There seems to be a lot in the news lately on Highschool Theater Censorship - Are there certain shows that are inappropriate for the Highschool aged students? What should the criteria be by which the shows are judged? The NYTimes featured an article about Grease being too indecent for a small conservative town.
Okay "Grease" features smoking, drinking, dirty language, teen sex and a sleep-over party scene featuring girls in nightgowns. In comparison so does "Romeo and Juliet" minus the smoking part, but with the addition of suicide. Yet most Highschool English classes include the Shakespeare classic.
I can understand parents being concerned about what their children are learning in school, but I think censorship of the arts, generally is a bad thing. The article makes it sound like three letter writers (one who did not even SEE the show) have the ability to change school policy. That to me, is the scariest part. Fahrenheit 451 anyone?
The fact remains that these same children can see worse things on TV, in the movies and in video games. Teen pregnancy, sex, smoking, drugs and drinking are a very real part of the issues facing teens today.
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