have clearly explained, bullying is real in their school. It seems to me there is no need to further depict acts of violence on a stage but rather there is a need to tackle these issues in a safe and productive environment (a classroom for example) where kids are safe to discuss scenarios, ask questions, and figure out the answers in a cooperative environment (with trained adults).
Educational tools must respect youth culture and help young people think critically and independently about what's best for their health and future. I certainly knew everything when I was a kid, didn’t you? Additionally, we must be careful as adults to let our kids do the talking. Reading the play I am reminded - throughout the play - this was written by an adult who has witnessed awful behavior. This writer/teacher, while growing up, has been afforded time to process these issues and has the life/academic experience to create analogies these kids and the intended audience may or may not understand.
Middle school students are bright and fully capable of using their own words. Fundamentally, the world hasn’t changed. As a child it feels like the world is coming to an end when you feel embarrassed, disgraced or let down for that matter. I remember, it can feel like no one understands BUT as adults, we do – we’ve been there and are now in positions of helping kids work through their tough times. It’s our job as teachers and parents to offer kids careful guidance while respecting their feelings. We must be careful not to minimize a child’s feelings but help redirect behaviors, actions, and reactions.
Calling the Principal names, making assumptions about her belief system, hostile attacks (verbal and otherwise) are a way to vent I suppose but nevertheless must be painful and scary. None of the comments Pittioni has made publicly have been offensive in the least. None of her comments have been homophobic or hateful in the least. Messages are modified, manipulated, and massaged - and the truth…well, it’s often lost. I’ve learned through the years many things are lost in translation/interpretation - particularly when one is not getting their way.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Honestly, I have never had an opinion one way or the other about the principal until now. I feel that the decision she made was an uninformed one; a knee-jerk reaction to a possible controversy.
I wonder why it is that she didn't take a little bit of time to consult anyone- other faculty, the superintendent, her peers- before telling Miss Brown the play couldn't be performed the way it had been written. If the school's policy is that controversial material needs to be reviewed and decided on by a group of educators, why did she feel she could make this decision on her own?
When reading the articles and blogs all over the internet I am faced with varying opinions. Most find the play to be harmless, some find some aspects of it more difficult than others, but the fact of the matter is that there are differing opinions. Why was no consultation made by Mrs. Pittioni before this judgment call was made? Or even before she had read the entire play through?
And now she has forced the administrators to make a very difficult stand. Of course they will back their principal in her decision. Otherwise every decision she makes from now on will be questioned.
You speak about Mrs. Pittioni and her family and I do feel for her. We have all made decisions in our lives that have caused us great stress. Decisions that we may regret the ramifications of... but that's life. Hopefully, she will take greater care in decisions such as these in the future.
It's Miss Brown I feel for. Now that this blunder has been made public I fear that these administrators will choose to make her life very difficult in the future. I wouldn't be surprised if they had her back teaching 8th grade Science or without the ability to use the the auditorium for rehearsals or classes. I wouldn't put it past them to threaten her job all together.
That is if we could even beg her to stay on after the way she's been treated.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Absolutely incredible that an excellent article by The Portland Tribune has created a great thread of postings. Taking the side of creativity and the drama department, my only real comment is that many folks on this thread need to understand the word "brevity" and that basically means keeping it simple, precise and to the point instead of "bloviating."
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 04:57 PM
God Bless You
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 10:37 PM
This is UNTRUE. As I have stated before...I have given Mrs. Pittioni the benefit of the doubt for years. She has consistently disappointed me when it comes to the benefit of the children. This is not about a one time incident but a long history of homophobic and self righteous behavior. Do not try and make this out to some frivolous attack. Many of us are upset for good reason. We have dealt with this issue before and we are not happy that she is working with our children.
(email verified)
Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 11:21 PM
John, what does it matter if people are brief in their comments on here or not? If it's too long for you, don't read it. No one told you to be in charge of people's postings, did they? There are a lot of strong feelings and people are free to express them, however long that takes. I have been following everyone's comments, no matter what their position is on the play being presented or not, the people involved, etc - and it never crossed my mind to tell anyone to get to the point faster. What a great opportunity this is to be able to safely say what you think, get those feelings out in such a harmless way. Mmm, just think about what happens when people have no other outlet for their frustrations...
