'1776' film banned in Fairfax County middle schools -

[dry2olives]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 11:08pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=25824

What a shame. one of the great things about 1776 is that it stresses the perception of the founding fathers as normal people in extrordinary circumstances. Normal people have sexual feelings. Also, the relationship between John and Abigail is one of the most romantic portrayls of marriage I've ever seen on film or stage.

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 3/21/04 at 11:55pm

yeah hi! i went to ffx middle school (now i switched to private high-but its all girls, so to every up there is a down) the strdange thing is, i could totally see the faculty and administrators from my middle school saying that...fx is really weird about this stuff, i think its really stupid and a waste of time and energy...but then again, i didnt lovemy middle school, so some of the resentment could be from there...
always,
~m~

[swingshift_42]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 12:09am

ugh! in addition having one of the greatest books of any b'way show ever, '1776' is also one of the most thoroughly researched dramatic recreations of a historical event.

read any history book and you will find that franklin & jefferson had extremely active sex lives - a fact that '1776' doesn't disguise, but doesn't blow out of proportion either.

what a shame these kids won't get to see it.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 1:27am

What a shame. It's a fun way of looking at history and might even encourage the students to research the beginnings of our country through its witty presentation. I don't like the idea of "banning" anything - too dangerous an idea.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 8:13am

Completely idiotic. There is much worse in Everwood than anything in 1776. Funny that the conservative GWB wants to amend the very same document in the name of "marriage" that this person bans for the idea of a husband having sexual feelings for HIS OWN WIFE! SHOCKING and UNAMERICAN! We must never let the kids know where they come from, either. It has no place in education. Bring back the stork.

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 8:55am

Ugh. Being from VA, i'm SO ashamed.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 9:34am

I grew up in Fairfax County, graduated from high school there. I'm ashamed, but perhaps not surprised. It's become so conservative in recent years, absurdly so. But (per the Frank Rich piece on Sunday) ... is this a bigger story? More fallout from Janet's superbowl t-tty? Gimme a break. Talk about a society with its focus on the wrong priorities.

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 10:24am

Its VA... i mean, other than the small bubble that is northern virginia (usually including Fairfax) it is a CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN state... so, no, i'm not suprised either.... its just so freakin dumb... ugh, its like, oh you can let your kids watch trashy movies/TV shows but not 1776 its too risky! L A M E thats all 8i have to say.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 3:24pm

Don't knock it too hard. Kids learn best through acting/singing. I'm not proud to say my son learned the 50 states and their capitals from watching Warner Bros. Animaniacs...and can still recite it today in his 20's. http://www.azlyrics.us/15091
That's my boy!
Why can't they be happy they just might remember a few delegates names and states they rep. beyond 8th grade. Like Col. Sanders, the delgate from Kentucky!

[citylights]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 4:42pm

In my history class this year, we assigned parts, got the cast recording to listen to, and did a reading of 1776 in my class. For quite a while afterward, we were all singing "Sit Down John" in the halls...it was definitely worthwhile.

[BroadwayBoy2005]

Posted: 3/22/04 at 5:28pm

Ya know, this goes back to what I was saying a few weeks ago where my school is censoring out ALL of the cursing in LSOH that my choir is doing. (I'm playing Seymour!) Anywho, this kind of controversy sets my blood boiling so bad. When I'm a famous Broadway star- I'm going to start some sort of Broadway/Free Speech Drama in schools program- it's a work in progress.
-bb2005