# Our local school superintendent is a doofus. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521 "2006-02-14T20:30:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/21 "2006-02-15T02:34:52Z")
> [@](#): > > She was 15 when R & J was filmed. They had to get special permission to flash that brief bit of skin. Unless Zeffirelli kept the post-production for two years, she was at least 16 and maybe 17\*, not 15, when the the movie was filmed. Zef let out that she was younger than she was in order to hype the movie. (I saw her in an interview, one time, where she ruefully described losing a boyfriend because he bought the hype and was afraid he’d get in trouble for dating a “kid.”) For that matter, at least her age has “advanced” to 15. When the movie came out, the rumors were talking fourteen or younger–hence her boyfriend’s issues. \*(Born April, 1951, movie released October, 1968.) ---
**Author:** ![Updike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@Updike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Updike)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/22 "2006-02-15T03:23:43Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I read this article the other day, and was outraged. It is a classic example of how a tiny minority (from one church) can suppress the rights of others. But the War on Christmas is a big deal - the war on art is nothing. These fascist Christian types are pure hypocrites. How is, as you describe, “a tiny minority (from one church)” supressing anybody’s rights in this situation? ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/23 "2006-02-15T03:52:37Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > What are they doing instead? _A Midsummer Night’s Dream._ I like Shakespeare as much as the next geek, but how is that any “cleaner” or “less objectionable”, according to **the standards of the type of yahoos who complained about _Grease_** , than _The Crucible_? Your first mistake might be assuming they have some kind of consistent standards they follow. Perhaps they do. Perhaps you should ask them, if possible. I’d be interested to hear what they say. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/24 "2006-02-15T04:08:15Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Unless Zeffirelli kept the post-production for two years, she was at least 16 and maybe 17\*, not 15, when the the movie was filmed. Zef let out that she was younger than she was in order to hype the movie. (I saw her in an interview, one time, where she ruefully described losing a boyfriend because he bought the hype and was afraid he’d get in trouble for dating a “kid.”) For that matter, at least her age has “advanced” to 15. When the movie came out, the rumors were talking fourteen or younger–hence her boyfriend’s issues. > \*(Born April, 1951, movie released October, 1968.) \ And if filming started in March of 1967, how old would she be? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/25 "2006-02-15T04:19:59Z")
> [@FisherQueen](#): > > Actually, I have a problem with staging Grease in high schools. Not because of the sexual content, but because its underlying moral seems to be, “You’ll be a cooler, better person if you have sex,” Doesn’t the female lead hold out? I honestly don’t remember, but I thought another female character actually thinks she’s pregnant, which is a somewhat serious moment. I’m not sure I see how you draw such a conclusion. > [@](#): > > …or possibly, “If you’re in love, you should radically change your personality to better suit your beloved,” or maybe, “Only repressed prudes aren’t having high school sex.” Again, I seem to remember that those who were having sex came off badly. They made fun of the “prude”, but that’s just realistic… and bitchy. It was conveyed as such. I think they were going for a play (film) that teenagers, or former teenagers, could relate to. Also, I don’t think that she alters her personality in the play. (I may be way off here) I think the leather pants were added for the movie version. Anyway, it’s interesting to hear a different take. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/26 "2006-02-15T04:37:33Z")
> [@FisherQueen](#): > > Actually, I have a problem with staging Grease in high schools. Not because of the sexual content, but because its underlying moral seems to be, “You’ll be a cooler, better person if you have sex,” or possibly, “If you’re in love, you should radically change your personality to better suit your beloved,” or maybe, “Only repressed prudes aren’t having high school sex.” Not things that are true, and things that can be harmful, and ideas that are already too common in teen minds. > > Then again, it has cool music and costumes, and is fun to perform, and if the wingers are against it, it makes me want to be for it. Eh, as a high school drama teacher, I find things like this to be oportunities for kids to talk about issues like this. I had great conversations with my kids about the characters and potential moral issues in **Chicago** when we put that on a few years ago. Drama is drama, and just because kids are acting in it doesn’t mean they swallow everything at face value. > [@The Swan](#): > > Doesn’t the female lead hold out? I honestly don’t remember, but I thought another female character actually thinks she’s pregnant, which is a somewhat serious moment. I’m not sure I see how you draw such a conclusion. There are two main women. One of whom thinks she’s pregnant, but then turns out to not be. The other, after being labeled a prude and not being ‘that kind of girl,’ basically does a complete 180 for the finale of the show, coming out all, er, ‘tramped up,’ takes a swing at her nemesis, and gives a big kiss to her boyfriend, who had spent the whole play both trying to play off his interest in the girl to his friends, and trying to get into her pants. And that’s all in the play. