• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
    • Privacy Policy
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2024
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

The National Coalition Against Censorship’s Letter to Janet Valentine

November 12, 2010 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

The National Coalition Against Censorship and the Dramatists Guild of America sent the following letter to Flagler County School Superintendent Janet Valentine on Nov. 12. in response to the school district’s decision to cancel a student production of To Kill a Mockingbird by Flagler Palm Coast High School actors. See the story here.

Janet Valentine
Superintendent
Flagler County Public Schools
1769 East Moody Blvd.
Bunnell FL 32110
[email protected]

November 12, 2010

Dear Superintendent Valentine,

We write to express concern about the cancellation of the Flagler Palm Coast High School production of a To Kill a Mockingbird and to urge you to review that decision and allow students to go ahead with the production. We understand the play was cancelled because of concerns about the “offensive language” in the play, namely the use of the word “nigger,” and because the school did not want students to be in the middle of a “highly charged debate.”

The novel on which the play is based is itself taught in Flagler County High School English classes without controversy, and, reportedly, Flagler students have performed parts of it previously in other contexts. There are clearly no doubts as to the value of the work both as a piece of fiction and as a means to introduce students to the history of race relations in the United States.

national coalition against censorship logo If placing students in the midst of a “highly charged debate” was indeed the school principal’s concern, it is now clear that the cancellation of To Kill a Mockingbird has placed them in a far worse controversy. Whereas going ahead with the production would have created a teachable moment by asking how art can deal with the darker sides of history, now the issue is whether we need censorship to “protect” the community from the painful truths of history. In comparison, a high school production of the same play in Ohio is proceeding smoothly in spite of some objections to the language. Administrators and parents there managed to reach common ground and create a productive teachable moment out of potential controversy.

To Kill a Mockingbird provides a more eloquent condemnation of racism and racial slurs than most parents can offer their children. A play like To Kill a Mockingbird helps a younger generation understand the brutalities of racism and the hatred that accumulates in words. Indeed, we cringe at the use of the “n-word” today – as well we should – precisely because we are aware of its history and of the degradation and tragedy racism has caused. “Protecting” children – or anyone else – from history will only keep them ignorant. As Atticus Finch says in the novel, “There’s a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep ’em all away from you. That’s never possible.”

Presenting the material of the novel in a dramatic context provides students with an engaging, educational experience. By studying and portraying characters, students learn to explore and embody perspectives and life experiences outside of their own. For an audience, productions of this nature can make the material more potent and vivid. At its best, theatre deeply moves audiences to think about the complexities of human experience.

It is true that some of the material addressed in the play may be especially resonant and even painful to some viewers. But this is not an unusual consideration in theatrical productions, and is normally addressed by a disclaimer in the playbill, a sign at the box office, or an announcement at the production warning viewers of the sensitive nature of the material. Anyone who does not wish to confront the material does not have to see the show.

In our experience, controversies of this sort are best handled by enriching the conversation, not restricting it. We suggest that you host a “talk-back” after the performance so the audience can ask questions and perhaps hear from experts on free speech, theatre, history, and literature.

We have come a long way since the events described in To Kill a Mockingbird thanks to an open and often heated debate on civil rights issues – a debate made possible by our national commitment to the free circulation of ideas. It’s a lesson that we forget at our peril.

We urge you to encourage student creativity and civic engagement, and to teach students the skills to discuss opposing views respectfully. We urge you to allow the students to perform the play.

If we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to call us: (212) 807-6222.

Sincerely,

Svetlana Mintcheva
Director of Programs
National Coalition Against Censorship
275 7th Ave Ste 1504
New York, NY 10001

Ralph Sevush
The Dramatists Guild of America
1501 Broadway, Suite 701
New York, NY 10036,
Phone: 212-398-9366

CC:
Jacob Oliva – [email protected]
Coleen Conklin – [email protected]
Andy Dance – [email protected]
Susan Dickinson – [email protected]
Trevor Tucker – [email protected]
John Fischer – [email protected]
Raven Sword – [email protected]
Dr. Chris Pryor – [email protected]
Diane Dyer [email protected]
Monica Campana – [email protected]
Troy Caraballo – [email protected]
Carue Davis [email protected]
Rachel Palmer – [email protected]

Support FlaglerLive's End of Year Fundraiser
Thank you readers for getting us to--and past--our year-end fund-raising goal yet again. It’s a bracing way to mark our 15th year at FlaglerLive. Our donors are just a fraction of the 25,000 readers who seek us out for the best-reported, most timely, trustworthy, and independent local news site anywhere, without paywall. FlaglerLive is free. Fighting misinformation and keeping democracy in the sunshine 365/7/24 isn’t free. Take a brief moment, become a champion of fearless, enlightening journalism. Any amount helps. We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donations are tax deductible.  
You may donate openly or anonymously.
We like Zeffy (no fees), but if you prefer to use PayPal, click here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rob says

    November 13, 2010 at 10:19 am

    Since the Bible is controversial, can we call on the NCAC to restore Bible reading and prayer in the schools for frank and open discussion? Or is this a pick and choose what they consider to be controversial?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Conner Bosch law attorneys lawyers offices palm coast flagler county
  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Primary Sidebar

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • Pierre Tristam on ICE Arrests More Than 100 in Raid of Construction Site Near FSU
  • Pierre Tristam on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • FlaglerLive on Flagler Beach Secures All FEMA Funds for New Pier, Construction of $14 Million Replacement Begins June 16
  • Pogo on American Doctors Are Escaping to Canada. Guess Why.
  • Pierre Tristam on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Pierre Tristam on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Wow on American Doctors Are Escaping to Canada. Guess Why.
  • Sherry on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Mountain Man on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Sherry on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Joe D on County Buys Into $110 Million Speculative Sports Complex Palm Coast Voters Rejected in November
  • G on Flagler Beach Secures All FEMA Funds for New Pier, Construction of $14 Million Replacement Begins June 16
  • Sherry on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • S Williams on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Sinan Wiese on Sales Tax Cut Appears Dead as House and Senate Leaders Agree to More Limited Exemptions
  • Sherry on Local Police Collaboration With ICE Undermines Public Safety

Log in