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Tuesday, February 07, 2023
Matthew Shepard Foundation and Tectonic Theater Project Respond to Kansas School Board's Removal of THE LARAMIE PROJECT
www.broadwayworld.com: Students of the Senior English Composition class at Kansas' Lansing High School will go without their "Social Justice Expository Unit" following a recent vote made by the Lansing Board of Education.
3 comments:
John Alexander Farrell
said...
The decision to remove the play from the curriculum is a step backward in the fight against hate and ignorance. It sends the message that the stories of marginalized communities are not worthy of being heard or discussed and that those who engage in acts of hate should not be held accountable for their actions.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Tectonic Theater Project's response highlights the importance of art and storytelling in shaping our understanding of the world around us. By sharing stories of marginalized communities, we can increase empathy and understanding, and help to create a more inclusive and just society.
Art can also serve as a catalyst for social change, and "The Laramie Project" has been a powerful tool in raising awareness about hate crimes and the impact they have on communities. The decision to remove it from the curriculum sends a dangerous message that the voices of marginalized communities are not worth hearing.
The fact that The Laramie Project is one of the most performed plays in the U.S. was surprising to me, because I had never read it until my own Theatre for Social Justice unit in my Theatre 4 class in high school. The play was incredibly moving; there were parts that brought students and even my teacher to tears. It’s incredibly important that high school students are exposed to works like this one, and to know that it would be banned for everyone because of one woman’s petition is appalling. It’s not just about this play; the school’s entire “Social Justice Expository Unit” was cancelled, and the issue brought to action is “age appropriateness”: what does that even mean? You’re never too young to learn about social justice and consider other viewpoints. To take away that chance is cowardly and close-minded. I’m glad the Tectonic Theatre Project is doing what they can to combat this by making The Laramie Project available.
I am yet again disgusted by a school act of banning “inappropriate” material because it paints the world and people in power in a negative light. I saw The Laramie Project when I was a freshman in highschool and my high school had put on the shows a few years prior. I remember as a young queer artist how important it was to see a queer story on stage even though the story was negative and portrayed in a hateful way. I love the Matthew Shepard Foundations response to Lansing High School’s action. The way the foundation provides access to a play that was banned is the perfect act of rebellion. I hope that the foundation's response shows Lansing High School that even if they try to silence queer stories and voices because they are “not appropriate” people will alway come through to educate future generations. As atrocious as this action is, others responses to the banning of The Laramie Project brings me hope.
3 comments:
The decision to remove the play from the curriculum is a step backward in the fight against hate and ignorance. It sends the message that the stories of marginalized communities are not worthy of being heard or discussed and that those who engage in acts of hate should not be held accountable for their actions.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Tectonic Theater Project's response highlights the importance of art and storytelling in shaping our understanding of the world around us. By sharing stories of marginalized communities, we can increase empathy and understanding, and help to create a more inclusive and just society.
Art can also serve as a catalyst for social change, and "The Laramie Project" has been a powerful tool in raising awareness about hate crimes and the impact they have on communities. The decision to remove it from the curriculum sends a dangerous message that the voices of marginalized communities are not worth hearing.
The fact that The Laramie Project is one of the most performed plays in the U.S. was surprising to me, because I had never read it until my own Theatre for Social Justice unit in my Theatre 4 class in high school. The play was incredibly moving; there were parts that brought students and even my teacher to tears. It’s incredibly important that high school students are exposed to works like this one, and to know that it would be banned for everyone because of one woman’s petition is appalling. It’s not just about this play; the school’s entire “Social Justice Expository Unit” was cancelled, and the issue brought to action is “age appropriateness”: what does that even mean? You’re never too young to learn about social justice and consider other viewpoints. To take away that chance is cowardly and close-minded. I’m glad the Tectonic Theatre Project is doing what they can to combat this by making The Laramie Project available.
I am yet again disgusted by a school act of banning “inappropriate” material because it paints the world and people in power in a negative light. I saw The Laramie Project when I was a freshman in highschool and my high school had put on the shows a few years prior. I remember as a young queer artist how important it was to see a queer story on stage even though the story was negative and portrayed in a hateful way. I love the Matthew Shepard Foundations response to Lansing High School’s action. The way the foundation provides access to a play that was banned is the perfect act of rebellion. I hope that the foundation's response shows Lansing High School that even if they try to silence queer stories and voices because they are “not appropriate” people will alway come through to educate future generations. As atrocious as this action is, others responses to the banning of The Laramie Project brings me hope.
Theo
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