John Jay High School Principal Rich Leprine sent me the following statement just a few minutes ago in response to “The Vagina Monologues” controversy that has developed in his school. Click “here”:http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070306/NEWS02/703060363/1209 to read the full story from The Journal News, or scroll down this blog to read comments students and community members have posted about the administration’s decision to suspend three female students for saying the word “vaginaâ€? during an open mic session Friday night. Stay tuned for more on this story as it unfolds.
March 6, 2007
Dear JJ Community Members:
I appreciate the concerns expressed by students and parents over the monologue issue that occurred last Friday night at the “Open Mic Night.�
John Jay High School recognizes and respects student freedom of expression in the context of the school setting. That right, however, is not unfettered, particularly when an activity or event is open to the general school community where it is expected that young children may be in attendance. The challenge is to balance the rights of student speakers and the sensitivities of the community. The School’s response to that challenge was to pre-audition the students before several faculty members for the “Open Mic Night� and to determine the suitability of the intended presentations for the audience. In many cases, younger siblings, often elementary age, attend these types of events. This event was also being videotaped for the local cable television channel.
When a student is told by faculty members not to present specified material because of the composition of the audience and they agree to do so, it is expected that the commitment will be honored and the directive will be followed. When a student chooses not to follow the directive, consequences follow. The students did not receive consequences because of the content of the presentation.
There is a clear difference between putting on a production of a play such as “The Vagina Monologues� and an open performance at the microphone of an excerpt from the play before unsuspecting parents and their children. In the first case, the community would have been aware of the nature of the production and could have made an educated decision to attend or not to attend based upon that knowledge. In the case of the “Open Mic Night,� the community was invited with the expectation that the pieces presented would be appropriate for the general community, including younger children. Parents and community members did not have the ability to make an educated decision about the appropriateness of the content of the presentations for younger children.
There is also a clear difference between what is read and discussed in the classroom and what is presented in an activity open to the entire community. Our judgment was guided by the forum, the audience and the students’ commitment. Our decision was made in a considered, careful and thoughtful manner.
Sincerely,
Rich Leprine
Principal, JJHS
135 Comments
The thing here is that the principal should of given them a detention and scolding them behind closed doors. When,I protested in the late 60’s,mind you,I was given a one day detention. Which we all served with honor. Didnt whine. Didnt complain. Just moved on. We werent even offered a suspension. And mommy and daddy werent called.So,how do we know they werent bullied in the process? We dont yet. But,Tim let me say that being rich,or Jewish,or Wasp doesnt prevent you from thinking. We arent asking that the principal be taken out and hung.One day,your children will test the bounds of authority. Maybe,not to this extreme. But,they will. Because thats what teenagers do. They drink. They experiment with drugs. They drive faster than the speed limit. Everybody on this blog has done it. Its the rite of passage. So is dissent. John Jay did it. The signers of the Declaration did it. They were all dissenters. To say a teenager has no thought or opinion,is like saying the sun comes up in the west. it just isnt so. Everyday you moan,groan,complain about somebody,or something in this Country. You sow the seeds of dissent. It just doesnt go anywhere most of the time. Thus,we have three girls who voiced there dissent, That reading a copyrighted passage from a book and,omitting a word because you dont like it,is censorship.Maybe,they had a thought.Maybe they realized it was wrong. Maybe they did it on their own.Would it be better Tim,that these girls would of been middle class or poor? Because you seemed biased toward the rich. Or,at least strongly dislike them.
Joe. Great school DePaul. Great theatre school. And,its not because I went there. I wish her good luck
Although this will not be my last comment. I do not need to know the law to have it protect me not do i have to pay a cent in tax to exercise my freedoms.
BTY that was supposed to be UC SAn Diego and UC Santa Cruz not US …....
its sad that this is what some women have sunk to in our society—to be defined soley by their vaginas. the word vagina is not offensive, but “The Vagina Monologes” is. It is clearly adult material that has no place at an open mic reading where young children might be present. Is nothing sacred anymore? do we really feel good or empowered by shouting the word vagina into a microphone, or is this just another shocking incident that gets someone on the “today show”?
Eve Ensler is not a great writer or a role model for young women. she’s nothing more than an over sexed exhibitionist, who has fooled young girls into believing they should be defined by their vaginas. and these poor misguided young women are nothing more than spoiled brats who most likely always get their way. good luck to their parents.
Theresa you miss the point of the play. Women are not defined by their vaginas in the play. I have seen the play or rather heard it read in part by Ensler and I agree it may not be the best play or book but not all that bad either. It is in fact us men who define women by their vagina’s. I gather by your comments that you know these kids by declaring then spoiled misguided brats or are you talking out of your cunt ahhh ass..
The Ward and June Cleaver lifestyle is long gone. Nothing is sacred anymore. Just sit in front of your television and you’ll find that out. Its also not about shouting something into a mic. Its about banning a word from a written manuscript. You wouldnt put up with it if you wrote a report at work and,your boss came by and edited it because he didnt like what you said. Maybe you wrote about shoddy workmanship. Dangerous conditions. Or just something you deemed important but he didnt like. What would you do then? If you say nothing. Your lying to me and your lying to yourself. Movies and books are made out of these stories.
Dave when you say “Nothing is sacred anymore” I disagree. If nothing was sacred there would be little to talk about. The problem is the most restrictive person is what defines what the rest of us can see or hear. The best was to protect children is to not restrict what or how language is used. I never restrict what my kids say or heard or read and that has worked well for me. I have well spoken reasonably behaved adult children. Hell, one of my girls read “Into a Black Sun” when she was in 6th grade. That sparked some difficult conversations.