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/27 "2006-02-15T04:53:13Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > The other, after being labeled a prude and not being ‘that kind of girl,’ basically does a complete 180 for the finale of the show, coming out all, er, ‘tramped up,’ takes a swing at her nemesis, and gives a big kiss to her boyfriend, who had spent the whole play both trying to play off his interest in the girl to his friends, and trying to get into her pants. > And that’s all in the play. Thanks. I was actually in the play about 15 years ago, but I don’t remember the swing or the slut. That being said… did Sandy ever actually do the guy, or is that just implied? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/28 "2006-02-15T05:26:19Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > How is, as you describe, “a tiny minority (from one church)” supressing anybody’s rights in this situation? Um, let’s see, by making a big fuss and getting the play cancelled for the entire school? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/29 "2006-02-15T05:32:04Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Um, let’s see, by making a big fuss and getting the play cancelled for the entire school? And their rights were violated how, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/30 "2006-02-15T05:49:30Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > The only beef I’d have about Romeo and Juliet is that it’s been done and done and done to death. Other than that, I don’t know what this guy’s got a problem with. These are highschool students. I’m sure they’ve been exposed to faaaaar more mature content on TV. I read a re-review once that said that Romeo and Juliet is actually a brilliant spoof. It is about how dumb, dramatic, short-sighted, and love-stricken teenagers can be. Romeo can be seen oogling other girls in the beginning just like you would find at any junior high today until he hooks up with young, permanently grounded Juliet. Their wacky antics make a great black comedy. I always liked that interpretation and feel that it fits pretty well. Shakespeare was a genius and I doubt that young teenagers in the 1500’s were regarded as full adults that could serve as a vehicle for adult emotional complexities. I wish more schools would direct the play using that view. Students may find it more entertaining and educational. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/31 "2006-02-15T07:06:47Z")
> [@JustAnotherGeek](#): > > \ > And if filming started in March of 1967, how old would she be? Well, according to Zeffirelli’s autobiography, when [We opened filming on 29 June 1967 in the beautiful town of Tuscania](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Picture/3520/making.html), Ms. Hussey would have been 16 years, two months, and 12 days old. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/32 "2006-02-15T11:37:02Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Um, let’s see, by making a big fuss and getting the play cancelled for the entire school? The way I see it, the churchgoers made a miniscule fuss, sending all of three letters. The superintendent decided to cancel the play based on it, in a complete overreaction. I think he left his balls in the sock drawer when going to work that morning. If there was evidence of widespread church action against the school, let’s see it. I’d prefer that the school do whatever the fuck it wants as a play, if the churches get pissed, let them picket. It only takes one quick “the play is cancelled” if the heat gets too high, to make them all go away. But, and here’s the critical thing, make the protesters actually put some effort into it. At least make them prove it really is an important issue in the town at large. Don’t take your lead from a tiny minority that spent all of 3 hours writing 3 letters in some sad effort to avoid all possible controversy. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/33 "2006-02-15T11:56:35Z")
I did work in a Christian school where a parent came up to me spontaneously (I had no plans to read “Romeo and Juliet” with the kids, hadn’t mentioned it, didn’t even have copies), to make sure I knew that her child would not under any circumstances be permitted to read or watch the play. Because it glorifies teen suicide. ---
