<p>No advice on OP’s problem, but just wanted to say that as a kid in HS way back when, I loved the movie, and Spencer Tracy’s acting. To me, Inherit the Wind (and To Kill a Mockingbird) are two of the best examples of “do the right thing” stories. These are the kind of stories that I found inspiring as a teen. Isn’t the idea of controversy to engage in a discussion, and open one’s mind to new ideas? Shouldn’t a school try to engage the students? Oh well. Maybe rent a private hall and show the great film for those who want to think about some ideas.</p>
<p>pay3, I think your ideas how to handle it are dead-on. Of course, I didn’t address that.
I only disagreed with you on the idea that “too controversial” could mean limited cast opportunities.
I have quoted “too controversial” from the heading the OP used: “D’s Principal deems “Inherit the Wind” too controversial”. So there is one fact you overlooked- that the OP claims the principal considered it too controversial. It is certainly possible the OP is misinformed, but the OP still made the statement.</p>
<p>As a young English teacher fresh out of Smith, my grandmother ran into this at the girls’ school where she was teaching. They wouldn’t let her “expose” the girls to “The Grapes of Wrath” and she was furious. Of course, this was in 1915…I guess some things never change!!</p>
<p>Not to get too off track, but ^Dke, The Grapes of Wrath was not written until after 1915, so something is mixed up in that story.</p>
<p>^ maybe it was a typo and she meant 1951?</p>
<p>anothermom2, our district has been going through this recently as well - there is a vocal parent group who don’t think schools should have discussions/expose students to new ideas - they only want their views and values taught.</p>
<p>@younghoss, point taken. I hadn’t considered the OP’s title as part of the text, and you did. Well done. And that you note that the title is just a claim, not a fact, demonstrates fairness on your part. You win.</p>
<p>Here we have a good illustration about why higher education is important. When higher education works, it is a powerful course correction and antidote to the failure of public high schools.</p>
<p>
I don’t understand this. You’re saying that because the OP might be in for a long hard fight, it would be better to just surrender pre-emptively?</p>
<p>@moonchild–unfortunately, it’s not clear that those who disbelieve in evolution are a minority. A 2007 Newsweek poll found that 13% believe in evolution without guidance from God, 30% believe in evolution guided by God, 48% don’t believe in evolution at all, and 9% are unsure. This boggles and depresses me, but it’s reality.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No. I’m saying that making a big stink about it may bring the creationists out of the woodwork and attract an enormous amount of organized attention from them and their national organizations. Attention that will result in the religious right monitoring the school library, advocating to alter the curriculum in English and history, trying to get teachers fired, officially forcing their “intelligent design” nonsense into the science curriculum, and so forth.</p>
<p>If that kind of thing happens, the battle lines will be drawn and the struggle will be endless. </p>
<p>I, for one, do not think that a production of Inherit the Wind is worth it. </p>
<p>If, of course, that sort of pressure already is a factor in the school system and this is merely the latest example, then I’d have at it.</p>
<p>I guess this type of controversy can only happen in the good old U S of A. In the U.K., they celebrated the bicentennial of Darwin’s birth in 2009 by putting him (and an chimp) on the reverse side of the 2GBP coin. I can only imagine the reaction if something like that was proposed here!</p>
<p>For what its worth, Inherit the Wind was required reading and viewing in my DD freshman English class last year.</p>
<p>Well it wasn’t a contest, but differing points of view. I thank you for you very gracious post, paying3.</p>
<p>The drama coach e-mailed back thanking me for my support and giving me the name not contact info of another upset parent who wants to take it further. I thought she might give me more details about why Inherit was canceled, but I’m thinking it should be verbal so I’ll call her. She did not deny that the play was canceled because evolution is controversial. I got the other parent’s e-mail and sent her a proposal to send out a letter to concerned parents and invite them to make phone calls. The thing is, who should they call? The principal, the high school administrator, the superintendent or the school board? I don’t want to dilute the strength of the response by telling them to call too many different places. The district’s HS administrator has not responded to my e-mail from last Friday requesting facts. I feel time is trickling away. I will post again what I am able to accomplish this week.</p>