Just to note another item the No Children Left Behind stuff. There is only one way to ensure no child is left behind and that is to lower the standard until all are at the same lowest level. I think it is more reasonable to shoot for about a 70% not left behind. Close to what the pass rate was in the 50’s and 60’s.
I agree Joe
My fellow country persons,
It is not about disliking the girls but taking consequences for their action. I mention Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and now I will mention Sweet Sixteens because we live in a society where these children have no regard for adults or property and require security guards at these special occasions to stop them from damaging property. This is due to the parents wanting to be at the bar and dance with the 18 year old hired dancers as opposed to take ownership for their childrens actions.
Joe this is not about copywrights. Singers and actors do it all the time. So please do not tell me you can’t change a word in a song, poem or story without legal action against you.
I would also like to reach out to William Schubert. Lets put these words in perspective, knee, eyeball, arm, ear, vagina. See if we can all play along. Let’s pick out the only word that was covered up when the girls gave their speach.
So in society have we really embraced our CHILDRENS VAGINA. This disgust’s me. And all that can’t see this really need to get your heads examined. This play came from a woman who is laughing all the way to the bank and has no regard for women, their privacy and class.
Lets also talk about the protest blog. That is exactly what these girls should have done. Stand outside and protest the open mike night due to censorship. Then maybe they might of had a leg to stand on.
THIS WAS NOT A PROTEST OF CENSORSHIP BUT A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR OTHERS AND AUTHORITY!!!!!!
Parents where are you at Lobster Night? Raise your children.
“Joe this is not about copyrights. Singers and actors do it all the time. So please do not tell me you can’t change a word in a song, poem or story without legal action against you.”
Not at all. Even in the smallest dance school for children if it is copyrighted you don’t use it without permission. That is why so many schools put on the same old stuff, it is all in the public domain so no fee needs to be given. Most Authors allow for some use of the material by educators. make hit song and use some part of another artist and you will pay and pay and pay. The laws of copyright protect the Author from those who wish to misuse their work and the publisher get his full due. See RIAA.
Wow.
What i’m reading here is that the word “vagina” is “offensive” and that we all have to protect to our communities and schools from hear it in order to preserve their good images.
So, the education in that school includes that people under 18 can’t say “vagina”. Great. Let’s do that they understand this fact clearly: if some students think that their human rights include the “insubordination” of saying the real names of some part of their bodies, we can control this with a punishment. Of course, these students should understand that they don’t have a vagina until they get married or are 18 years old: vaginas are only a subject of adults.
And even more: in a case of abuse, right now they know that they can’t talk about it because is not permitted to refer to their vaginas. That a vagina is a theme that can make them get a punisment.
Well, for me this was completelly case of violence. I hope the students can find an alternative place to present this excellent play and get a lot of congrats for their courage.
Wow it is not that girls can’t say the word vagina. Say it all you want as Tim says. In their own home, country club and house of worship. As a matter of fact let them get up on the pulpit and discuss the vagina mono. Discuss their vaginas country with their granparents at the dinner table. Discuss vagina mono at a funeral. You would not because there is a time and a place for everything. The principal decided that this was not the time and the place and the parents should stand behind the principal.
Finally the word Vagina is not at all offensive. As a matter of fact it is the only proper way the female organ should be described. It is also OK to say Jackass when referring to a donkey not talking about your grandfather. It is OK for a chritstian to say Jesus Christ but not when you stub your toe. So do me favor tell your children to watch their mouths around my children. What these girls need is a bar of soap.
Joe,
I think you do not know what you are talking about. It was and is done all the time on Saturday Night Live, Mad T.V. ETC.
The girls did not have permision to do the vagina mono at all. So what is your point of copyrights anyway.
Keep reaching guys
John. Sorry you were ill the both times you took the Constitution tests. Heres a link where you can reread it http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html.. One on copyright law http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sup_01_17.html
and one on the meaning of censorship http://www.wordreference.com/definition/censorship
Get back to me John when you have a better defense.Because yours wouldnt hold an eyedropper of water in a State or Federal court. As a matter of fact also,my Church. The Catholic Church has discussed the V.M. The reason its not on the pulpit, compared to any other country,is that America has a giant Puritan streak running through it. Lead by whatever flavor of the moment. And,in my home when I was growing up. As well as my friends home. There were two bad subjects to talk about. In my house,around my relatives,was the evil of the Catholic Church. In my friends house,strange to say because it still goes on today,sex. I just want to know what you people have done lately to make a change? Gone to Iraq? Helped for a month in New Orleans? Served in a soup kitchen? Anything to make your community better or,do you just sit in front of your television,and use your First Amendment Right of Free Speech. Let me point out also that….and you might not want to accept the fact. Children have rights.Now you cant give an 8 y/o the rights of a 16 y/o. But its true. And teenagers dont like to be called children. Tends to tick them off. And John,I dont know your children. They’re probably great kids. Dont sell them short…they know more than you ever thought they did. Especially if they are older than 14.
Saturday Night Live, Mad T.V. ETC all of those programs have teams of lawyers to deal with copyright. I think I see at least one place where we seem to differ and that is that I do not think of a Principal of a school as the end all nor is my boss or much or any other earthly being and you do.
I hope I don’t offend the million of children who surf the Net if the label “penis-breath” comes to mind.
MensNet TV will replay its Vagina Monologues program Friday 16th at 9pm Cablevision channel 22 in the northeastern part of Westchester county.
I am the first person to believe in women’s rights and freedom of speech but it seems that the thing that is being forgotten is that these girls were asked beforehand not to use the word vagina and told the principal that they would not. What about questioning their integrity – that they went back on their word?
I really enjoyed it myself because it was so very true and I think it was really what people needed to hear.
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