Go do something else if you can't read that much in one sitting. What IS your problem anyway? By the way, I'm posting on the Sherwood Gazette site and we seem to be just fine...go complain somewhere else.....
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 02:43 AM
nicely said...
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 03:08 AM
"Liberalism is a mental disorder" THANK YOU! You made me laugh. I needed that. Liberalism IS a Mental Disorder I completely agree with you. Why is it that liberals always have to be such obnoxious people anyway. Except for my neighbors. They're what I call "Mature Liberals" and I love them. They are NOT ONLY adults, but they act like them to. Some of us ARE acting like we are six years old. Namely, those who can't stay on topic. Focus. Please.
And "Loyal Mom" you have some very lucky children.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 03:28 AM
picking on you would be a waste of time. I will pray for you...you clearly need it.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 03:51 AM
Wow! Your neighbors are so lucky! They must be thrilled...
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 03:56 AM
LP,
Yes, it is somewhat off topic, but I would like to learn more about the SMS morning prayer circles and the signs in the principal's office. I will have a child at SMS next year and I find this blurring of the lines between church and state not only alarming, but outrageous. Do you know if the prayer circles are occuring 'on the clock'? My child is not a Christian, (now readers, do not start sending me hate mail, the Holocaust is long over), and I want my child to be treated equally, somthing that is not only expected, but deserved.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 03:56 AM
The actual issue/topic was muddled some time ago.
To recap the series of events:
1) Play written by drama teacher - GOOD
2) Play allegedly given to school counselor (a non-student) by drama teacher for review and counselor gave content a thumbs up (which, in this case, doesn't count as approval according to the district policy included above) - BAD
3) Drama teacher did not submit play to principal for review/approval before disbursing to non-students and students - BAD
3) Principal received complaints regarding content of play - UH OH
4) Principal reviewed content of play 3 days before it's big debut and a difficult decision ensued. Principal postponed the play based on mature content.
ULTIMATELY GOOD - she followed district policy, did her job, and clearly explained her position in the article above “Based on the broad audience of students we serve, I believe that the existing content exceeds the maturity of many of our students,” Pittioni wrote in an announcement sent out to parents on Wednesday, Feb. 20. “Additionally, I believe that the play can be revised and performed at a later date.”
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 03:58 AM
To just pick on your dog and cat,
So in addition to being a narrow-minded parent, you are encouraging animal abuse?
Interesting parenting style.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 03:58 AM
Perhaps this comment board has run its course if we have deteriorated into picking on each other. Can you imagine what it must be like for kids in middle school if this is what their parents (and others) are reduced to so quickly? We seem to have a little society of name-calling and such going on right here. That is truly sad.
I hope the play goes on, intact, in another setting if not SMS. I hope you all continue to address the bullying that obviously takes place in your school (I'm not from Sherwood, but it's the same EVERYWHERE) and take a real look at what your kids need from you and each other. When I grew up, it was all about "The Golden Rule" - and not in any religious sense. It was just how to live your life, and it made sense, and everyone talked about it all the time. It becomes ingrained. I don't think I'm so old and old-fashioned, but there was certainly something to be said for that learning. IN SCHOOL as well as at home.
Think about it.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 04:04 AM
To the person who made good/bad comments - you forget that in addition to all of that - the principal publically admitted that she wanted the play rewritten because she did not want SMS to be associated with homosexuality - or to put in her words "that lifestyle". We can give kudos all day to an eleventh hour cancellation due to policy. Pittioni added to the issue by publically denouncing a population of her school parent and student body.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 04:08 AM
As far as I know the prayer circle only includes teachers. It is held before classes start. Not sure if they are on the clock yet.
The reality is - you live in a right wing conservative christian community - clearly from some of these posts...I am not sure where the seperation of church and state begins in the case of prayer before class.