**Author:** ![marymargaret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@marymargaret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marymargaret)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/34 "2006-02-15T12:18:10Z")
What exactly do these zealots think high school students should be reading and or performing? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/35 "2006-02-15T13:00:36Z")
> [@marymargaret](#): > > What exactly do these zealots think high school students should be reading and or performing? _Left Behind: The Kids_ ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/36 "2006-02-15T14:34:45Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > Your first mistake might be assuming they have some kind of consistent standards they follow. Perhaps they do. Perhaps you should ask them, if possible. I’d be interested to hear what they say. You’re right; I’m making an assumption, and I could very well be wrong. I remember thinking, when I heard about the change, okay, you’re going to replace a possibly objectionable play with one that has faeries running around doping characters with love potion so they wake up and start chasing each other through the woods and double entendre out the ying-yang; if tightasses fussed about _Grease_, what makes you think they’re not going to fuss about this one? I noticed in the article that they had talked about doing _Little Shop of Horrors_ next fall, but now most likely won’t be able to, because there’s a plant that eats people and a woman who gets the crap beat out of her by her boyfriend. What crap. _Little Shop of Horrors_ would be a blast for those kids to do; dark comedy with awesome music. I wonder what they’ll replace it with? Curious George Watches Paint Dry? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/37 "2006-02-15T18:32:26Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > How is, as you describe, “a tiny minority (from one church)” supressing anybody’s rights in this situation? Only as part of a larger repressive environment. In my district, while a superintendant would respectfully consider all inputs, there is no way that some letters from churchgoers would lead to a play being cancelled. The town next to mine put on The Laramie Project, I’m happy to say. So, the Superintendant seems to have taken the easy way out, perhaps for fear that if he did not the churches would raise a bigger stink. As a result, as we see from the article, the drama teacher is looking over her shoulder, fearful of putting on any but the most innocuous plays for fear of losing her job. Is that the message we want to give our children? I reject the validity of the complaints, but not the right of the people to make them. Being a troublemaker, if it were my town, I’d be before the school board yelling. (But it shouldn’t be necessary.) Why do these people think that they should be able to stop productions where under 18 year olds kiss, and why are they able to? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/38 "2006-02-15T18:52:33Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > I noticed in the article that they had talked about doing _Little Shop of Horrors_ next fall, but now most likely won’t be able to, because there’s a plant that eats people and a woman who gets the crap beat out of her by her boyfriend. What crap. _Little Shop of Horrors_ would be a blast for those kids to do; dark comedy with awesome music. I wonder what they’ll replace it with? Curious George Watches Paint Dry? The beginning of the article mentions that the #1 play is Seussical: The Musical. When I read that, I thought wtf? That was a bomb on Broadway. I’ve never seen it, and I love Dr. Seuss, but I’ve never read anything to make me think it had any artistic merit. But after reading the article, I understand. I don’t think the Butter Battle Book is included, and Yertle the Turtle’s political message may be too subtle (or directed at Nazis) to have anyone object. So Curious George Watching the Paint Dry should do very well. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/39 "2006-02-15T19:04:47Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Well, according to Zeffirelli’s autobiography, when [We opened filming on 29 June 1967 in the beautiful town of Tuscania](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Picture/3520/making.html), Ms. Hussey would have been 16 years, two months, and 12 days old. I stand corrected. IMDB still mentions 15 in her bio. (I suppose the only way for that to be right is if she were attached to the film before her birthday in April. However, as your cites points out, during filming her age was \>16.0y/o.) ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521/40 "2006-02-15T19:21:06Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > The beginning of the article mentions that the #1 play is Seussical: The Musical. When I read that, I thought wtf? That was a bomb on Broadway. I’ve never seen it, and I love Dr. Seuss, but I’ve never read anything to make me think it had any artistic merit. I just wanted to say that a local children’s theater performed this recently and it was beautifully done. Funny, moving and engaging. So it all depends on the talents involved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-local-school-superintendent-is-a-doofus/344521.md?page=3)