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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.2881  Saturday, 22 December 2001

From:           Susan St. John <suzer22@earthlink.net>
Date:           Thursday, 20 Dec 2001 23:01:45 +0000
Subject:        High School NOT Like Boston Public

Excuse me for being so behind in this thread but I’ve just read about
the issue brought up in the TV program, Boston Public, about trying to
get rid of Shakespeare in American inner-city high schools.  I just
wanted to share a small triumph in my neck of the woods...

I teach in south Phoenix (Arizona), in a school that is in a VERY low
income neighborhood; about 60% Hispanic, many with English as a second
language; 35% African-American; 4% Anglo and 1% ‘other’.  My drama
students have spent the past several years performing a Shakespeare play
every spring:  R&J, Mac-B, 12th Night, Much Ado and MND (twice).  This
year I wanted my students to experience some of the other important
playwrights in the world of 18th, 19th and 20th century theatre.  So I
said “no Shakes”, except of course the Utah Shakes Festival HS
competition :-)

They rebelled!  They understand WHY I said no, but they are so
determined to do some Shakespeare that they’ve decided to forego their
senior-directed one-acts for a production of the Scottish play!  We have
compromised with an interesting solution:  I will cut the play a bit,
and divide it into 6 sections, and each of my seniors will direct a
separate section.  They must each develop their own concept and
directorial style for their ‘act’.  They will also have varied
casts...so the audience may see alien witches in Act I, a traditional
Act II, an all-female Act III, who knows??  I’m thinking of calling the
production “The Scottish Experiment”.

My students are thrilled!  Don't try to tell me that high schoolers
don't want or understand Shakespeare!

Susan.

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