I am more concerned about decisions being made by people of authority based on their religious beliefs (whether christian, jewish, muslim etc).
Speak to the Superintendent...but if all I know he may be in the circle...
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 04:15 AM
Ms. Pittioni openly professes her Christianity. This is not a problem as far as I am concerned and her personal beliefs do not offend me in the least. Her personal opinions about other's "lifestyles" do not offend me either. She is completely entitled to her own beliefs and opinions unless those beliefs and opinions are carried over into blurring her judgment over what is "wrong" and "right" for the students at SMS. Then it is a problem.
What is clear here is that this issue and the opinions posted on this discussion blog have invoked a tremendous amount of thought and dialog on issues that certainly need some care and attention.
THIS is a good thing.
The play issue needs to be worked out, without the expense of Ms. Brown's job (as rumored.)
The issue of censorship and discrimination needs to be addressed by those who specialize in this sort of thing. Some individuals obviously need a little bit of clarification about these issues.
The lack of diversity education in our school needs to be addressed and I am confident that it will be.
The naivety of some of the citizens (and school administrators) of this town that everyone is exactly like them and we all believe the same things, has hopefully been dispelled.
The hope that we will, as a community work through this for the greater good of all of the kids, WILL BE THERE IF WE WORK TOGETHER.
All of our children, and all of us deserve to live in a community where all of our differences are respected and accepted: Liberals, conservatives, blacks, whites, Latinos, religious people, atheists, gays or straights.
This is a wonderful opportunity for the kids, and the members of this community.
Let's be an example for other communities.
Let's be an example for the world.
"Be the change you want to see." --Ghandi
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 05:19 AM
Once again, Anna Pittioni has shown concerned parents that she has no interest in what is actually going on in her school. Few of her teachers respect her for her lazy, disrespectful management style, and this goes to prove that she doesn't deserve to be a leader in our great school district. These sorts of "oversights" and mismanagement have been happening for years - this instance was just run-with by the press.
I hope that, with all of the qualified candidates in Oregon, that this may be the final straw. Perhaps now the administration will finally help her to "move on".
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 07:11 AM
I must applaud our students who have decided to go on with the play even though their own school will not support it. I, for one, will be waiting to purchase my tickets. Not only for myself but for each of my children. It is just sad that the school will not be benefiting from the money that this play will be generating.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 08:03 AM
Just a thought - it would be pretty awesome if $1 or so from the price of each ticket could be donated to GLSEN Oregon or Oregon Safe Schools or some other group that works to eradicate bullying (particularly against our most marginalized GLBT youth) in our kids' schools. I think anyone who comes to see the play would be willing to pay an extra dollar for that cause, if it required that the ticket price be raised.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 08:17 AM
Great idea!
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Love that idea!I would definitely pay the extra.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Oregon's ABOMINATIONS!
Our teachers corrupting our students!
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 12:12 PM
We are so done with this kind of ignorance.
(email verified)
Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Hey B2J--Enough with your hate-mongering of teachers. WE GET IT!!!
(email verified)
Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Don't "hate teachers", we the people, hate what they have become, "amoral predators" of our children, the story in the Oregonian prove my point! At a minimum 700+ examples in Oregon, and that is only the ones we know about!
It could be as high as a 1000, and if you take that X 50 states you have at least 50,000 school kids molested by you teachers!
Nice record I see!
I wonder when you teachers will police your own and clean up your act! But when we see what the play was about, I guess that you never will!
(email verified)
Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 02:15 PM
I know a SMS student and I will go to the play to support him. It's too bad that Sherwood is so closed minded that this vital topic could not be endorsed by the school system. Put a bag over your heads and imagine that this stuff doesn't exist!
(email verified)
Fri, Mar 07, 2008 at 05:06 PM
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!
(email verified)
Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 03:11 AM
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Re: Sherwood principal postpones play, calls content 'too mature'
Another example of Sherwood Schools caving to the close- minded demands of a few. What is next, buring books?
""
(email verified)
Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 10:02 AM