Editor:
I am writing this letter in response to reading the letters from Barbara Taylor and Naomi Kowal regarding the criticism of Legally Blonde.
Ms. O'Toole is an outstanding teacher who has spent many hours outside of the regular school day to work with students to rehearse for upcoming plays. She also takes students to drama festivals on her own time. I know she has been a great encouragement to many young people who have matured as a result of being in high school dramas.
The reason I wrote to the school board is because I have a concern for some of the content that was in the play and other plays that have been performed. Students in elementary schools are sent to the principal's office for swearing on the playground or in the classroom. It is inconsistent for a student a few years later in their school career to be given a script to learn that has swearing and off colour scenes in it.
If high school students choose to use coarse language on their own time, that is
unfortunate.
Dramas can be performed with G-rated content, some of the script can be changed so that students of all ages can attend and not have concern about the content in the play. As teachers we need to set the bar high for standards we uphold in the curriculum that we teach. We are training tomorrow's leaders and should be conscience of this.
I have faith that Ms. O'Toole will continue to do a great job of overseeing the high school drama department.
My hope is that in the future some thought will be taken as to what will be performed by high school students for the public that will be appropriate for the whole family to see.
Catharine Hague
Prince Rupert