NSSD112 Administrators Abruptly Cancel Theater Trip To HPHS

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Parents and students are petitioning local school districts to reverse a decision to cancel eighth-grade field trip to a high school play for the first time. North Shore School District 112 administrators determined a Highland Park High School production of "Heathers" is "not an appropriate activity" for middle school students.

But parents who have signed on to a petition pointed out the students will soon be in high school themselves, anyone with concerns could opt-out and the controversial anti-bullying message of the show is vital.

A petition to the District 112 and District 113 boards opposing the cancellation of Wednesday's field trip had collected nearly 800 signatures Tuesday afternoon, with several signatories describing the district's decision as censorship.

Based on a 1988 cult classic starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, the dark comedy tackles issues involving bullying and depression. The Highland Park High School production was announced last June, and permission slips went out to parents long ago, according to comments on the petition.

A spokesperson for District 112 said the cancellation was a joint decision by the district's "administrative leadership team" and declined a request for an interview with anyone responsible for the decision.

"There are several provocative moments, including negative responses to bullying such as attempted suicide, gun violence, and a faked hanging," wrote Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Kristin Swanson in a Feb. 6 letter to parents. "This program is very timely and addresses extremely relevant topics."

But, she wrote, it's "not an appropriate program for our 8th grade students," suggesting the "conversations that will be generated by this performance will best be addressed by parents with their children, and not through a school-sponsored event."

Swanson wrote that the target audience for the show is 14 to 18 years of age, and many eighth-grade pupils are younger than that. According to promotional materials for the play, it is rated PG-13.

Several people who signed the petition pointed out Edgewood Middle School is, itself, performing the musical "Rock of Ages", which is also described as aimed at 14- to 18-year-old audiences.

Swanson has not responded to a request for an interview.

For all but one of the past 15 years, District 112 students have attended special weekday performances of theatrical productions at HPHS –months before they are set to graduate Edgewood Middle School, Elm Place Middle School and Northwood Junior High and head to high school themselves, Highland Park News reported. The lone exception was due to a scheduling conflict.

Theater Arts Director Scott Shallenbarger told Daily North Shore his students had been asking to perform the show for years. It wasn't until the show's creators put together a new, toned-down version of the 1988 musical – dubbed the "High School Edition" and eliminating explicit language and content – that he was ready to showcase it.

Shallenbarger said the themes of the show have been made more stark today, with teens facing the emergence of cyber-bullying and social media.

Many of those identifying themselves as parents who signed the petition agreed, writing that students are already grappling with the issues raised by the show.

"I clearly signed the slip allowing my daughter to see this play," wrote one parent on the petition.

Describing it as similar to the censorship of books, another parent wrote that anyone with concerns about the content could easily have opted out.

"It is simply not fair to the bulk of our community’s 8th graders to cancel a planned trip for the entire grade to address the concerns of a few children who may be triggered by its content," he wrote.

One signatory on the petition who described himself as an eighth-grader wrote that it felt like the district was treating students like first-graders – even though they are six months away from being high school freshmen. He pointed out there are freshmen with "huge roles" in the play.

A few parents decided that their child shouldn’t see it, and that is completely fine. Where I draw the line is when they also make that decision for other peoples children, and get angry at the district. At that point the district felt that they were forced to make it so no one could go because of a few over protective parents that are trying to do other parent’s job’s for them. It is idiocy at it’s finest. It is sad when we, the students act more organized than the school district that teaches us.

» See full petition: "8th Graders from District 112 should be able to go see Heathers the Musical"

» See: "Heathers, The Musical (High School Edition)" 9:30 a.m. Feb. 14; 7 p.m. Feb. 16-17, at the Highland Park High School Auditorium. Tickets are $15.

Read the full D-112 letter below:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

In past years, 8th grade students have gone to Highland Park High School for the performance of their spring theater production as a transition activity. This year, the performance at Highland Park High School is Heathers, a dark comedy addressing the topic of bullying. There are several provocative moments, including negative responses to bullying such as attempted suicide, gun violence, and a faked hanging.

Our administrative team has spent some time discussing the Highland Park High School performance of Heathers. This program is very timely and addresses extremely relevant topics. However, the administrative team has determined that Heathers is not an appropriate program for our 8th grade students. We believe that the conversations that will be generated by this performance will best be addressed by parents with their children, and not through a school-sponsored event.

We know that this is disappointing to many of our teachers and students, but our board policy dictates that any event must be age appropriate and educationally relevant to our students' curriculum. In reviewing the information provided regarding Heathers, it is described as appropriate for students 14 to 18 years old. Many of our students are younger than that, and we don't believe that this is an appropriate activity for our 8th grade students. Please know that we very much value our partnership and support the work of the Highland Park High School theater program. Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,
Kristin Swanson, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Student Services

UPDATE: Highland Park High School Principal Elizabeth Pérez Robertson sent a message to the District 113 community Tuesday evening announcing the matinee performance would still be held.

Dear Future Giants and Families-

On February 6, we learned that North Shore School District 112 decided to cancel the 8th grade field trip for the spring theater production of Heathers: The Musical. While we are disappointed that we cannot welcome all of you with this traditional transition activity, we respect the decision made by the NSSD112 administration.

Yesterday morning, we learned that several students and parents still plan to attend the matinee showing of Heathers: The Musical at Highland Park High School. As they say in show business, "The show must go on!"

On Wednesday, February 14, the theater department at Highland Park High School will present Heathers: The Musical as planned. All 8th graders and their families are welcome to attend. Please note that because this is no longer a field trip facilitated by NSSD112, any activities that were planned outside of the performance itself will not be held and should be considered canceled.

UPDATE: Petition organizers announced success Feb. 14

Congratulations! The eighth graders from all three middle schools got to be pulled out of school if they chose by their guardians to go see the musical that Highland Park High School put on this Wednesday. Thank you all for your help and support!