FAUST Glorifies Devil Worship?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 12:52pm

What a bunch of right wing crackpots......

Who knew Dame Joan Sutherland was a follower of the dark lord?

Hail Satan!


"BENNETT, Colo. - Some parents in this prairie town are angry with an elementary school music teacher for showing pupils a video about the opera "Faust," whose title character sells his soul to the devil in exchange for being young again.

"Any adult with common sense would not think that video was appropriate for a young person to see. I'm not sure it's appropriate for a high school student," Robby Warner said after two of her children saw the video.

Another parent, Casey Goodwin, said, "I think it glorifies Satan in some way."

Tresa Waggoner showed approximately 250 first-, second- and third-graders at Bennett Elementary portions of a 33-year-old series titled "Who's Afraid of Opera" a few weeks ago.

The video features the soprano Dame Joan Sutherland and three puppet friends discussing Gounod's "Faust." Waggoner thought it would be a good introduction to opera.

Her critics questioned the decision to show children a portrayal of the devil, Mephistopheles, along with a scene showing a man being killed by a sword and a reference to suicide.

School Superintendent George Sauter said the teacher should not have shown the video to children below the fourth grade but will not lose her job. She has sent letter of apology to all elementary school parents in Bennett, population 2,400 and about 25 miles east of Denver on Colorado's eastern plains.

"I was definitely not sensitive to the conservative nature of the community, and I've learned that," Waggoner said in Sunday's editions of The Denver Post. "However, from what has been said about me, that I'm a Satan worshipper, my character, I can't believe all of this. My intention was just to expose the kids to opera."

Waggoner, who is in her first year teaching vocal music in Bennett, said she doesn't expect to stay in town.

"I know I'm not accepted here, that I'm not welcome here by the parents," she said. "It's a very uncomfortable position."

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 12:55pm

This angers me so much!

Sutherland should NOT be singing Faust!!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 12:56pm

So no one is going in and telling these people they are idiots?

I can not stand this kind of ridiculousness.

Shouldn't they at least be happy that the it ought to make the kids scared of the "devil"?

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 12:57pm

My favorite line:

"Any adult with common sense would not think that video was appropriate for a young person to see. I'm not sure it's appropriate for a high school student."

Does she have common sense?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 12:58pm

I was thinking, "Any adult with common sense does not live in some po dunk Colorado town filled with crackpots."

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 12:59pm

My favorite was: "I think it glorifies Satan in some way".

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:00pm

Just like that "bible" book, that crap needs a good banning.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:05pm

I've seen this video. It came out in the early 90s and she and the puppets also do Rigoletto. It's PERFECT for any kid of any age. And the notion that the classic Faust legend is somehow pro-Satan is the height of ignorance.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:09pm

There's a Bennett, Colorado? Weird.

Some say ignorance is bliss.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:11pm

Exactly Margo, they need to get the memo, "Mephistopheles is the villain of the piece." Or, "the devil is the bad guy, a meanie."

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:14pm

Interestingly enough I have seen this video. While getting my masters in education I had to take a teaching the arts methodology class and it was shown as a teaching tool. My professor; a nun.
Updated On: 2/3/06 at 01:14 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:49pm

"Mephistopheles"

Anyone else read Mr Mistoffoles?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:58pm

Gosh, CO, it never occurred to me until you pointed it out how similar the names were. Do you think Eliot thought of that or was it a coincidence?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:02pm

Are you mocking me?

I don't think the cat is anything like the Devil. Or a meanie.

I guess I should try and catch the next tour of FAUST.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:10pm

My favorite was: "I think it glorifies Satan in some way".



I agree with Borstal. What the parents were thinking: "If Satan is in it or there's any mention of him, good or bad or anything, then it's glorifying him somehow. Give me a few minutes and I'll figure it out. I swear there's something in there that offends me! I'll find it! And, if not, I'll complain anyway because I'm a Christian!"

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:13pm

SG, you have a picture of a cat, obviously you are witch!
I shall not listen to your pro-Satan talk.

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:30pm

"The video features the soprano Dame Joan Sutherland and three puppet friends discussing Gounod's 'Faust.'"

This video may not be suitable for high school students? Puppets?

I also love her non-apology:

"I was definitely not sensitive to the conservative nature of the community, and I've learned that."

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:40pm

The devil recruits using puppets, Yoda. They are a VERY demonic art form.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:41pm

I dunno. Puppets also star in Avenue Q and we all know how some parents didn't like that.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:58pm

*burns penguin's soul with evil eyes*

Join me! Join ME! We shall swoop through the night, recruiting ignorant children into our demonic schemes by luring them with candy and opera!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 3:09pm

DARK-SIDED GARGOYLES!!

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 3:13pm

Anyone else see the episode of Wishbone where he did Faust?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 3:34pm

I hope Joan is sitting back with a gin and tonic and having a good laugh about it. Weren't those videos produced in the early '70's? They're almost 35 years old.

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 3:51pm

They were evil puppets?! The article didn't mention that. Well in that case the parents are totally right.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 4:00pm

There is no such thing as a "decent God-fearing" puppet.