Mom Dailywww.siteforrent.com RENT raises questions (but not for me) I was 19 when I first saw the Broadway version of RENT at a theater in Chicago, and I fell head over heels in love. I shouldn't be surprised, I guess, that it has come under fire from school boards and others at schools around the country. It deals with issues that are tough for some people to handle - HIV, AIDS, drug use, homosexuality, poverty. I grew up with a theater director father (he teaches and directs now at Indiana's Ball State University. Two years ago, he directed a small Off-Broadway show in New York), and I acted some myself. I was that girl in high school who wanted to be involved in everything. An athlete, I loved sports the most, but I acted in one show and directed a student one-act, too. So I've always been into theater, especially good theater. I'm not sure why some school officials question student productions like this. I mean, AIDS, HIV, drug use and poverty all exist. They are part of everyday life in this country. They are things some high school kids already deal with. So why would we not talk to our children about these things? What do we gain from sheltering them from the real world?
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9 Comments
Posted by: amytokos on 02/26/10 @ 8:06 am:
I am with you Veronica. We can't shelter our kids forever. High School is a perfect time to discuss and expose our kids to these real life issues. As parents we have to remember that our goal is to educate and guide our kids now so, when they go off to college, we are confident in their ability to make good choices.
Posted by: Sarah T on 02/26/10 @ 8:25 am:
BRAVO!!!!! I ten-fold agree with you. Our children cannot be sheltered from every unpleasant topic that exists in the cruel yet exciting world we live in. Let them live and experience life - I believe they will be better for it.
Posted by: melissa on 02/26/10 @ 8:55 am:
Well said.
Posted by: Jessica H. on 02/26/10 @ 9:59 am:
I agree! If we don't have these discussions with our kids, they are just going to go elsewhere for the information. It seems like these conversations are happening younger and younger given the changing times. My parents had a very open dialogue with me concerning the taboo subjects and I am glad they did.
Posted by: Dad on 02/26/10 @ 4:42 pm:
The post makes valid points, but I'm not sure a stage play should be treated as a proxy for the discussions on these subjects that families should have.
Respective to "sheltering" these kids; this is the same district that wouldn't make an absolute statement concerning expulsion of a kid who tazed a teacher a few weeks ago, and that probably would recoil from depicting cigarrette smoking during this same play.
I just suspect that educators as a whole feel a tad more enlightened that the average bear and enjoy "ruffling feathers"-Rent isn't the only musical they could have put on.
I hope the play enjoys a successful run.
Posted by: Stephanie on 03/02/10 @ 10:26 pm:
I completely disagree with Veronica, she admits in her piece that she didn't see "Rent" until she was 19, which is appropriate being that she was an adult, and the play is definitely written for adult actors and audiences. These types of plays would remain for those audiences, our under age children should not be doing this type of material in high school. Besides she is right that it deals with difficult issues, it deals with issues that are tough for "all people" And this is not the forum to teach our children to deal with the issues of HIV, AIDS, drug use, homosexuality, and poverty.
Besides the fact that it deals with these sensitive issues, the choice of teachers at Millard North to do "Rent" will put many students into an uncomfortable situation, students who want to have the opportunity to act and participate in drama, who will find it very difficult to participate in this production because of their personal standards. We should not put our underage children in these types of situations and make them choose their moral standards or their desire to act. There are hundreds of appropriate plays to choose from that provide a comfortable and uplifting environment for all of our young actors and provide to the community a wonderful family entertainment.
I also grew up loving theater, and partly because when I was a young child I could go to the local high school productions because the content they choose to present to the community was appropriate for all ages. I may never have had the opportunity to go to the theater if not for that, because my parents would have never been able to afford tickets to a professional theater for eight. Growing up in a big family, my parents took advantage of the local talent of kids I knew and looked up to expose me to the theater.
We should not be putting on theatrical productions in our high schools that we can't take the whole family to. Every one of these actors should be able to have their younger brothers and sisters attend their play. There are reasons why we rate movies, and other form of art, ratings are important because some content is not suitable for all ages of children. I think it a much better school standard to choose artistic material that is appropriate for all ages of children and give the community the chance to expose their young children to theater in a wholesome way. Leave these types of plays to college age actors and professional theaters.
Posted by: Peggy on 03/03/10 @ 11:18 pm:
I agree with Stephanie. I think the production of RENT is highly inappropriate for young teenagers, children and those of us who value "family" entertainment. I was in my high school plays every year and was never ashamed to invite my family or friends to come and support me and the school. The people who go to high school plays are those who know someone in the production and/or want to instill some fine arts in thier children. How can families go and enjoy wholesome entertainment whithout leaving and thier CHILDREN asking them, "Mommy, how do gay people get HIV?' I believe in educating my children about what goes on around the world in the walls of my home, and I don't feel that taking them to a theatrical production to teach them about these issues is at all enlightening or appropriate.
Posted by: Anna Sai on 03/03/10 @ 11:50 pm:
I feel like I'm beating a dead horse, especially with that last comment about the HIV, (which was funny). RENT is not for children. And I could go on and on about how morally Jacked up it is in a high school setting, but I think that got covered.
High school productions are a fun activity for the family. So if they do this, the the parents who- you know, actually care about the minds of their children- will not bring their kids. And if the can't bring their kids, then more often than not, they wont come because it takes work to find a sitter...and money. So all in all, its just bad business. The drama Dept. gets its money and support from plays and the like, and if people don't come, then the Dept. gets flushed down the toilet...financially. For we all know that schools don't support drama and music anyway.
Educational?? Am I reading this right? No typos? Really?
Ok, then consider this.
If you leave all the "educating" up to others, then you really aren't raising your children...are you? Its a lazy and unethical way to teach young minds about L.I.F.E. If you want to do it in a productive way, then play the board game! You've hinted (if not said) that you want your children prepared for the world. Then do it yourself.
Ok, I beat the horse, tender meat is the best.
Posted by: Cat K on 03/04/10 @ 6:22 pm:
No one is suggesting a viewing of Rent is a substitute for having a conversation with their child. These are all real life issues people deal with, and issues a parent should discuss with their teen.
High school plays are not produced to provide cheap entertainment for the community - an added bonus, perhaps. These plays are meant to teach the participants the acting process and to become a character if you want discounted entertainment, there are a dozen other schools performing The Music Man.. These shows too can teach the same process, but how difficult can it be to become a conman or librarian? Probably not a stretch for the young actors.
I am constantly amazed by the fear some parents have about their children seeing the world.